LYNN — Truth be told, you could say it was a collision course between a program with holes to fill, and another oozing of momentum.
Host Lynn Classical, which fell to North Attleborough, 48-14, in Friday night’s season-opener at Manning Field, was without a duo that totaled 1,223 yards last season.
The fans knew it well in Ram-land: “(Brian) Vaughan Jr. to (John) Nasky.”
On the other side, North Attleborough – fresh off a trip to the Division 3 quarterfinals last fall – returned nine of 11 defensive starters. Twenty-seven freshmen joined the program, to boot.
Classical picked up just 22 yards of offense after one quarter. By that point, the Rocketeers had already scored 48- and 32-yard touchdowns en route to a 21-0 lead.
Classical coach Brian Vaughan Sr. applauded the opposition’s size, strength and physicality.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge going in,” he said. “We started getting worn down, had some injuries, and I had to put in some young guys early.
And it didn’t get much better from there. The big play for the Rams was a 65-yard score from running back Tyren Hoeun, who bounced to the outside and bolted down the left sideline in the second quarter.
“Tyren is Tyren. I thought he did a good job with some nice runs, and then he had the big touchdown run,” Vaughan Sr. said. “I thought he put up a good fight.”
Receiver Jabin Pierre of the Rams caught eyes with a 30-yard reception, also down the left sideline.
Classical returns to Manning Field on Saturday, Sept. 14 against New Bedford with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. It will be the second of four home games to start the season. North begins a two-game homestand at 6 p.m. next Friday against Lynnfield.
“It will be physical,” Vaughan Sr. said. “We’ve just got to move forward, look at the film, and make some corrections.”
