Talk about a turnaround. KIPP’s season-opening loss at the hands of St. Mary’s is nothing more than ancient history at this point, and the Panthers are winners of six straight after a 36-16 road triumph over Whittier Thursday night.
Morenel Castro (5 catches, 117 yards, TD) returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown to open the barrage. KIPP (6-1) left the floodgates open, and jumped ahead, 22-8, by the break.
Whittier (5-2) scored again in the fourth, but KIPP’s two third-quarter touchdowns from Andrew Gonzalez (3 catches, 90 yards, TD) and Jose Echavarria proved pivotal.
Chanel Gutierrez stole the show, however. The quarterback went 12-for-18 with 235 yards and four touchdowns to lead KIPP, which hosts Manchester Essex Saturday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
St. Mary’s 3
Bishop Feehan 2
St. Mary’s (11-1-2) avenged its only loss of the season with a come-from-behind, road win against Bishop Feehan, which defeated the Spartans last week.
Kaya Jackson (2 goals) and Mehdi Khemmich (1) did the scoring, while Nick Miller dished out two assists.
Peabody 1
Marblehead 0
With theatrics already buzzing on Peabody’s Senior Night, this one was scoreless with 11 minutes remaining in the game.
Vitor Soster delivered a beautiful pass, and Kacper Kowalczyk finished to perfection for the lone goal of the contest.
According to Peabody coach Stan McKeen, “Dylan Flanagan made the save of the night with about three minutes to go to preserve the shutout.”
AJ Forte, Yanni Pappas, and Aidan Pais all played well, according to McKeen.
GOLF
CCL Championship
With the best of the best in the Catholic Central teeing off, St. Mary’s (4th, 301) and Bishop Fenwick (5th, 304) finished in the middle of the pack, while Bishop Stang captured first place (277) among the seven programs.
Kyle Rush (74 points), Shea Newhall (75), Micah Hashikawa (75), Chase Collins (77), and Andrew Potter (78) impressed for the Spartans, while AJ Picano’s 74 points led the Crusaders.
Lynn English 48.5
Lynn Classical 23.5
Despite Classical’s loss, playing well in their final varsity matches were Kyle McKenna, Cooper Dalferro, Reid Hannabury, Omar Medina, and Brayden Ranahan.
The Rams (5-4-1) will compete in the Division III North Sectionals at Stow Acres Country Club Monday.
Swampscott 60
Saugus 12
Nick Smyth carded 37, Ben O’Brien shot 38, and Jason Bouffard, Dawson Dibarri, and Quinn Fitzpatrick all finished with 39s in a home win over Saugus.
