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Greater Lawrence wins Super Bowl

Saturday, December, 01 By David Willis
Staff writer

FOXBORO | Greater Lawrence linebacker Jorge Cruz glanced back at the field as he was being rushed away from the stage with his team.

“I’m going to wake up tomorrow and I’m going to hope that this wasn’t a dream,” he said with an indelible smile. “It’s just crazy. I can’t even believe it, I really can’t.”

And who can blame Cruz for being overwhelmed.

The senior’s interception helped clinch Greater Lawrence’s 19-6 victory over East Boston in the Eastern Mass. Division 3A Super Bowl yesterday morning at Gillette Stadium.

“It’s incredible,” said Reggies head coach Tony Sarkis. “Playing at Gillette Stadium and winning the Super Bowl. What more can you ask for. It’s amazing.”

This was the first Super Bowl victory for Greater Lawrence since it downed Natick 20-14 in what was then called the Division 5B Super Bowl in 1998. An Eagle-Tribune team had not won an Eastern Mass. Super Bowl since Pentucket bested Dighton-Rehoboth in the then-Division 4 Super Bowl in 1999. Pinkerton has won three straight Division 1 New Hampshire state titles.

Appropriately, it was sure All-Scholastic Nate Adames capped the game off in style.

Following Cruz’s interception, Adames took a dive up the middle, cut to the right side and flew into the end zone.

He then continued running at full speed as he sprinted towards the sidelines with his hands held high in celebration, slowing down only briefly to flip the ball to the official.

“I’m almost in tears, but I don’t want to show it,” Adames said with a chuckle. “I can’t believe it. Coming from our sophomore year when we were 0-10 to last year at 5-6. To get here is a dream come true. Playing on this field is a dream come true.”

Early on, it seemed as if Eastie had the game fully in hand. After Greater Lawrence’s onsides kick to open the game was disallowed because a Reggie touched the ball before it went 10 yards, the Jets took control and marched 50 yards on 14 plays. Halfback Tyrone Figueroa finished it off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

The Reggies followed that up by marching to the Eastie 35-yard line before giving the ball away on a fumble. But then the Greater Lawrence defense stepped up, and the offense responded.

Taking over at their 29-yard line with about 1:30 left until the half, the Reggies drove to the 3-yard line. Then, on the final play of the quarter, Adames took the handoff and moved off tackle left before bursting into the end zone. Saul Orellana kicked through the extra point that gave Greater Lawrence the lead, 7-6.

Then, after one drive that stalled at the Jets’ 15-yard line and then a three-and-out to start the second half, the Reggies added to their lead.

Four players after taking over in Eastie territory, Adames blasted through the line, outran a number of Jet defenders, went airborne from the 3-yard line and landed in the end zone for his second score of the day.

Two plays into the next possession, Cruz then made the interception and Adames tacked on the final score of the day two plays later with 1:56 left in the game. The rest was academic.

“I’m so happy that I’m speechless,” said Adames. “I’m going to look back at this day and enjoy it for the rest of my life.”

Adames finished his final high school game with 27 rushes for 158 yards. Quarterback Jonathan Delossantos added 32 yards on six carries. He also completed to passes for 0 yards.

“We’re a running team,” said Sarkis. “We know we are a running team. If we continued running and did it successfully we’d win. And that’s what happened. “ After a quick celebration on the field, The Reggies were mobbed by their impressive crowd in the concourse behind the end zone.

“My first year as head coach was pretty humbling for everyone,” said Sarkis. “And to come all this way only two years later is absolutely incredible. Words can’t describe it. These kids deserve it.”

Additional stories:

• Adames wins the battle of the running backs
• Another title for the city,and the school