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Methuen finally gets its revenge on Dracut

Thursday, November, 24 By Christopher Smith
Staff writer

DRACUT — Momentum could have shifted drastically when Methuen lost a fumble at Dracut’s 3-yard line with the Rangers leading by eight points and looking to go ahead by two scores with 1:44 left in the third quarter. But Eddie Wallace didn’t let that happen.

Wallace, bursting through the line of scrimmage, recorded a safety 37 seconds later on a second-and-10 play by Dracut. It was the 5-7, 190-pound senior linebacker’s first ever safety in seven years of playing football.

Methuen, which was considered a heavy underdog, scored two touchdowns within 1:07 after Wallace’s safety and won 36-13 to snap its eight-game losing streak.

The Rangers finish up at 3-8 with yesterday’s win, its first in Merrimack Valley Conference play.

Wallace and the defense did a sensational job all day of putting pressure on the quarterback.

“I just wanted to leave everything out on the field,” Wallace said. “That play, I read it perfectly. I saw him (Dracut quarterback Jimmy Ryan) in the backfield, and I just made the play. It was just an incredible feeling. We just needed to stop them and get that safety — and we did it.”

Eric Lacroix’s only mistake was the lost fumble. He threw for a career-best 308 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were at least 50 yards. He also ran for a touchdown from four yards out.

Methuen returned the kick to the 50 following the safety.

Lacroix — on the first play – launched a 50-yard touchdown pass to Colin Langford, who already had a 74-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.  

“After I fumbled it, I was a little upset,” said Lacroix, a tri-captain. “The kid came around and punched it out. But really, Eddie Wallace came up huge and really saved me with the safety, which gave us the ball back.

“And then the first play, coach said, 'We’re going to go for a home run.’ And you know what? Colin caught two touchdown passes (and) we knew he had it in him. I’m just so happy. But it really all started when Eddie Wallace had the safety.”

Austin George-Williams intercepted Ryan and ran in for a touchdown with no time left in the third period to make it 36-13.

Dracut had won the previous two Thanksgiving Day meetings with Methuen, both of which denied the Rangers a postseason berth.

“It feels absolutely incredible, especially after the year we had — injuries, kids leaving the team,” Lacroix said. “And to beat Dracut after the past two years being unable to beat Dracut. Our one goal this year was to put the cherry on top for the senior class. I’m just so glad we did it.”