LOWELL — Lowell left little question as to who was the higher group this Thanksgiving.
Enjoying in entrance of a spirited crowd within the frosty air at Cawley Memorial Stadium, Lowell annihilated Haverhill, 49-0, to win its second consecutive Thanksgiving recreation towards the Hillies.
“This can be a group of seniors which might be nice soccer gamers and nice children,” stated Lowell coach Scott Boyle. “I’m completely satisfied they had been capable of see their potential and finish their season 12 months like this.”
The scoring came about early and infrequently. Lowell (9-2) capitalized off Haverhill turnovers, starting with senior defensive lineman Seth Ly selecting off Hillies junior quarterback Michael Bayko. Beginning the possession with the ball solely Haverhill’s 17-yard line, the Pink Raiders handed the ball to junior operating again Joshua Amankwaah 4 straight occasions. That concluded with a three-yard dash from Amankwaah into the top zone on the 4:55 mark of the primary, successfully opening the offensive flood gates for Lowell.
After Benjamin Durkin kicked the additional level for a 7-0 lead, Lowell senior linebacker Steeven Many Mwanish recovered a Haverhill fumble. Mwanish was rewarded with three straight rushes, breaking previous the aim line for a 16-yard rating to increase the result in 14-0 with two-and-a-half minutes to play within the opening quarter.
Lowell’s protection then compelled a fast three-and-out, which was the prelude to the offense’s most spectacular drive of the sport. Beginning on their very own two, the Pink Raiders marched 98 yards over 10 performs, with Amankwaah speeding for 85 yards on the drive–and scoring on a nine-yard run with 7:26 to play within the half to make the rating 21-0.
“We did this for our seniors,” stated Amankwaah. “I’ve been working with them since my freshman 12 months, and it means rather a lot that they may exit with a win.”
It wouldn’t take lengthy for Lowell to return to the top zone. Two performs into the following possession, junior defensive lineman Vincent Nuon stripped the ball unfastened. Mamadee Kamara recovered the unfastened ball, then rumbled 22 yards into the top zone for his first-ever highschool landing.
“Vinny made a play, and it was proper there for me to take,” stated Kamara, whose TD gave Lowell a 28-0 lead with 6:34 remaining within the half. “However it’s not about me. This can be a group sport. We did it collectively.”
Haverhill (3-8) pieced collectively an eight-play drive, however merely couldn’t beat the Lowell protection. A turnover on downs gave Lowell the ball on Haverhill’s 43. Six rushes then led the Pink Raiders to the top zone as Mwanish added to his stellar efficiency with a four-yard landing run, rising the result in 35-0 with 22 seconds left within the half.
“We labored 4 years for this, so it’s a particular strategy to finish it,” stated Mwanish. “We’ve been on the opposite facet of this too, and there have been some robust occasions, however we knew this was our 12 months. This group of seniors, we knew we had been the leaders and knew we needed to set the tone.”
The pendulum then swung from dangerous to worse for Haverhill. A turnover on the following kickoff allowed Lowell to regain possession and Ly wanted just one play to attach with classmate Ryan Conley for a 12-yard throw as time expired within the half, constructing the result in 42-0.
The lone rating of the second half occurred within the third quarter when Ricky Phom made a spectacular one-handed catch in the long run zone for a 21-yard TD move from Ly.
As Boyle watched his seniors have a good time on the sphere for one ultimate time as highschool soccer gamers, he mirrored on the importance of his group’s vacation victory.
“Ever since I used to be a child, Thanksgiving has been my favourite vacation,” stated Boyle. “Whenever you lose, it doesn’t really feel good. I’m completely satisfied this might be such a great Thanksgiving for our gamers and coaches–they earned it.”
