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Methuen lays claim as area's best

Saturday, November, 06 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

LAWRENCE — Coughing up a 10-0 lead to arch-rival Central Catholic in the third quarter, Methuen handed the Raiders momentum and the means to pull off a major shocker.

On the ropes turned out to be exactly where the Rangers wanted to be, spoiling the Raiders' Senior Night before a crowd of about 1,500.

"We've been in that kind of situation before, and they really fire us up," said Ranger senior Cal Carroll, who ignited for a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes to lift the Rangers in a squeaker, 24-22. "A bunch of guys on this football team live for that situation."

Methuen's third straight win over the Raiders delivered a wild final 11 minutes that saw each team score a pair of TDs.

The difference came down to conversions.

Riding high when Matt McDermott pounded in from the one, to slice the Methuen margin to 17-16 with 8:30 left, Central coach Chuck Adamopoulos elected a two-point bid for the lead.

But Santino Brancato came up just short.

The Rangers, sniffing blood, pounced for the kill and marched 77 yards. Carroll found Bobby Cole on a 35-yard TD bomb at 6:33 to make it 24-16.

Central wasn't done, though. Ben Onett led Central down the field, closing the march with a 23-yard TD heave to Xavier Peralta, cutting the lead to 24-22 pending the try with 1:55 left.

The euphoria on the  home sideline was squelched quickly, though, as the snap sailed over "Wildcat QB" Santino Brancato's head.

Cam Walsh chipped a brilliant onside kick try, but the Ranger senior Cole fearlessly sailed into a pile and smothered the pigskin to end any Raider upset hopes.

"They're a great team, our biggest rival," said Cole. "(Top receiver Raudy Minaya) obviously went down in the first half, and the coaches told us at halftime that every one of us had to step it up."

With the win, Methuen now has 10 points in the MVC small standings, assuring that the Rangers, regardless of Friday's test here again at Lawrence High, will be playing for a title on Thanksgiving against Dracut.

The senior Carroll was again a difference-maker, tossing TD passes 14 and 15 on the year, while running for his 14th score.

On the night, Carroll ran for 132 yards on 29 carries and added 101 passing yards. His backfield mate Ryan Savastano chopped the Raiders up for 114 yards on 16 tries, pushing the junior's season total to 1,106 yards.
Junior Corey Shepherd added Methuen's other big play in the fourth, breaking free to pull in a 42-yard Carroll TD heave.

Central's effort, without injured Trae Musumarra, was absolutely commendable.

Walsh's 77-yard dash highlighted an offensive night that saw the Raiders held to 63 first-half yards.
Brancato ran hard given his opportunities, while Jaycob Morales anchored a strong defensive performance without their leader, Musumarra.

The Raiders remain in fine shape in the MVC large race with the lead at seven points. Andover and Chelmsford each have six points, meaning if the Warriors (at Lowell) and Raiders (at Billerica) win next week, the title will hang in the balance on Turkey Day at Lovely Field.

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• Methuen lays claim as area's best