BB&N 21, Groton 14

BB&N's 21-14 win over Groton yesterday wasn't pretty, stylish, or dominating. But just maybe, it was exactly what the Knights needed. A longtime ISL power, BB&N struggled to finish off Groton on the road despite another superhuman performance from St. John's Prep transfer Chris Coady. But BB&N (5-0), which along with fellow unbeatens Lawrence Academy and Rivers hopes to contend in the competitive league, came out the better for it, according to coach John Papas. ‘‘We're happy it's a win,'' said Papas. ‘‘But you have to respect your opponent. It's a lesson learned.'' Coady, who only scored once, tallied 284 yards on 31 carries in his second straight game breaking the 250-yard mark. ‘‘Coady's an absolute workhorse, he carried the burden,'' said Papas. ‘‘Our pass game wasn't there and we just had to grind the thing out.'' Pat Florence's touchdown pass to Adam Lamont with four minutes left tied the game for Groton. With an upset on the minds of the hosts, BB&N's Peter Saverese turned a screen pass into a 35-yard touchdown, breaking through six tackles on his way to the winning score. The Knights led 14-0 before allowing Groton (1-3) to slice the deficit in half before halftime on Joe McDonald's 10-yard touchdown reception from Florence. ‘‘Groton played very well, and we are still a young team and we have a lot to learn about putting people away,'' said Papas. BB&N had a chance to extend the lead in the third, but threw an interception in the end zone. It was another self-inflicted wound for the Knights, who had over 400 yards of offense but struggled to score thanks to 14 penalties.