LYNN – Lynn Classical football took on Lexington in its first game of the season, defeating the visiting Minuteman 36-0 on Friday night at Manning Field.
Senior running back Nick Costa started the game with a 17-yard run from Lynn Classical’s 30. The drive ended with a 51-yard run from Matt Carrillo to stake the Rams to 6-0 lead.
“We were not really sure on what we wanted to do coming into the game. We put some plans together with different outcomes like if this happens then we do this and if something else happens we do that,” said Lynn Classical’s coach, Brain Vaughan. “We caught breaks but I think it worked out in our favor. There is things that we need to improve on but it is always good to win.”
“I think we played tough. I think our defense played great and they shut them out,” said quarterback RJ Faessler. “They are a good team and they have a good QB. I think we just played great.”
Rams quarterback RJ Faessler ran for 68 yards from Classicals 38-yard line for the team’s second touchdown of the game with 3:05 left in the second quarter. Fraessiers pass was then good to John Nasky for two bringing the score to 14-0.
“The guys have been dealing with a lot of adversity as a team and with losing guys, losing key players but I think they bounced back from all that tonight. They have been working really hard and it shows,” said Vaughan.
In the Rams’ next drive, Carrillo ran from the Rams 16 yard line to Lexington’s 30 for a gain of 54 yards. Faessler’s 30-yard pass to Nesky was good for Classicals third touchdown with 18.5 seconds left on the clock for the half bringing the score to 20-0. The two-point conversion was no good.
At the start of the second half, Lexington couldn’t move the chains during its first drive in turn punting the ball 20 yards.
Classical takes over at their 35 after a personal foul moving the ball forward. Tyren Hoeun then ran for seven yards followed by a three yeard run. Faessler’s pass was intercepted at Lexington’s 15 by senior Ryan Ranauro.
“We have players playing different positions, a new offense, and a new defense. I think they handled it really well,” said Vaughan. “We try to put them in different situations sometimes it’s a screen play while others they have to throw more.”
The Minutemen turn the ball over at the end of the quarter. The Rams get the ball at the beginning of the fourth. Paul Agresta then ran for the first down putting Classical at a first and goal. Agresta proceeded to run in for the touchdown bringing the score to 26-0. Hoeun then ran in for the two-point conversion making the score 28-0 with ten minutes and forty-five seconds left in the game.
“I’m just trying to help my team, by either running the ball or getting it to someone who can. Everyone in Lynn doubted us with the new quarterback and losing the old one. But we shut them out and proved that we can do this,” said Faessler. “I was kind of nervous about coming in as the new quarterback, I can’t really throw too well but we got the job done and we played great.”
Costa ran for the Rams from their 33-yard line down to Lexington’s six-yard line for 61 yards. Faessler then kept the ball for a touchdown for six yards bringing the score to 36-0 with the addition of the two-point conversion.
The Rams take on the Tanners next at home on Friday.
Maddi Filip can be reached at [email protected]