St. Mary’s scores big win over Feehan
ATTLEBORO — To this point in the high school football season, St. Mary’s (Lynn) has embraced the role of underdog in each of its matchups, and the formula seems to be working. Despite having to compete with schools from higher divisions, the Spartans have managed to find ways to win week in, week out.
Thanks to a fantastic performance by David Brown, that trend continued on Friday night. The junior running back racked up 18 carries for 140 yards and a trio of touchdowns, as St. Mary’s (3-0) opened its Catholic Central League slate with a massive 28-14 victory over Bishop Feehan on the road.
“Most people in the state see St. Mary’s as a small school in Lynn, Division 6,” Brown said afterward. “They don’t think we have a chance against any team that’s a bigger school … so (this is) a really big win for us.”
Brown wasted little time with getting his banner night underway. On just the second play from scrimmage in the opening quarter, the junior took a handoff from Ali Barry, shrugged off a few tackles, then broke off a 52yard touchdown scamper to put the Spartans ahead, 7-0, just 1:07 into the action.
Bishop Feehan (2-1) would respond on its opening possession a few minutes later, as senior Aidan Crump connected with Matt Saunders for a 26-yard touchdown to make it a 7-7 contest with 6:13 to play in the stanza.
However, Brown was far from finished.
With 1:15 to play in the first quarter, the junior appeared to be stood up after a short gain.
But he would break loose, then proceed to shed countless tacklers as he rumbled to the house for an incredible 24-yard touchdown rush to make it 14-7.
“I kind of lost my balance at the first broken tackle,” Brown chuckled. “Then, the kid didn’t really come at me, so I used a stiff arm, then it was just about putting in strength. … I just saw the end zone, and I knew I was going for it. Nothing was going to stop me.”
With 4:38 remaining in the first half, Brown took a swing toss from Barry, then jogged in for a 5-yard touchdown run, as the Spartans extended their lead to 21-7.
After the Spartans blocked a punt attempt by Bishop Feehan, St. Mary’s would capitalize, as junior running back Derick Coulanges found the end zone from two yards out to put his team ahead, 28-7, a lead which the Spartans would never relinquish.
Barry added nine carries for 94 yards for St. Mary’s in the victory.
For Bishop Feehan, it was a difficult night, and things were only magnified by the absence of star running back Nick Yanchuk, who suffered a leg injury during a game with Attleboro last week.
Case Mankins would add a 1-yard rushing touchdown for the Shamrocks in the third quarter to cap the scoring.
Crump finished 8-for-24 passing, closing his night with 129 yards and a score. Cameron Burns rushed 15 times for 99 yards in the effort.
“I’m proud of my team,” said St. Mary’s coach Sean Driscoll. “Because the last couple of weeks, we’ve gotten our first team out in the second half, but to finish a complete game is big for us, especially in this league.”