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Methuen Rangers Football '10

Fri, Oct 08, 2010 07:00 PM @ Methuen
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Chelmsford 0 6 8 7 21
Methuen 0 7 14 10 31

Methuen bulldozes mighty Chelmsford

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Friday, October, 08 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

 

METHUEN - From nearly the first day of his tenure at Methuen High School, Pat Graham has spoke of spunk, toughness, scrappiness and grit.

After last night's 31-21 thumping of previously-perfect, No. 6 Chelmsford, he can forget it.

These Rangers are bullies, plain and simple. Trust me, it wasn't that close.

Methuen's rib-rattling defense and 313 rushing yards, nearly every inch made from tackle to tackle, had the look of one of those vintage 1990s' era Larry Klimas-type wins.

"I honestly thought our defense was going to play great, but I think I surprised myself," said junior halfback Ryan Savastano, who anchored the ground slaughter with 32 carries for 242 yards and a pair of TDs. "My favorite play, inside zone. I've got the best offensive line in the state, and there were big holes."

Savastano found huge gaps carved out by center Matt Whittaker, guards Sean Whittaker and Dan Cormier and tackles Tyler Bolduc and Steve DiZazzo.

They were in Chelmsford's grill all night long, most conspicuously in the second half when the Rangers broke open a 7-6 game.

Savastano ripped off runs of 15 and 34 yards out of the long, two-band intermission. He then added a couple short runs, setting up Cal Carroll's two-yard dive.

Chelmsford tied it back up at 14, but the Rangers were just getting started.

Eric Lacroix's second interception of the night put the Rangers in position for a 10-yard Carroll to Raudy Minaya TD connection.

Senior Bryan Sim ripped the ball out of Joe Gennaro's arms on Chelmsford's next possession - an absolutely huge takeaway - and Lacroix made the Lions pay with his first career field goal, good from 22 yards for a 24-14 lead with 10:36 to play in the game.

The outlook was never in doubt from there as Savastano iced it with a 12-yard TD rumble, extending the margin with 5:29 to play.

Ranger signal-caller Cal Carroll, who carried 17 times for 65 yards and the TD, played the game with a soft cast on his left (non-throwing) hand and showed no ill effects.

Methuen has now ripped off four straight wins since the opening night loss to Plymouth North. The Rangers head to Haverhill on Friday night to tackle the winless Hillies.

"Coming into the season we knew we'd be the best we've been here in a long time," said Savastano. "I think we've shown a lot a people, and we're not done."

Game Statistics:

Second Quarter

M — Ryan Savastano 3 run (Eric Lacroix kick)

C — Eddie Sheridan 18 pass from A.J. Rotella (kick blocked)

Third Quarter

M — Cal Carroll 2 run (Lacroix kick)

C - Colby Emanouil 85 pass from Rotella (Rotella to Pat McLaughlin pass)

M — Raudy Minaya 10 pass from Carroll (Lacroix kick) 

Fourth Quarter

M — Lacroix 22 field goal

M — Savastano 12 run (Lacroix kick)

C - Joe Gennaro 87 kick return (Charlie Calenda kick)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: M - Ryan Savastano 32-242, Cal Carroll 17-65, Raudy Minaya 1-6; C - Joe Gennaro 12-55, A.J. Rotella 3-40

PASSING: M - Carroll 5-10-1, 48; Rotella 15-30-2, 251

RECEIVING: M - Minaya 2-14, Kevn Higgins 1-30, Steve Sychamponkhun 2-4

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