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Methuen Rangers Football '11

Sat, Oct 29, 2011 01:30 PM @ Tewksbury
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT Final
Methuen 3 7 0 8 6 24
Tewksbury 0 12 6 0 8 26

Methuen falls in OT thriller

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Saturday, October, 29 By David Willis
Staff writer

TEWKSBURY — Methuen was just a few short yards away from the upset of the season.

After a frantic rally in the fourth to send the game into overtime, the Rangers opened the extra session with a touchdown to grab the lead.

But Methuen failed on its two-point conversion attempt, and Tewksbury answered with a touchdown and back Chris Bettano plunged in for the two-point play that gave the Redmen a 26-24 victory over the upset-minded Rangers yesterday on a cold, rainy afternoon on a muddy playing surface.

“We are very proud of the way the kids fought,” said Methuen coach Tom Tone. “That is the first-place team (in the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2) and we pushed them until the final play of the game. We played very well.”

Tewksbury led 18-10 in the final minutes of regulation.

But the Rangers responded with a late drive that QB Eric Lacroix finished off by driving over the line on a keeper for a touchdown. He then faked the same play, pulled up and completed a jump pass to Bobby Blanchard for the game-tying two-point conversion with 2:34 to go in the game.

“We’ve been practiced that play for three years,” said Tone. “I was glad we finally got to use it in that situation. I just wish we could have won with it.”

The Redmen made late drives to the Methuen 25 and 34 yard line, but both times the Rangers  turned them away without scores.

Methuen then took the lead in overtime, with Lacroix again scrambling in from a yard out. But a late personal foul meant the Rangers had to run the two-point conversion from the 17-yard line, which was unsuccessful.

Despite a pair of impressive Methuen defensive plays, the Redmen were able to score and added the two-point conversion for the final margin.

“That (Methuen) team came out hard and played us tough the whole game,” said Tewksbury coach Brian Aylward. “They made some big plays, and they adjusted to the poor footing better than any team we have played all season. They were tough and pushed us to the limit.”

Lacroix accounted for all of Methuen’s points. Along with the rushing touchdowns and the field goal he also connected with Corey Shepherd on a 27-yard touchdown just before the half, in which the ball bounced off a defender’s helmet and Shepherd was able to reach around him and make the grab.

Lacroix also led the Rangers with 10 tackles and two pass breakups, while Blanchard added eight stops and a crushing sack late in the fourth.

“I think we showed how we can play,” said Tone. “We did a very good job offensively and some kids stepped up with some very big plays. It showed that we can be a very good team.”

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

M — Eric Lacroix 22 field goal, 3:52

Second Quarter

T — Kevin Saunders 1 run (rush failed), 8:21

T — Chris Bettano 5 run (rush failed), 6:14

M — Corey Shepherd 27 pass from Lacroix (Lacroix kick), 0:53

Third Quarter

T — Bettano 2 run (kick failed), 2:48

Fourth Quarter

M — Lacroix 3 run (Bobby Blanchard pass from Lacroix), 2:34

 

Overtime

M — Lacroix 1 run (pass failed)

T — Saunders 1 run (Bettano rush)

 


INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: M (28-81) — Eric Lacroix 17-67, William Weinhold 7-14, Austin George-Williams 2-1, Luis Perez 2-(-1); T (41-221) — Chris Bettano 20-136, Kevin Saunders 8-61, Daniel Altavesta 9-23, Kevin Dick 3-2, Eddie Matovu 1-(-1)

PASSING: M — Lacroix 12-21-2, 127; T — Saunders 3-9-0, 25

RECEIVING: M — George-Williams 2-34, Corey Shepherd 3-34, Weinhold 2-20, Dylan Doucette 3-18, Spencer Bilich 1-17, Bobby Blanchard 1-4; T — Frankie McLaughlin 2-20, Altavesta 1-5

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