LYNN — Sometimes, you have to give credit where it’s due.
In Saturday’s matinee between Lynn Tech and Lowell Catholic, all momentum favored the host Tigers with 10 minutes remaining.
“We should have done our job. We should have been on top of the momentum,” Tech coach James Runner said. “This is one that we needed.”
They didn’t get it in a 14-7 loss. What they did get, however, was one of the best passes Manning Field has seen all season.
Trailing 7-0 in the fourth, Tech quarterback Jadiel Ortega spotted Ethan Prum down the left sideline.
“It was all in his eyes. He was looking at him,” Runner said.
The result: a pinpoint pass in stride for a 46-yard touchdown (7-7).
“I give props to the young guy,” Runner said of Ortega. “Yeah, he threw a great pass… a beautiful pass.”
But less than three minutes later, Lowell responded with its own aerial attack. Scott Seamus – who entered after starting quarterback, Eld Dylan, got injured – found Scott Sean for the eventual game-winning strike.
“I said they were the best 0-5 team we were going to face,” Runner said. “They score 28 points a game; they put up points on KIPP Academy in the first half (last week) and it was 24-8.”
Tech had two chances to tie – or win – the game, but to no avail. Ortega threw an interception in the final minute to seal it.
“He was looking for a quick slant that was there,” Runner said. “He just overthrew him.”
The Tigers dipped to 3-3, while Lowell looks to turn its season around, now 1-5.
“We get a good bus ride home. We’ve had a lot of bus rides where we were close to winning, but it just didn’t go our way,” Lowell coach Joe Cavanaugh said. “I’m so happy for them and so proud.”
He was happy with his team’s first touchdown as well. In a scoreless game with 1:20 remaining in the first half, Lowell ran a double-pass play, ending with Virella Aidan connecting with Nherisson Shawn for a 78-yard touchdown (7-0).
“It was late in the half… we had been practicing that play the last couple weeks, but we’ve never called it in a game,” Cavanaugh said. “I just thought it was perfect timing, so we went for it and, luckily, it paid off.”
Tech saw it coming.
“We all screamed it: ‘This is a half-back pass,’” Runner said. “Our safety bit on the run. It was a good call by them.”
Despite Runner adding, “We’re a 10-times better football team than we displayed today,” positives were present. Ortega picked up 93 yards through the air, and both Angel Figueroa and Joshua Louis registered sacks in the first half.
Tech hosts Nashoba at 5:30 p.m. Friday with hopes of putting the loss in the rearview mirror.
“I give props to Lowell Catholic for what they did…. Congratulations on their first win. You’ve got to show class no matter what,” Runner said.
