LYNN — With storm clouds looming on the horizon late in the fourth quarter at Manning Field in Wednesday’s Agganis All-Star Football Classic, a pair of Lynn Classical’s finest delivered a final thunderbolt.
Quarterback Brian Vaughan, who wore the famous No. 33 of Harry Agganis, hit running mate and South MVP John Nasky for a 79-yard touchdown to clinch a 27-16 South victory.
“We’ve had a great connection for three years and it’s always great to be out there with him,” Nasky said about Vaughan.
One person who enjoyed the effort was South and Lynn Classical coach Brian Vaughan Sr., who got to see his talented duo shine one final time on their home field.
“John is just a special kid,” Vaughan said. “And it’s been really special to get to be out there and coach Brian one more time. He’s been through so much and I’m proud as a dad but also sad at the same time.”
The South dominated most of the first half but couldn’t put the North away.
After taking a 7-0 first-quarter lead on a seven-yard run from Peabody’s Jaden Roman, the South twice drove into the red zone in the second quarter but couldn’t come away with touchdowns.
Peabody’s Dom Scalese salvaged some points with a pair of field goals, the last of which came on the final play of the half.
The North came out firing in the second half and turned the momentum right away.
Amesbury’s Max Sanchez, who was named his team’s MVP, ripped off a 42-yard run to get the North offense going. Moments later Lowell’s Ebenezer Annan powered in from the three to cut the lead to 13-8 following a two-point conversion.
On the next South play, Vaughan (11-14, 197 yards, TD) fumbled and the North’s Christian McGarry recovered.
The South defense eventually forced a third and 26 at the 40 where Salem’s Corey Grimes (12-19, 138 yards) hit Cooper Soolman for a 29-yard gain. On the next play, Sanchez scored from the 12 to give the North its first lead at 16-13.
That didn’t last long however as a 35-yard pass to Nasky got the South in scoring position when the fourth quarter commenced.
Roman raced 28 yards up the gut on the first play to put his squad ahead for good with 10:54 left.
The North squad drove into South territory on the next series, but back-to-back sacks thwarted the march. Following the punt, Vaughan and Nasky connected for the clinching touchdown.
The South defense completed the combat by stoning the North inside the 10 in the final seconds.
“This was the most fun I’ve had in 15 years coaching,” Vaughan said. “All these kids showed up through the heat and rain and they said at the end that they had to take control and did it.”
