Fleming (172 yards, 2 TDs) keys offense as Worcester Tech cruises past St. Paul

WORCESTER — With the perils of the postseason looming and hours of strenuous work in the rearview mirror, Worcester Tech's football team had a pretty good idea as to what it had to do during Saturday's matchup with scrappy St. Paul.

"Go out there, stay focused and play our game," senior captain wide receiver/linebacker Gabe Thorin said. "And most importantly, get the win."

When all was said and done, the Eagles succeeded in a big way, pocketing a well-played 48-0 victory at the Knights' Flanagan Field.

"This was just a very good win for our team, with everyone contributing," Worcester Tech coach Derek Robbins said. "It's been one of those years - we play a tough schedule. We've pretty much played against all the best quarterbacks from Division 5 and we've hung in there. We're 4-4 and we hope we're in (the playoffs). We were 13th in the power rankings going into this week. And we needed a big win today, and we got it."

The Eagles got a sensational all-around game from athletic senior quarterback/safety Keenan Fleming. Fleming, a captain, amassed 172 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns, one covering 74 yards. He added a late-game interception, the play coming in the form of a leaping grab.

Tech broke the game open in the second quarter, scoring two TDs and converting two extra-point rushes to expand an 8-0 lead to 24-0. The Eagles maintained that advantage at the half.

Senior running back Charles Manu Jr. accounted for his team's second TD with a 5-yard burst up the middle. Manu followed with a successful effort on the two-point conversion run. The drive covered 31 yards and came on the heels of a defensive stop. Moments later, Tech struck again when Fleming broke free for his 74-yard TD. Manu Jr. ran in the two-point conversion. Sophomore Diego Jose and junior Brayden Auger led a of host of blocking standouts during Fleming's TD sprint.

Robbins praised the effort of his seniors.

"When I came to Worcester Voke four years ago, this was after the team had won four games in the previous three years," Robbins said. "I walked into the program with these seniors. The program was at the bottom of the barrel. These seniors built it to where it is now. It's been a team deal from the get-go. I'm very proud of them all."

"I think what really separated us from others this year is the fact that we have a special team," Thorin said. "We've been playing together for a long time, and we've built on that. We've built a very special bond over the past four years. We've worked hard, we've worked together. And now we're just coming together in the final few games. We're ready for the playoffs, we're on a roll."

"We're definitely using our players to our advantage," Thorin said. "Spreading things out and giving it (the ball) to our seniors, or anybody else. It's all about teamwork and we have a lot of that here at Worcester Tech. I like our chances moving forward."

Fleming credited the Eagles commitment to team play and the many long hours put in by the coaching staff, from Robbins on down.

"As a team, we work so well together, and that's very important," Fleming said. "Beginning of the season, it was rough, but we came out and hung in there and supported each other, game after game."

"But honestly, it's all about our coaching, too," Fleming said. "Our coach is the one who sets the tone. He gets us going, he keeps us focused. Everything that we do from now on, we do for him. Coach Robbins has put too much on the plate for us not to go out and capitalize on it. He's stuck with us for four years, through Covid and everything else. Coach deserves all the credit."

"And it's back to work on Monday, one day at a time," Fleming said.

Manu Jr. and Thorin each scored one rushing TD and both ran in two two-point conversion runs. Senior Stephen Fatoke and freshman Zach Bracconier added TD rushes of five and six yards respectively. Senior Joey Elbert scored on a two-point conversion run after Bracconier's TD.

Contact Craig Holt at sports@telegram.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Fleming keys offense as Worcester Tech cruises past St. Paul