Defense keeps Lynn Classical undefeated

DANVERS — It was defense that allowed Lynn Classical to go undefeated through four games and defense that kept the Rams’ perfect record intact through a fifth game.

Thanks to several huge stops against similarly unbeaten Danvers along with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown by Lynn Classical’s Ishmael Johnson, the Rams prevailed by a 28-14 margin over the Falcons

LYNN CLASSICAL 28 DANVERS 14

last night in a Northeastern Conference matchup.

“That’s the difference of the ball game,” said Lynn Classical coach Brian Vaughan. “We always talk about taking away the ball and that’s something we work on every day at practice.”

With Danvers (4-1) driving near midfield seeking a go-ahead score in the third quarter, Johnson read perfectly a pass by Falcons quarterback Justin Mullany, picking it off and going the distance for a 14-7 lead.

By the end of the game, the Rams had force two more turnovers.

“That was huge,” said Vaughan. “Ishmael Johnson made a great read and he took it to the house.”

In the fourth quarter, Lynn Classical (5-0) padded its lead with the second and the third scoring runs of the game by Keith Ridley. He went 3 yards for a 20-7 advantage to cap a nineplay, 28-yard drive with 7:42 left in the fourth.

“(Ridley) is a big, physical kid and we thought we had advantage with that,” Vaughan said.

Next, Ridley added a 38-yarder to make it 28-14 with two minutes left.

This came after Danvers threatened late as Mullany passed to Mathieu Ready for a 9-yard touchdown.

In the first half, Lynn Classical (4-1) got on the board as Ridley capped off a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a 38-yard scamper down the right sideline. It was the first points the Danvers defense had allowed this season.

Ridley rushed nine times for 100 yards in the first half and finished with 197 yards on 19 carries including his three scores.

Danvers leveled the score at halftime as Tahg Coakley blocked a punt by Nashaun Butler and returned it for a touchdown.