PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Devyn Astuccio runs toward the goalline chased by English’s Caitlin Geaney.
By Scot Cooper
LYNN — There were many adjectives that were tossed around during Sunday’s Powder Puff game between Classical and English.
Crisp, raw, windy, brutally cold and blustery were all used to describe the conditions. In the end, two touchdowns by two No. 2s paved the way for a 13-0 win by the Rams.
The score of last year’s game was also 13-0. However, this year it was quarterback Kaley Sirois wearing No. 2, and running back Devyn Astuccio, also sporting the deuce, who put the points on the board for the winners.
After being shut out in the first half, the Rams scored on their opening drive in the third quarter, with Sirois sneaking in from the one. Astuccio eliminated any hopes of a last-second Bulldog comeback by racing 74 yards with 1:18 left in the game to lock up the Ram win.
Bulldog coach Dick Newton said the conditions were tough on both teams, especially the passing game, and he said both teams did a nice job.
“It was tough to throw, and their defense did a nice job defending the run against us,” Newton said. “We had four weeks to work with the girls. It’s much easier to teach defense than it is offense, and I thought both teams were outstanding defensively.
“Credit to Classical, they were able to make a few plays on offense and we were not,” Newton said.
Both teams had drives deep into their opponents’ red zones in the first half, but could not seal the deal and get six points. Classical’s defensive backs covered Bulldog receivers very tight, and made it tough for quarterback Cynthia DeLeon to find an opening.
Two English drives in the first half were thwarted by picks from a very aggressive Ram secondary. Leyani Anderson and Amanda Thoeun both picked off English passes in the first half.
The English passing defense was perfect in the first half as the Rams did not complete a pass until the third quarter.
On the ground for the Bulldogs, DeLeon, Kosama Chhay, Beri Letts, Taylor Sullivan and Rachel Calnan all had big runs, but could not get the ball into the end zone in the first half. The Rams spread the ball around, with Sirois, Astuccio and Agnes Bangura getting the bulk of the carries.
Classical thought it had broken the shutout when Bangura ran right in front of the English bench into the end zone from 22 yards out, but the TD was called back because of a personal foul penalty on the Rams.
Classical got the ball to start the second half and went 65 yards in 10 plays to break the shutout. Sirois hit four straight passes for first downs, hooking up with Michelle Scuzzarella twice and twice with Rachel Jordan to get the ball down to the English one. Sirois kept it and dove in from the line of scrimmage, and the PAT kick by Astuccio was right down the middle, and the Rams were up by seven.
Classical stopped English on two fourth-down attempts, and were looking to run out the clock when Astuccio took a handoff at the Ram 24 and sprinted in front of her teammates to ice it. Astuccio said she was running with her purpose: her teammates made her a promise that they would take care of her if she scored a touchdown.
“They promised me doughnuts, seriously,” Astuccio said. “They were all pulling for me, and they said they would buy me donuts if I scored, so I scored. This was so much fun today, just an excellent time, just great, we’re so happy right now, this is great, now I get my doughnuts!”
Sirois said it was tough to throw but her team kept at it and were able to get into the end zone in the second half. It was too windy to make a good pass,” Sirois said. “We came out and did a great job in the second half and we were able to make the plays that won us the game. This was great, just so much fun.”
Classical coach Rob Smith said he was on Cloud 9 himself, just like his girls.
“The girls were awesome, I mean awesome, we had what 20 days to get ready and all of these girls were great, did I say they were awesome yet,” Smith asked. “These girls put it all together, offense and defense in about 20 days, they were great, I’m happy for them, and I‘m incredibly happy myself right now.”
Newton said it was a defensive struggle Sunday, like it is every year.
“We had a great effort on defense by Kylie Moorehouse, and Katrina Cox,” Newton said. “On offense Kosama Chhay, Rachel Calnan, Taylor Sullivan and our quarterback Cynthia DeLeon did a great job for us too.”