BOSTON – In a contest that became a shootout between the highest two groups within the Boston City League, Brighton’s stepped up within the remaining quarter to win its first league title since 2017.
Two defensive stops within the fourth together with a clutch fourth quarter rating led Brighton to a victory to dethrone final yr’s City League champion Latin Academy 40-26 at Daly Field on Friday evening.
“Latin Academy’s a great team,” stated Brighton coach Randolph Abraham. “They have some amazing size. Our defensive coordinator made some adjustments at halftime and it made the difference.”
With Brighton (6-1) in entrance 32-26, Latin Academy obtained the ball to start out the fourth quarter and held the ball for five:58 earlier than turning the ball over on downs. The Bengals then ran the ball nicely to steer right into a 32-yard strike from senior Sahmir Morales to sophomore Yariel Ortiz for his third TD reception of the night.
Ortiz completed 9-of-13 for 204 yards and 5 TD passes even whereas battling by way of a excessive fever and flu-like signs.
The protection then ended the sport in model as senior Daejon Davis stepped up with a decide ultimately zone with lower than a minute remaining.
“We had a couple guys out with injury and we knew that Daejon (Davis) needed to step up,” stated Abraham concerning the senior who has been in this system since seventh grade. “We kept telling him, ‘You need to step up, you need to step up’ and he said, ‘Coach, I got you.’ ”
Davis additionally caught two TD receptions, together with a 39-yard catch-and-run from junior wideout Quentyn Dulin within the third to make it a 26-18 lead for Brighton.
“We’ve been working on (our defense) all week,” stated Davis. “Defense wins championships. We are trying to take it all the way.”
Latin Academy (6-2) stored it shut for many of the recreation and obtained a one-yard rating from senior Harry Fitzgerald adopted by a two-point conversion rush by Fitzgerald to knot the rating 26-26 late within the third quarter. The Bengals answered three performs later as Morales discovered Ortiz from 26 yards out to retake the lead for good at 32-26
Offense was at a premium within the first quarter for Brighton as senior Morales related on three of his 5 lengthy TD passes, together with a 31-yard strike on the fifth play from scrimmage to fellow senior Anthony Pires. A two-point rush for senior Timel Leviner made it 8-0 early for the Bengals.
Latin Academy responded with a drive that ate about half 1 / 4 to make it an 8-6 gap after a speeding rating for senior Owen O’Neill with 5:55 left within the quarter.
The Bengals completed off the primary with two drives that totaled 2:22 with a 52-yard throw to a streaking Davis adopted up one drive later with a 31-yard TD reception for Ortiz to finish the primary with a 20-6 benefit for Brighton. Morales completed 7-of-10 for 146 yards and all three scores for the Bengals within the first half.
After exchanging punts, the Dragons obtained the lone rating for both crew within the second as they ran it 10 straight instances, capitalizing with a four-yard rating for Fitzgerald (19, 99 yards, two TDs) to chop the deficit to 20-12 on the half.
Source: www.bostonherald.com