Penn tosses complete game
Newton North QB does it all in win
Newton North’s Penn was mightier than anything Framingham had to offer.
Quarterback Isaiah Penn ran for two touchdowns, passed for two more, and intercepted a pass, leading the Tigers to a 28-13 win over the Flyers yesterday at Boston College’s Alumni Stadium.
“The kids rose to the occasion,’’ said Newton North coach Peter Capodilupo. “We’re a young team, especially on the offensive line. We didn’t return any starters from last year, so it was good to see them start to control the line of scrimmage.’’
Framingham (0-2, 0-2 Bay State) jumped in front in the first quarter when quarterback Derek Richards threw a quick slant to wide receiver Nomso Emetarom, who took it 59 yards to the Newton North 2-yard line.
Two plays later, Richards ran off tackle to give the Flyers a 7-0 edge.
Newton North (1-1, 1-1) responded with a 13-play, 61-yard drive to tie the game. Penn ran for two critical first downs and scored the touchdown on a 3-yard bootleg.
The Tigers took advantage of a critical Framingham mistake as the half was winding down when Penn intercepted a Richards pass and returned it 21 yards to the Flyers’ 14.
Framingham sacked Penn with 15 seconds left, but the junior quarterback tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Ben Kiley on the next play.
“When you score before the half, it’s like a real shot of adrenaline,’’ Capodilupo said. “The kids are excited, you’re excited. You feel like you’re doing the right things.’’
“That was a big momentum shift for our team,’’ Penn said. “It was uplifting; everyone got rowdy and wanted to play harder.’’
Newton North’s defense came through with a game-changing stop on Framingham’s final possession of the third quarter.
The Flyers drove 61 yards on 12 plays, but the Tigers stiffened at the goal line and stopped Framingham three times inside the 2, including a dive play that went for no gain on fourth and goal.
“The defensive stand down there was one of the best ones I’ve ever seen in 20 years of coaching,’’ Capodilupo said. “That goal-line stand turned the game around.’’
Newton North took a two-score lead with 6:10 left in the game when Penn rushed in from a yard out and the Tigers put it out of reach on the next drive when Penn threw a fade to Kiley on fourth-and-5 from the 6-yard line.
Emetarom closed out the scoring, catching a 2-yard pass from Gregory Finley.
“Framingham’s always well-coached, always has speed, and always hits you, so it’s nice to get out of here with a win,’’ Capodilupo said.
Weymouth 42, Brookline 6 - P.J. Bonarrigo rushed for 195 yards and a touchdown and Mitch Temple threw three touchdown passes - two to Derek Newcomb of 35 and 46 yards - and the visiting Wildcats (1-1) rolled past the Warriors in a Bay State League game.
