KIPP has no trouble with Tech Boston
LYNN — For the second straight week, KIPP Academy has taken care of business. However, the little mistakes still need to be cleaned up, according to coach Jim Rabbitt.
The Panthers were able to capitalize on two early miscues for Tech Boston on Saturday en route to a solid 29-0 nonleague victory at Manning Field, but it could have been even more.
“We’re obviously happy about going 2-0,” Rabbitt said. “Pitching a shutout today is obviously as a coach what you want, but we aren’t completely satisfied with our effort on the field. A lot of mistakes. Some sloppy play and some real slow play today. Even though we are happy with the win, expectations are really high for this team.”
With Tech Boston (0-1) driving most of the first quarter, KIPP Academy (2-0) got its hands dirty and senior captain Hakim Badmus came away with a fumble recovery. Ten plays and 65 yards later, junior captain Juan Setalsingh connected with senior Jaythean Im for a 32-yard score on 3rd-and-13 just 57 seconds into the second quarter to go up 7-0.
“(That fumble) was one of the high points of the game,” said Rabbitt. “But you can’t let a team drive down the field like that.”
The Panthers got excellent field position after a high snap on a punt for the Bears and took three plays to score from their own 22 as a 5-yard run for senior captain Piero Canales followed by a Setalsingh two-point rush made it 15-0 with 7:13 left in the second.
Setalsingh added an 11yard scamper with less than a minute to go before the half to make it 21-0 at the break for KIPP Academy after being set up by a 91yard run for junior Vic Mafo. This happened after a key fourth-down stop for the defense.
“Juan really stepped into his role as a leader on this team and as a dynamic passer and runner,” Rabbitt said. “That’s all you can ask from your quarterback. He’s smart. He’s efficient and he works really hard.”
He finished the contest with 21 yards on the ground while also completing 6-of-8 passes for 125 yards and two scores.
His last TD pass came 1:06 into the third as he connected with Im from 9 yards out to complete the scoring, 29-0.
“I was reading the corner and safeties,” Setalsingh said about completing the deep ball. “Once I saw the corner sit, I found the safety with my eyes and trusted my receiver to get behind him and led him into the end zone.”
For Tech Boston, senior captain Nyair Sanjurjo carried the Bears offense with 119 yards on 20 carries, including one 59-yard carry late in the second quarter.