Daily Item 2018 Thanksgiving Football Preview

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6 ESSEX MEDIA GROUP THANKSGIVING FOOTBALL 2018 Tech happy to be part of all-Lynn rivalry By Mike Alongi ITEM STAFF Move over Classical-English, there’s a new all-Lynn Thanksgiving football rivalry coming to town this year. After playing a regular season game against each other last year, the Tech and KIPP football teams will go head-to-head on Thanksgiving Eve for the first time Wednesday. “It’s nice to get another all-Lynn game for Thanksgiving,” said Tech coach James Runner. “The kids are always talking about it to each other, and our schools are just a stone’s throw away from each other, so it’s only right. Plus, it’s great for the fans who now don’t have to travel to a different city for the Thanksgiving game. “Don’t get me wrong, playing Aus- LYNN TECH (6-4) 9/8................. Tech 6, Nashoba Valley 2 9/15............... Tech 51, Mystic Valley 6 9/22............... Tech 34, Minuteman 6 9/29............... Tech 32, Northeast 34 10/6............... Tech 8, Gr. Lowell 34 10/12............. Tech 43, Georgetown 15 10/20............. Tech 55, Chelsea 0 10/27............. Tech 14, Roxbury Prep 0 11/3................ Tech 0, Pope John 24 11/9................ Tech 8, Gr. Lawrence 36 11/21.............. vs. KIPP (6) tin Prep for the past couple of years has been great and we really enjoyed it,” Runner continued. “But there’s nothing like a city rivalry.” Tech is coming into this year’s game as the likely favorite despite not being quite as powerful as last year’s MVADA Small championship team. Standing at 6-4, the Tigers have changed things up this season offensively. With the talented running back duo of Steffan Gravely and Keoni Gaskin gone, Tech has moved to more of a running back-by-committee approach in addition to adding more of a passing attack to its arsenal. Quarterback David Barrios runs the show, while a combination of Haidar Bdaiwi, Chance Buono and Giuliani Daniells lead the way on the ground. “It’s nice to be able to spread the ball around to all of our different playmakers,” said Runner. “We have a lot of guys who have been able to contribute this season, and it keeps the other team off balance when we keep changing guys out.” As for the defense, everything revolves around star linebacker Emerson Ramirez. With over 100 tackles this year, the senior has improved on last fall’s impressive junior season. Add in the dominant play of defensive lineman Ali Bdaiwi and Barrios’ prowess at safety, and the Tigers have a lot to offer defensively as well. “Those guys have all really stepped up this year, and I think they’re all going to want to go out with a bang and play well in their final game,” Runner said. As for next Wednesday’s game, Runner and the Tigers don’t plan on doing anything out of the ordinary. “We’re just going to approach it like any other game,” said Runner. ITEM FILE PHOTO David Barrios will be calling signals for the final time in Wednesday’s game “We’re going to try to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and try to negate their speed. We can spread it out or bring it in and pound the ball, so we’ll let the game dictate what approach we’re going to use.” The Tigers and KIPP face off Wednesday night at Manning Field (6). Marion Street Autobody 44 Marion St., Lynn 781-592-7001 Go Lynn Tech Tigers! Mark A. King, Class of 1978 “Best of luck to all the Lynn Teams. LVTI”
THANKSGIVING FOOTBALL 2018 ESSEX MEDIA GROUP 7 KIPP happy to be part of the festivities By Mike Alongi ITEM STAFF The KIPP football team remembers what happened in Week 5 of its inaugural season last year, when the Panthers were handed a 47-0 loss by Tech. Now KIPP will try to take its revenge on Thanksgiving Eve in a new all-Lynn football rivalry game. “The guys remember last year, there’s no question about it,” said KIPP coach Jim Rabbitt. “We obviously went up against a very talented and well-coached team, and it will be no different this year. We know it’s going to take a lot, and we’re ready for it.” Revenge aside, Rabbitt is aware of how important it is for his team and the KIPP program as a whole to be a part of an all-Lynn football rivalry on Thanksgiving. KIPP (3-7 ) 9/8................. KIPP 6, Gr. Lowell 34 9/15............... KIPP 12, Roxbury Prep 36 9/22............... KIPP 28, Chelsea 6 9/27............... KIPP 0, Nashoba Tech 39 10/4............... KIPP 38, Mystic Valley 14 10/11.............. KIPP 26, Keefe Tech 16 10/20............. KIPP 6, Minuteman 12 10/26............. KIPP 12, Brighton 8 11/2................ KIPP 6, Charlestown 14 11/9................ KIPP 24, Matignon 30 11/21.............. at Tech (6) “I think this is one of the best things about our town,” Rabbitt said. “I can’t think of any other city that has two in-city football rivalries like this. Obviously you have the more than 100-year history between English and Classical, and now to be a part of a Thanksgiving game with Tech, I think it just says so much about the football culture in this city.” The Panthers come into the Thanksgiving game at 4-6, but don’t let that fool you. KIPP’s last three losses have each come by one touchdown, with two of those losses coming against playoff teams. “We’ve been incredibly competitive in all of those games,” said Rabbitt. “A couple plays here and there, and we could be coming into this game at 7-3.” The Panthers rely on a high-flying offensive attack, running a spread offense that distributes the ball to playmakers such as receiver Taj White-King and running back Daniel Oluwasuyi. White-King has logged nearly 1,000 receiving yards this season, while Oluwasuyi has multiple 100-yard games on the ground. Then there’s the quarterback duo of J’ddon Vincent and Pierro Canales, who both power the offensive machine with their legs and their arms. Offensive linemen Mike Bryce and Dave Filias round out the talented offense. Pierro Canales (2) is part of KIPP’s quarterback tandem. As with many high school football teams, the defense also features many of those offensive stars. Filias and Oluwasuyi lead the way at the linebacker position, while White- King has logged 10 interceptions from the safety position. In order to take down the Tigers, KIPP knows it has to be sound on both sides of the ball. “We know it’s going to be a difficult task and we have our work cut ITEM FILE PHOTO out for us,” Rabbitt said. “Not only is Tech talented, but they’re also well-coached. I think (Tech) Coach (James) Runner is one of the best coaches in the Commonwealth. He’s going to have his team ready to go, so we’re going to have to be prepared for a real battle.” KIPP and Tech go head-to-head Wednesday night at Manning Field (6). OLYMPIC AUTO BODY & SALES “We Make Friends By Accident” 781-598-8959 • 174 Broad Street Lynn olympicabs.com Good luck to all the teams!
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Daily Item 2018 Thanksgiving Football Preview

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