EVERETT — Defense was at a premium for Everett and Peabody on Friday night. But it was a defensive play that was the game’s highlight.
All week long, Everett coach John DiBiaso let his defense know that Peabody running back Doug Santos was a threat to throw a pass.
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On the first drive of the second half, that’s exactly what happened. With the Tanners trailing, 21-20, Santos took the handoff, wandered into the flat and heaved up a pass.
Everett cornerback Lukas Denis was there to haul it in and took it 80 yards for a touchdown, allowing the Crimson Tide to seize control of an eventual 55-41 shootout victory over Peabody in the Division 1 North semifinals at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“Coach was telling me all week that the running back will throw the ball, so all I did was [I] kept to my keys. We had enough of a rush and he just let the ball out,” said Denis, who also hauled in two touchdown catches.
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“It was a big swing, it really brought our confidence back and we started playing a lot better.”
Everett moves on to the Division 1 North final and will play the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between St. John’s Prep and Central Catholic.
“[This] was nothing like the 6-0 games [against Peabody],” said DiBiaso, referencing his team’s battles with the Tanners in the late 1990’s. “We have to do better defensively. I give them credit, they came in here and put up 41 points.”
Denis’s interception was key in allowing the Crimson Tide to build a two-touchdown lead. Everett made it, 34-20, on their next possession, when Jackinson Joacine scored on an 18-yard sweep.
The two-score advantage was important, as Peabody got to within a touchdown on three separate occasions in the fourth quarter.
“Once we stretched it out to two touchdowns we thought it was over, but they came back and scored,” said DiBiaso. “We make it two touchdowns [again], they come back and score. It was never-ending.”
The teams scored touchdowns on seven straight drives in the second half — four for Everett and three for Peabody. The back-and-forth affair was on full display in the closing minutes of the game. Peabody pulled to within 41-34 with 2:55 to go when Santos scored from a yard out.
The Tanners attempted an onside kick, but Denis corralled the bouncing ball and set up Everett at the Peabody 35. The Tide needed just two plays — both rushes by Joacine — to reclaim the two-touchdown lead.
Joacine’s 13-yard score made it 48-34 with 2:13 left in the fourth. But Peabody stormed back again.
This time, Peabody quarterback Michael Raymond (236 yards passing, two TDs) found Henry Hernandez for a 35-yard strike to cut the Everett lead to 48-41 with 1:14 remaining.
After another failed onside kick attempt from the Tanners, Luis Cardona took Everett’s first play for a 52-yard touchdown that made it 55-41 and finally sealed things for the Tide.
“We’re psyched [to be moving on],” said Cardona, who rushed for 111 yards and two scores. “They were a real good team, they came out flying.”
The teams scored touchdowns on the first six drives of the game — three for each side — with the first defensive stop coming when Everett forced Peabody to punt with 7:19 left in the first half.
Santos finished with 190 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 26 carriers for the Tanners.
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