LYNN – KIPP Academy coach Jim Rabbitt beefed up his non-conference schedule this season to raised put together his Panthers for achievement come playoff time. On Saturday afternoon at Manning Field, these preparations paid off because the Panthers have been practically good in all phases of the sport.
Quarterback Juan Setalsingh threw 4 landing passes and ran for a fifth, Vic Mafo had two landing catches and a landing run, whereas the KIPP protection pressured three turnovers in a 44-12 win over Lee within the opening spherical of the Division 8 playoffs.
The seventh-seeded Panthers (5-4) await both No. 2 Lowell Catholic or No. 15 Millis in subsequent week’s quarterfinals.
“We knew that we were going to be battle tested by playing the teams that we did,” Rabbitt mentioned. “We wanted to be consistent in everything that we did (on Saturday) and for the most part, that’s what we were able to do.”
Setalsingh was practically good in his execution of the passing recreation, leaving the Wildcats (6-3) greedy at air in lots of circumstances. The senior accomplished 15 of his 16 passes for 245 yards whereas additionally speeding for 13 yards as he engineered a 38-point second quarter, all whereas having fought off an sickness for a lot of the week.
“Juan is just a special player,” Rabbitt mentioned. “I said it before the year that he was one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the state. He is a special kid and a special leader.”
The tone for the afternoon was set virtually instantly when Lee’s Devyn Schwab fumbled on the Wildcats’ second play from scrimmage.
Chanel Gutierrez recovered on the Lee 18 for the Panthers. Setalsingh and firm wasted little time changing as he fired back-to-back strikes to Gutierrez, the second being a two-yard landing for a 6-0 lead simply 88 seconds in.
The Wildcats took the early punch and drove into KIPP territory on its second drive however turned it over on downs after taking up six minutes off the clock. A 38-yard bomb from Setalsingh to Morenel Castro two performs later had the Panthers again within the pink zone as the primary quarter expired.
Mafo’s three-yard run on the second play of the second quarter elevated the result in 14-0 following a conversion cross to Gutierrez, sending the Panthers on their manner.
A crushing hit and fumble restoration by Setalsingh within the secondary on the following possession was adopted by one other fast drive of three performs and 53 yards in lower than two minutes to make it 22-0 after a 10-yard Setalsingh keeper.
In want of one thing to proper the ship, Lee received it because of the exhausting operating of William Thomson, who completed with 78 yards on 11 carries. His 4 yard-plunge with 4:40 left within the half pared the KIPP result in 22-6.
The Panthers rapidly halted Lee’s momentum as Mafo returned the kick to the Wildcats 46. One play later, Castro received behind the protection and hauled in a 34-yard TD for a 30-6 lead, which rapidly elevated to 38-6 moments later when Mafo caught a 20-yard cross following a recovered pooch kick.
KIPP accomplished the 38-point second quarter as Blaze Gbadamosi picked off a cross on the Panthers 48, organising a 52-yard drive in a bit beneath two minutes that was capped by Setalsingh’s fourth TD toss, this one on a fade to Mafo on the ultimate play of the half.
“We really were able to spread it around well and get everyone involved,” Rabbitt mentioned.
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