RallyNorth.net

Sat, Sep 22, 2007 01:30 PM @ St. John's

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Everett	14	14	7	0	35
St. John's	0	0	0	7	7

Everett dominates St. John's Prep

Sunday, September, 23 By Mike Grenier
Staff writer

DANVERS | It didn't take long for visiting Everett to spoil St. John's Prep's home opener before a large crowd at Donahue Stadium. Both teams came into the contest sporting 2-0 records.

However, the Crimson Tide demonstrated why they are ranked No. 1 in the state and in the top 20 nationwide by displaying multiple weapons on offense and a stifling defense in a 35-7 thrashing of the Eagles.

After fumbling the ball away at the St. John's 15-yard line, Everett scored on three of its next four drives to take a commanding 28-0 lead at halftime. Running back Issac Johnson, who had 109 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns (all in the first half) gave fans a first hand look why Boston College has already secured his services for the next four years.

But Everett is not a one dimensional team, and quarterback Joe Conti went to the air for the second Tide touchdown, a 45-yard strike to a wide open Jesus Crawford to make it a 14-0 game with 2:24 remaining in the first quarter.

The defense set up the third score after Brian Nuzzo (the third brother in that famous family to play for Everett) picked off a Scott Darby pass at the St. John's 44, and eight plays later Conti went in from a yard out.

"Too fast, too good, too strong," said Prep coach Jim O'Leary. "We knew what we were in for. They throw, run, and are very good up front. (Everett) is the returning state champion and has Division 1 backs. We've been there and know what that is like."

The Eagles were unable to mount any offense, going three-and-out on six of their first seven possessions | and the other resulted in an interception by Everett. St. John's did not have a first down until there were seven minutes remaining in the third quarter and the second offense was on the field, going against the Crimson Tide backups. Everett often went with a no huddle offense early on, making it even harder for the Eagles' defense to get any breathers.

"They have so many weapons," said O'Leary. "They can put seven or eight men in the box and get away with it. They took away what we do, and we couldn't get a first down to move the ball. That last touchdown they scored right before halftime was a killer."

The Crimson Tide drove 47 yards in seven plays with Johnson crashing over from a yard out, and Igor Garcia kicking his fourth extra point in the final minute of the first half.

"We played a good first half, but made a couple of mistakes," said Everett coach John DiBiaso. "Those penalties cost us two touchdowns. We try to go with an uptempo pace to tire people out and wear them down. You would have to ask them if that affected them. We scored and moved the ball, using a lot of backs (12) because it was a hot day."

Everett had a 35-0 lead before St. John's got on the board on their best drive of the game a 72-yard march in 10 plays, engineered by backup quarterback Greg Donahue, who tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Peter Neal late in the fourth quarter.

Additional stories:

• Everett steamrolls Prep