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Shepherd, Methuen hold off Andover

Friday, October, 22 By David Willis
Staff writer

METHUEN — Corey Shepherd saw the ball heading to another receiver.

“I through it was going to Kevin Higgins,” he said. “He might have tipped it. But it went into my hands and I dove into the end zone and scored.”

Shepherd, who entered the game without a varsity catch in his career, caught two touchdowns last night, the second the winning score midway through the fourth quarter as Methuen held off upset-minded Andover 21-14.

“Corey had a huge game,” said Rangers quarterback Cal Carroll. “He hasn’t had a lot of chances to prove himself this season, but he made two huge plays. On the second score, he found the open window like a smart football player does, and I dumped it off to him at the last second.”

Shepherd, a junior, was stunned as he was mobbed my fans after the game.

“I really can’t believe it,” said Shepherd. “I didn’t even know if I’d play much because I usually switch in with another receiver. But this is a really memorable night.”

His second score capped a drive that turned the momentum of the contest.

Andover came out and forced a Methuen punt to start the second half. The Golden Warriors then drove 74 yards, capped by a tremendous 28-yard run by Andy Coke to cut the Methuen lead to 14-7, and followed that by holding the Rangers to a three-and-out.

But, after taking over to start the fourth quarter, Carroll directed a 17-play, 74-yard drive that ate 7:09 off the clock and ended with the touchdown pass.

The Golden Warriors responded with a score with 58 seconds left on a 13-yard pass from Tom Dempsey to Ben McQuaide, but Methuen’s Matt Delmonte recovered an on-sides kick to clinch the win.

“It was not easy,” said Rangers coach Pat Graham. “Our defense has done a lot of good things this season, but today our offense really won the game for us. No game in the MVC is easy, and Andover gave us a fight.”

Methuen relied heavily on its ground game, with Carroll (25 carries, 120 yards, TD) and emerging junior Ryan Savastano (23 carries, 138 yards) sharing the load.

The Rangers defense struggled some against Andover’s rushing attack.

Taking the majority of the snaps at quarterback, the Golden Warriors’ Coke carried 20 times for 138 yards and a score, and completed 8 of 9 passes for 42 yards. Freddie Scribner added 12 carries for 80 yards. That all without their two top offensive linemen in center Connor Clancy and tackle Lyle Baker, both missing with injuries.

But Methuen did come through with one huge stop, halting Coke just short of the goal line as time expired in the first half.

“It was a huge swing,” said linebacker Mike Harper, who had a team-high 10 tackles. “We go a great push from the line, and the linebackers were able to make the tackle. If we hadn’t had that, maybe it’s 21-21 and we’d have to play overtime.”

Ned Deane continued to be a huge presence on the Andover defense with a game-high 16 tackles and a pass defended. Mark Zavrl added seven stops for the Golden Warriors.

“Andover may be our biggest rival,” said Carroll. “Them and Central. So to have beaten them three years in a row is huge.”