Damien Lackland rushed for 135 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Everett High School football rolled to a 41-6 victory over Medford Friday night.
Lackland’s speed and skills proved to be too much for Medford (3-3) who has improved a lot this season and had shut out Somerville, 20-0, in its previous game.
Lackland’s effort earned him Boston Herald Star of the Week honors in Division 1.
Senior Matthew LaMonica also rushed for a touchdown for Everett.
Head coach Justin Flores singled out Everett High players Christian Zamor, Shane McKenzie, Aidan Duclos, Domenic Papa, and Pedro Rodriguez for their outstanding defensive play in the win over Medford.
Everett is ranked at a solid No. 6 in the Boston Globe Top 20 poll, but sits at No. 16 in the Division 1 Power Rankings that will determine Everett’s playoff status. The top 16 teams qualify for the playoffs. At this point, Everett would have to go on the road for the opening round of the playoffs.
“We just have to take care of business and beat our rival (Malden at MacDonald Stadium Thursday) and then play a really good Lynn Classical team,” said Flores. “We’re going week by week and don’t want to look too far ahead. You have to play good teams in the playoffs no matter where you’re seeded.”
If all goes according to form this week, Everett (5-1) and Lynn Classical (4-2 and hosting Revere this week) would play for the Greater Boston League championship on Senior Night (Oct. 27) at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Flores is earning plaudits for his leadership of the vaunted Crimson Tide program. Following a loss to Xaverian in the season opener, the Tide have rattled off five victories and are the third-rated team in Division 1 behind St. John’s Prep (who plays John DiBiaso’s No. 1-ranked Catholic Memorial this week) and Xaverian. The team is showing improvement across the board and its dramatic win over BC High has reenergized the Tide’s large fan base.