Wilcox, Tide pass Raiders
LOWELL — It was homecoming at Cawley Stadium, but it was No. 1 Everett that made itself quite at home last night as the Crimson Tide remained perfect on the season by routing previously unbeaten Lowell, 55-27.
Standout quarterback Jake Wilcox fired four touchdown passes in the final 6:19 of the first half to break open a 14-7 contest and silence the large home crowd. Behind Wilcox’ work, the Crimson Tide (4-0) rolled into halftime up 42-13.
Coming off last week’s bye, Wilcox connected with four different receivers for 278 passing yards — all in the first half.
“We were pretty antsy coming in, but it felt great out there,” Wilcox said. “We have so many weapons on this team and the (offensive) line did a great job giving me all day back there.”
After a bruising 39-yard touchdown run by Jacob Miller gave Everett the 14-7 lead, Wilcox went to the air, connecting first with Isaiah Likely on a pretty 9-yard fade for a score that saw the 6-foot-5 receiver simply outjump the smaller defender to make it a 21-7 game with 6:19 to go in the half.
After a quick Lowell possession, Wilcox went right back to work, coolly converting on a third-and-22 play when he found Jason Maitre in stride a good five steps behind the defense for a 67-yard TD strike. A diving interception by Maitre set up Wilcox’ third touchdown throw, a 29-yard bullet into the seam to Monte Campbell.
“Jake is like a good point guard out there distributing the ball and we have some bigtime receivers,” Everett coach John DiBiaso said. “I thought we played well and the
EVERETT 55 LOWELL 27
guys made some unbelievable catches.”
It wasn’t for a touchdown, but there was no better catch made than Anthony Norcia’s one-handed, diving grab.
Lowell (4-1) briefly tied the game early in the second quarter after Wilcox was sacked and fumbled at midfield. AJ Byard scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 45 yards for the score.
It looked like the Red Raiders would trail by just three scores heading into halftime when Brendan Tighe found quarterback Curtis Gentles on a nifty reverse-option pass, but one play later Wilcox put an exclamation point on his night by finding Dave Zorrilla for a 55-yard strike.
“Our offense really operated on all cylinders and I thought our defense played very well after a early turnover,” DiBiaso said. “We knew they had scored a lot of points,but I really thought our defense set the tone early.”