BCAT News

Red Devil Football returned on the evening of Friday, September 10 at Varsity Field as Burlington took on the Lawrence Lancers for their first game of the 2021 fall season.

Starting for the first time as the Burlington Quarterback was senior Ronan Noke. Noke’s first drive began with two running plays by Runningback Adam Eldeeb. On the third play of the drive he passed the ball to his brother and Wide Receiver Aidan Noke which resulted in a first down. Eldeeb ran in once more on the drive. On 2nd down Noke was sacked by Jayzius Perez of Lawrence. During the third down attempt, Noke did a screen pass to Eldeeb and the play did not convert Burlington to a first down. The Red Devils first drive lasted for four minutes with a total of six plays.

The Lawrence Lancers had great field position when they came out onto the field as they were at Burlington’s thirty yard line. The first drive of the game for the Lancers resulted in two end around plays. The first was to Running back Janiel Herrera and the second one was to Wide receiver Andy Medina. On third down an offsides penalty was made on Burlington’s defensive line which gave the Lancers an automatic first down. After three more running plays on the drive, Quarterback Jayden Abreu ran it himself to give Lawrence the first score of the night 6-0. The extra point attempt was no good. The Lancers first drive lasted for three and a half minutes and a total of seven plays.

Burlington started their second drive on their own goal line. Noke tried to throw down the field on the third down attempt, but the Lancers defensive line was chasing after him which made the quarterback run out of the pocket and throw out of bounds. The Red Devils’ drive lasted for less than a minute with a total three plays.

Both teams were evenly matched defensively as Burlington and Lawrence were unable to score points for the rest of the first quarter.

On a first down and ten play in the second quarter with just four and half minutes left, Red Devils QB Noke threw it down the field to his wide receiver Sammy Doherty who ran down to Lawrence’s twenty-three yard line. The drive lasted for four minutes. It was fourth and ten for the Devils and they decided to go for it. Noke threw it to none other than the man who made the big play of the drive earlier, Sammy Doherty. Noke’s pass was over the head of Doherty and the offense turned the ball over on downs for Lawrence. Going into halftime the score was still 6-0 Lawrence.

Lawrence began the second half with possession of the ball. Around the nine minute mark of the third quarter, Lancers Running back Jayzius Perez ran it for a forty-six yard touchdown run.  The extra point was good putting the score up to 13-0.

During Burlington’s next possession, Noke threw it down the field to Wide Receiver Doherty for a Red Devils Touchdown bringing the score up to 13-7.

With a minute left in the third, Lawrence’s Abreu threw a fourteen yard touchdown to Andy Medina putting the score up to 20-7.

Two minutes left in the fourth quarter the Lancers found the endzone once more with a fifteen yard touchdown run by Runningback Estarling Morales 27-7, which resulted in the final score of the game.

It was a tough start to open the season.

“We had a tough time getting our running game going on offense and tough time on our offensive and defensive lines,” Head Coach Dan MacKay Said. 

MacKay is proud of how his quarterback performed against their opponent.

“Ronan is a great player and he threw the ball well. He is going to have a really good season for us,” he said.

The Burlington Red Devils drop to (0-1) on the season and will head to Woburn to face the Tanners on Friday, September 17th. MacKay said they are looking forward to the battle of Winn Street. 

“Another tough/physical game,” he said. “Woburn is a good team and we are looking forward to the opportunity to compete against them.” 

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