Sports 09-28-2011

Awesome… and getting better

Everett rolls to 35-0 win over St. John’s Prep

The Everett High School football team, ranked No. 1 in the state by both Boston newspapers, has been simply awesome through the first three weeks of the season.

After conquering foes from central Mass. (Leominster) and western Mass. (Springfield Central), the Tide faced St. John’s Prep in a rematch of last year’s Division 1 Super Bowl.

Led by quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso on offense and middle linebacker Chris McCarthy on defense, Everett rolled to a 35-0 victory over the Prep Sunday afternoon at Cronin Stadium in Danvers.

DiBiaso spread the wealth with touchdown passes to Kenny Calaj, Jakarrie Washington, and Jaylen McRae. The senior QB was 12-for-21 for 187 yards in preparation for this Saturday’s matchup against Barnstable and its star quarterback D.J. Crook, who leads DiBiaso by two in the race for the state record for touchdown passes.

McRae provided a highlight with a sensational one-handed grab of a pass from DiBiaso, resulting in a 65-yard touchdown.

“That’s the best catch we’ve seen this season,” said head coach John DiBiaso.

Washington turned a short pass from QB DiBiaso into a 72-yard score. The 5-10, 170-pound junior showed his speed and explosiveness on the play.

“I just had great blocking and a good pass, so I took it to the end zone,” said Washington.

Calaj had a 10-yard TD catch and a 64-yard run for another touchdown.

St. John’s Prep coach Jim O’Leary was impressed by DiBiaso’s aerial talents.

“He’s a very good player but we know that – we’ve played Everett a number of times through the years and I though we had a couple of opportunities to pick [intercept] him and we didn’t do it, especially early,” said O’Leary. “They have good receivers and the line blocks very well for him.”

Defensively, the Everett defense provided a clinic on stopping the running game. McCarthy was immense, especially in two key situations when he made superb one-on-one tackles to prevent SJP first downs. McCarthy’s shoestring tackle of SJP running back Jon Thomas on a fourth-and-two at the Everett 26-yard line sealed the Tide’s 21-0 lead at the break.

As proficient as the run-stopping defense was, defensive back Gilly Desouza again showed that he can do more than boot extra points. DeSouza intercepted two passes, one of which he returned 18 yards for a touchdown. He also made two tackles to stop SJP kick returners from potential touchdowns.

“It felt good to score a defensive touchdown,” said Desouza, who also booted five more PATS. “I tried to get in the end zone on the first one (INT).”

DiBiaso, who shares the lead in eastern Massachusetts with 11 touchdown passes, was pleased with another big victory for the top-ranked Tide.

“We started off well and we executed our plays,” said DiBiaso. “We came out flat in the second half but picked it up and the defense played great. I’m happy with our 3-0 start.”

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