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Rangers roll over Lawrence

METHUEN – Methuen High quarterback David Kelly has spent the better part of the last two weeks cramming every scrap of the Ranger football playbook into his head.

Last night in his second career start behind center, the junior aced every question – helping Methuen to a comfy 31-7 win over Lawrence – except the last one.

A funny thing happened as coach Tom Ryan called for the “victory” formation late.

“I was hanging off to the side,” said the junior, who was exchanging high-fives on the sideline, thinking his night was done.

After tossing a sweet TD pass and masterfully working the read-option to perfection all night, Ryan and his staff let that last faux pas slide.

Kelly ran seven times for 40 yard and clicked on 4 of 6 passes for 54 more yards and the TD to Quinn Donovan.

“I played quarterback my whole life, and this year I moved to wide receiver,” said Kelly. “So I’m just picking up where I left off and doing what they’re teaching me. They worked hard with me all week and really prepped me, and gave me lots of good looks in practice.

“This feels great, especially to get that win with my team behind me.”

The Rangers delivered plenty behind Kelly.

Lead back Peter Kwakye set the tone for the night, grabbing the handoff on the Rangers’ first snap and racing 74 yards for the night.

The junior looked to be nursing a bit of a tender ankle, but he still managed to roll up 128 yards on 14 carries. Erick Lucas added 66 yards and a TD on 13 carries, while Xavier Ortiz chipped in 56 yards on his five dashes to the edge.

For Kelly, the time under center could be short-lived. Starter Jordan Perdomo could be back as early as next week’s regular season finale with Lowell.

It’s all good, though, for the easy-going Kelly.

“Jordan did a good job in the summer. He threw the ball better than me,” said Kelly. “Receiver has always been my favorite position, so I decided to change and try to help him out.”

Kelly already has 10 catches on the season.

Lawrence High coach Mike Yameen was succinct in summing up his team’s night.

“Couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t stop the run,” said Yameen, whose club was outrun 326-59 on the night.

Lawrence, playing its home game on Methuen’s Nicholson Stadium turf because of the recent mess left after a concert at Veterans Memorial Stadium, had a spark early in tailback Angel Abreu, but his night was cut short at 10 carries for 71 yards and a TD due to an ankle injury.

“Without him we couldn’t run the ball, so we tried to throw it more,” said Yameen.

Down 17-7 at the half, Methuen went for the kill and got it in the third, mounting a pair of TD drives while Lawrence managed two plays, a completion and a fumble.

Methuen possessed the ball for the 11:04 of the first 11:52 of the second half, simply sucking the life out of winless Lawrence.