Even with the shaky start, fumbling on their opening drive, the Crimson Tide (4-1 turned it around, dominating the Medford Mustangs (2-3) 48-12 on Friday night.
With a comfortable lead going into halftime Coach DiBiaso was able to showcase some of his younger talent in the second half. Even though he was happy with the way the team finished, Coach DiBiaso was not thrilled with the way Everett got things rolling.
“I was disappointed in the way we came out. We came out flat,” Coach DiBiaso commented after the game. “A lot of penalties in the first half especially in the first quarter. We seemed to iron it out in the second quarter. Played better in the third. Then we got the opportunity to play a lot of guys.”
It is not surprising that Coach DiBiaso was less than impressed with the way his team started the game. After winning the toss and electing to receive, the Tide lost the ball on the kick off return, giving the Mustangs decent field position at the 30-yd line on what was supposed to be Everett’s opening drive. Medford QB Reg Thelemaque was able to capitalize on the opportunity, driving the football down the field. He snuck in the touchdown to put the Mustangs up 6-0 early in the game. Even with the missed 2-pt conversion, Medford had started this game in a surprising manner.
The Crimson Tide offense struggled early on with penalties, but Raheem Wingard turned it around with a stunning 37-yd fade to Lucas Denis that would change the momentum of the game. Now that Everett had the lead there was no turning back.
Everett’s defense continued to shut down Medford’s offense. The lone touchdown in the first quarter was the only time Medford would see a scoring opportunity until the last quarter. Everett forced turnovers and gave their offense chance to score the points needed to secure the victory. Wingard’s offense put together a 1-yd rushing TD, a 1-yd QB sneak for a touchdown on top of the 37-yd TD pass to Denis. Pat Long came in and completed a 42-yd TD pass to Lubern Figaro to put Everett up 28-6 going into halftime.
Everett would force another Medford turnover to begin the second half. Once again the offense drove down the field setting up a 20-yd touchdown run by Marquis Holman. With a score of 35-6, Coach DiBiaso took his offensive unit off the field and allowed his younger talent to take the field.
RB Omar Herrera continued the high power scoring in the 3rd with a 19-yd run for a touchdown, his first of the season, helping to put Everett up 42-6 with the 3rd quarter winding down.
Just before the end of the third the Mustangs put together one more successful drive as Thelemaque snuck in his second rushing TD of the night. But with another missed 2-pt conversion, the Mustangs were only able to put 12 points on the board for the night.
RB Luis Cardona ended the night with a 5-yd touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Even though Matheus Varella missed the kick, the night was already over as Everett would defeat another GBL opponent 48-12 under the Friday night lights. The Crimson Tide dominated the ground game scoring a total of five rushing touchdowns.
The win came without two of Everett’s stars. On defense Josh Palmer missed his first game of the season with a hand injury. Joe D’Onofrio, part of Everetts tough running back crew, also sat out with a hamstring pull. While Coach DiBiaso said that both players were day by day, he expects them both back by next week.
The team is hoping for a full unit next Friday as they head to Somerville to take on another GBL opponent. The two teams will square off Friday night at 7.