EVERETT TIDE ROLLS IN; ENDS LEXINGTON TITLE CHASE 49-21
Lexington, MA. 11/3/17. Was that the Everett State U football team that defeated Lexington last night 49-21, or was it really Everett High School?
The defending super bowl champion Crimson Tide erupted for four touchdowns in the last eight minutes of the first half to turn a tight 14 -14 game into a 42 -14 halftime rout effectively doing to a seriously undersized but gutsy Lexington squad what Lexington had been doing to its opponents all season.
With no less than 9 starters moving on to NCAA Division 1 programs, this was rumored to be Everett’s best team–of many great ones–in years. Their offense featured a solid thrower in 6’4” junior quarterback Jake Willcox (14 for 17 and three scores), two over-200-pound, bowling ball running backs in seniors Kevin Brown (2 touchdowns) and Jacob Miller (1 td) and several big and skilled receivers.
Their defense, led by junior safety Lewis Cine (being pursued by Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Notre Dame, etc.) was big, fast and did the best job of the year, by far, of containing Lexington’s high-powered offense. It was the defense that keyed the deciding second quarter explosion with two huge turnovers on consecutive Lexington possessions off an interception and a blocked Tony Bianchi punt, then on a third possession held Lexington on downs as the Minutemen, with the game getting away, were forced to gamble on 4th and 1 from their own 29.
Lexington coach George Peterson said, “I think there’s no question they’re the best team in the state. I’m not even sure if anyone will stay with them as long as we did. You look at what they could put on the field, and you look at our kids, the fact that we could stay with them as long as we did is pretty impressive.”
Everett scored first on a Willcox to junior Mike Sainristil 23 yard post route.
Characteristically, it took Lexington just one play to answer as senior quarterback Sal Frelick broke out of the pocket at his own 20, cut to the right sideline and outran the speedy Crimson Tide defense for an 80 yard score. The extra point was blocked (the first time this year); evidence that this was not just any defense the Minutemen were facing.
Everett moved smartly out to a 14-6 lead on a quick 6-play 58-yard drive with senior Anthony Norcia scoring from the 2.
On Lexington’s ensuing possession the multi-talented junior Bianchi unloaded a 63-yard punt (some of it on a fortunate roll) pinning Everett back to their 11-yard line. On third down and 18 Minuteman senior edge rusher Sean Sullivan sacked Willcox forcing an Everett punt.
The now inspired Minutemen launched a 64 yard 10 play drive. Frelick converted on two clutch third downs, a screen to senior co-captain Ben Quint for 32 yards on 3rd and 10 at midfield, and a dart to senior receiver Noah Monzillo in the end zone on third down from the 7. Quint ran up the middle for what, at the time, looked like a key 2-point conversion that tied the score at 14.
But Everett would have none of it. The Tide answered quickly on a 21-yard Willcox to senior Jason Maitre crossing pattern to go up 21-14. Then, on Lexington’s next possession their defensive eruption commenced when Frelick, harassed in the pocket all night, threw into a crowd and Sainristil came down with the ball at the Lexington 34. Two plays later Brown scored on a perfectly executed inside reverse from 23 yards out and the rout was on.
Frelick closed out the scoring for Lexington on a 2-yard run with 8:58 left capping a 15-play drive. The drive was saved when Everett interfered with Bianchi in the end zone on a fourth down and 10 from the Everett 16.
Frelick managed a heroic game for Lexington in a losing cause, running 13 times for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. Through the air he was 16 for 40 for 172 yards and a score, but was harried into throw-aways repeatedly and pressured into three interceptions by Everett’s relentless pass rush.
Bianchi had eight receptions for 66 yards, while Quint had four for 35 yards and Monzillo three for 30 and a touchdown.
Now 8-1 the Minutemen will likely face another tough opponent next week in Methuen, losers of the other North semi-final to Central Catholic.