PHOTO GALLERY: English High versus Charlestown football

CHARLESTOWN — English High fell 36-0 in Charlestown despite the return of Jonathan Peña from a serious injury and strong late running by Chris Hall.

The Bulldogs (0-8) got off to a fast start. On their first snap, Miguel Gómez fired a long pass down to Rich Monteiro, who gathered it in for his first catch of the season. The promising drive ended on a turnover, however. Not until the final seconds of the game would the Bulldogs again go that deep into Townie territory.

Charlestown (4-3) played well on its home field.

Despite the final score, there were positives for English, which shares its football program with New Mission High School.

Center and all-around stalwart Peña returned to the lineup after being hospitalized from an injury in the season opener.

The Blue & Blue showed strength on the last drive of the game, as sophomore Chris Hall ate up chunks of yardage behind solid blocking.

"Chris Hall read his blocks well," said Coach Chris Boswell, who noted it is Hall's first year playing the game.

Boswell also had good words about Monteiro, who stepped up his academic game to earn a return to the gridiron. English and New Mission require student athletes to have at least a 2.0 grade-point average. That's a higher standard than the rest of the city, Boswell said.

"It's taking a little time but we're going to keep grinding," said Boswell. "We're never going to stop. We're going to keep fighting."