EVERETT — Earlier this month, Lynn English football coach Tyllor McDonald remained honest about Everett, despite the current struggles from the Crimson Tide.
“It’s always going to be a huge test – it’s Everett,” he said. “The message is to go out there and win.”
Mission accomplished. The Bulldogs (5-2) trailed, 21-6, Saturday afternoon, but kept their heads up en route to a 50-35 win against the Crimson Tide (2-5) on the newly minted John DiBiaso Jr. Field.
English snapped an 8-game losing streak to Everett in a series that dates back to 1942. The Bulldogs are now 2-12 vs. the Crimson Tide.
“This was a huge win for our program and the city,” McDonald said. “I’m proud of my guys. They played their hearts out for all four quarters. To be down by two scores early and battling back – winning by 15 – just shows the grit our players played with.”
Leading English was dual-threat quarterback Shane Knowlton-Simard. The athletic senior compiled 309 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Running back Xavier Beauchamp added 126 yards rushing and a touchdown.
English, which has won five straight after an 0-2 start, compiled 502 yards of offense – 435 on
the ground, all gained by Knowlton-Simard and Beauchamp.
The Bulldogs trailed, 35-34, with 9:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. A minute later, Knowlton-Simard rushed to his right and split defenders before exploding down the right sideline for a 65-yard score (42-35).
Everett entered the red zone with less than three minutes to go, but a fourth-down passing attempt was shut down by the Bulldogs.
Also contributing for English were receiver Makai Kirk (30-yard reception) and Kassius Chea (INT).
Next up for McDonald and company is Friday’s road game in Somerville beginning at 6 p.m. As of Friday’s latest MIAA power rankings, the Bulldogs ranked No. 18 in Division 3.
Everett has lost five straight games for the first time since 1991.
DiBiaso won 12 Super Bowls as the coach of the Crimson Tide from 1992-2017. He has led Catholic Memorial to three state championships since leaving Everett.
