LYNN — The year 1913: Minimum wage in the United States took effect, the Giants signed Jim Thorpe, and Lynn Classical began playing Lynn English on Thanksgiving Day.
But, age is just a number. The 110th showdown was spirited – especially in the second half – and Classical squeaked by its traditional archrival, 8-6.
Back to that second half. Heck, you could say it was a good one.
With the English faithful waiting, begging for a touchdown – Classical’s 8-0 lead felt like nothing – coach Anthony LaFratta and his Bulldogs obliged.
Shane Knowlton Simard bolted down the right sideline and took a Classical punt 49 yards to the house with 8:46 to go in the third quarter. It was never in doubt.
“Shane had that touchdown for us and it was a great all-around effort,” LaFratta said. “My players gave me everything they had. No one thought it’d be this close and everyone thought they’d probably rout us. Our guys came to battle.”
Minutes later, Mitchell Purter picked up his second sack of the half, and all momentum belonged to the team in maroon.
“Our whole defense played amazing. Mitchell Purter played an unbelievable game at the defensive end spot,” LaFratta said.
The game – like Thanksgiving leftovers – got better as the day went on. English stopped Classical with 3:15 remaining in the fourth quarter to give itself one more chance.
But, ultimately, with a minute remaining on fourth-and-7, English’s Limbert Thomas got 6.
“On offense, we just couldn’t get anything going,” LaFratta said. “We tried to run the football inside-outside and couldn’t do it. We thought we’d have more time in the last drive, but Classical did a great job of running out the clock (the possession prior).”
Classical quarterback – and Greater Boston League Player of the Year – Brian Vaughan Jr. did his thing Thursday. He rushed for the Rams’ lone touchdown on a 2-yard rush in the second quarter, and his 28-yard laser to Ryan Buth was the highlight of the second half.
“The past four years, he’s been developing as a quarterback,” said his father and Classical coach Brian Vaughan Sr. “That’s a credit to him, doing the studying and watching the film.”
If you watched Classical this season, you know how dynamic its passing game was. That said, Thursday brought a run-first approach with Coach Vaughan admitting, “Passing protection wasn’t as great as we’d like.”
“I knew it was going to be the game that it was. I knew it was coming,” Vaughan Sr. said. “I told people throughout the week that we’re going to have to grind it out. We’re not going to walk on the field and have it be easy.”
Despite star receiver John Nasky catching four balls for 32 yards in the first half, the Ram-to-Ram connection was quiet – for its standard.
But, good teams have players step up. Classical’s Javon Clayborn rushed for 90 yards (64 in the first half) and Geovanni Peña picked up a safety in the first quarter (2-0).
“I liked the way Javon Clayborn ran the ball today… and the offensive line did a really good job,” Vaughan Sr. said. “I thought our defense played lights out. Today, they just capitalized on how they played all season. It shows what those kids are about.”
As for English, Waleri Mora Cruz picked up a sack and gunslinger Jaiden Rosario found Simard for a 22-yard gain in the second quarter.
Classical finished its season 6-5, while English fell to 3-8.
