English clouts with a Bangura
LYNN — It was the running of the Bulldogs yesterday at Manning Field that propelled Lynn English to a 27-14 statement win over Northeastern Conference Tier 3 opponent Swampscott.
The Bulldogs (4-1, 2-0) relied heavily on senior running back Ishmile Bangura, who erupted for 212 yards and scored all four Lynn English touchdowns.
“Ishmile is that kind of running back that finds that little crevice and goes, he’s a very strong back and he’s elusive,” said Lynn English coach Chris Carroll. “He’s been a workhorse for us all year and he had another great game today.”
Tied at 14-14 with 3:40 left in the third quarter, Lynn English’s Matt Severance made a big-time defensive play, intercepting Graham Inzanna (14-30, 251 yards), to set the Bulldogs up at the Swampscott 18.
Severance then handed off to Bangura three straight plays, the third being a 4-yard rush across the goal line, to make it 20-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Bulldogs special teams forced a fumble, giving their offense another favorable starting position at the Big Blue 28.
“That’s the difference in the game, making plays on defense and special teams when we really needed them in a tight game,” Carroll said. “These kids are buying into the scheme and getting better every game.”
On the second play of the drive, Bangura broke away to the outside and cruised to the end zone for a 22-yard score to put Lynn English up 27-14 after the extra point.
Senior quarterback Severance (5-12, 59 yards) also made Bulldogs history, surpassing 4,000 passing yards in his varsity career, breaking the former record of 3,918 yards held by … his coach.
Said Carroll: “He is a tremendous kid, he’s a hard worker and a great leader. … I couldn’t be more proud of him, he’s earned that record.”
Lynn English started the contest with a masterful 17-play drive that ate up 6:34, capped off by a 5-yard Bangura touchdown run.
On the first play of the second quarter, Bangura broke through a hole in the Swampscott defense and was off to the races for an 89-yard score.
Swampscott (4-1, 2-1) scored twice in the second quarter, as Dylan January punched in a 2-yard run, followed by a 60-yard strike from Inzanna to Andrew Augustin (7 catches, 147 yards) to tie the game at 14-14 just before halftime.