LYNN — Quarterback Elai Machado served notice right away that Wednesday’s game between KIPP Academy and Lynn Tech belonged to him.
He completed the first pass he threw, then ran for 5 yards, then launched a 34-yard bomb to Jonathan Jimenez for the Panthers’ first touchdown. Finally, he ran in the 2-point conversion.
However, Machado was just getting warmed up. By the time the 40-0 rout was over, he had completed 12-of-16 passes in essentially three quarters of play, good for 186 yards. He wasn’t afraid to use his legs, either. He finished with 37 yards on the ground, and while that might not seem like a lot, he was able to extend some plays in the first quarter, while it was still somewhat of a game.
In all, the exuberant sophomore threw for three touchdowns. Afterward, as he was leaving the field, Machado got to carry the trophy that signifies the game’s winner.
“It just means we’re the champions,” he said. “Nothing more than that.”
He knew he was a major factor in the game. In fact, he had planned on it.
“I grew up in East Lynn and played East Lynn Pop Warner,” he said. “I used to play against their quarterback (freshman Jadiel Ortega). We had some good battles.”
He also played on the same team as some of the Tech kids, “but not in Pop Warner. Other things.”
He admits to having been pumped up for the game.
“Sure,” he said. “This is the school that’s right next to ours. It’s a rivalry. You can read some of the things they wrote about playing us on social media.
“I just wanted to make them know who I am,” Machado said.
His coach certainly knows who he is.
“He’s a good one,” said James Rabbitt. “He made a lot of progress this year, and he has a chance to be really, really good.
“He comes from a good family,” Rabbitt said. “His dad’s a Lynn firefighter. I had his brother (Jovan) and he’s a good kid.
“He’s not perfect,” Rabbitt said. “Sometimes, he holds the ball longer than I’d like. But he’s come a long way this year.”
And Machado hopes he can take his team with him.
“I’m going to work hard all the rest of the year and all summer,” he said. “We’re going to be in Gillette (for the high school Super Bowl) next year.
