Notch 22nd win in a row

EVERETT — It may not have looked as pretty as the first two, but for Everett coach Theluxon Pierre it was a masterpiece.

Sophomore Duke Doherty threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns, while the Everett defense made a crucial late stand as the top-ranked Crimson Tide held off St. John’s Prep, 26-14, yesterday at Everett Memorial Stadium.

The win marks the 22nd consecutive victory for Everett (3-0) and improves its all-time record versus the Prep to 17-2-2.

“This was a playoff atmosphere,” said Pierre. “This is what you need, good competition. I was proud with how we came together at the end there.”

Trailing 20-14 with 8:31 left, the Eagles got the ball back on their own 14yard line with a chance to upend the two-time defending Div. 1 champions. Three rushes for James Guy, and three more for Aise Pream, brought the Prep inside the Everett 35 with less than two minutes to play.

Everett’s defense, however, refused to break and on fourth-and-5, Chonlee Cine broke up Matt Crowley’s pass to force a turnover on downs.

Mike Sainristil then put the game on ice, taking a handoff and racing down the left sideline for a 66-yard touchdown run to give Everett a 26-14 lead with just one minute to play.

“Defense is our strength,” said Pierre. “I didn’t think our defense was great (yesterday), but like I said defense is the strength of our team. Our guys stepped up.”

The two sides traded early scores, with Doherty finding Eli Auguste in stride for a 56-yard touchdown to give Everett a 7-0 lead. St. John’s Prep answered, going on a 14-play, 90-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Pream to tie the score, 7-7, at the start of the second quarter.

Behind Doherty, the Crimson Tide extended their lead before the half. After a muffed punt gave Everett good field position at the Prep 37, Doherty ran for 12 yards inside the red zone before hitting Isaac Seide in the flat for a 7-yard touchdown to put Everett up 14-7.

On the Tide’s next series, Doherty went 3-for-3 including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyrese Baptiste to give Everett a 20-7 lead at the break.

St. John’s Prep closed to within one possession at the end of the third quarter when Crowley hit Anthony Fagan on the run for a 15-yard touchdown pass to trim Everett’s lead to 20-14.