After two non-league road games, the Pope John Tigers Football Team played host to Trinity Catholic on Saturday, October 2 at Chelsea. In its first league match, the Tigers scored on their first possession as Jevon Brown-Simpson bulled into the end zone on an 8 yard run. Rob McMaster hauled in the conversion pass from QB Malcolm Brown-Simpson for a quick 8-0 lead. Pope John recovered the squib kick and QB Brown- Simpson scored on a 13 yard run. The quarter ended with Pope John leading, 14-0. In the 2nd, WR Malcolm Brown snagged two TD passes and McMaster gathered in another two point conversion pass. Trinity fumbled inside the ten as they seemed poised to make a game of it. The Tigers led, 28-0, at the half. QB Brown-Simpson dashed 50 yards for a 3rd period TD and found Brown for a 60 yard TD catch and run making the score 40-0. Trinity returned the ensuing kickoff for a score and tallied again late in the 4th. The final was 40-12, Pope John. The Tigers stand at 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the Catholic Central Small. The team travels to Marian on Saturday @ 8p.m.
The boys soccer team played its best half of the year on 9/29 vs. Lowell Catholic. The half ended 0-0 and the Tigers had numerous scoring chances. The second half was anything but even as LC found the back of the net for 3 goals in the first 8 minutes en route to a seven- zip final.
Girls soccer journeyed to Lowell Catholic on 9/29 and held a 1-0 lead through most of the game. Kim Tran scored for the Tigers. LC tied it up with 5 minutes to play and the girls had to be satisfied with a 1-1 tie. Pope John’s record is 3-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the CCS. Playing five frosh regularly makes Coach Kenney very optimistic about the rest of the season and the next few years.
Volleyball visited Lowell Catholic on 9/28 and suffered its 2nd league loss as it fell, 3-2. Coach Fineran was concerned that his team had a bout of over confidence as it jumped to a 2-0 lead. “We’ll learn from this one, no doubt.” Cristo Rey came to play Pope John on 9/30 and it was over early. Pope John dominated, 3-0. Fineran was able to liberally substitute throughout. The 10/1 return match vs. Lynnfield ended with a 3-0 loss for the Tigers leaving them with a 6-4 record overall and 4-2 in the CCS.