No. 1 Crimson Tide roll on road

MANSFIELD — Facing an early deficit on the road didn’t faze top-ranked Everett one bit.

The two-time reigning Division 1 Super Bowl champions stuck to the game plan, letting their powerful offense take over against No. 7 Mansfield en route to a 41-14 nonleague win last night at Alumni Field.

Virginia Tech commit Mike Sainristil (three catches, 110 yards) made two touchdown receptions and added three interceptions, while quarterback Dillon Doherty tossed four touchdown passes as the Crimson Tide rolled to their 21st straight win. “It’s like boxing. If you get punched, you always got to punch back,” said Doherty, who completed 10-of-18 passes for 211 yards. “You always have to stay strong and stay good mentally.”

Mansfield (1-1) put together a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive on its first series, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Nick Marciano to take an early lead.

Everett’s offense then kicked into overdrive, though, after two consecutive three-and-outs to begin the contest.

The Crimson Tide (2-0) scored on their next five possessions, starting with a 2-yard keeper by Doherty.

Doherty then lit it up through the air. Two plays after a Sainristil interception, Doherty connected with Tyrese Baptiste on a 37-yard touchdown pass.

The Doherty to Sainristil connection then took over. Doherty hit Sainristil over the middle on a 51-yard touchdown pass before Sainristil turned a routine first down catch into a 36yard touchdown reception for a 27-7 halftime lead.

“(Doherty’s) young but I tell him to trust himself,” Sainristil said of his sophomore signal caller. “Just trust that we’ll make plays as receivers because that’s what we’re supposed to do. Just put the ball in our radius, we’ll make a play for you and get you a touchdown.”

Everett wasn’t done as Sainristil picked off another errant pass two minutes into the third quarter that led to another scoring drive.