RallyNorth.net

Fri, Sep 28, 2018 07:00 PM @ Methuen

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Haverhill	0	10	0	14	24
Methuen	0	0	14	14	28

Bigger than football: Methuen's last-minute TD clinches thriller over grieving Haverhill

Friday, September, 28 By Kyle Gaudette

METHUEN - As Nicholson Stadium's clock read :01, everyone on the Haverhill sideline looked up to the heavens searching for their guardian angel one more time.

The ball was spotted at the Methuen 20-yard-line. Trailing 28-24, the Hillies needed a touchdown.

Flashback to what has been a truly devastating week for Haverhill. The community is still grieving the tragic loss of beloved classmate Jordan Rankin, a lacrosse and field hockey player who died in a car accident on Monday. Last night, the Hillies marched to the field holding a sign that read "For Jordan." Players had the same message written on the backs of their jerseys.

The Hillies had trailed 21-10 with six minutes left, fought back to take a 24-21 lead with 2:52 left, but found themselves in need of a miracle after Methuen quarterback Connor Bryant hit Kareem Coleman on a 13-yard post to put the Rangers up 28-24 with 26 seconds remaining.

The miracle almost came.

But Haverhill's last-second Hail Mary was batted down in the end zone, clinching Methuen's thrilling 28-24 victory.

It was a good play. It was a good throw. The pass was just well-defended. 

Many Haverhill players were devastated after the final buzzer, both from the tough loss of a game and the even tougher loss of a friend they desperately wanted to win for. But they had nothing to be ashamed of.

Friday night's game was bigger than football. It was a celebration.

"We had talked about how Haverhill had suffered a significant loss in their community," said Methuen coach Tom Ryan, whose team moved to 3-1. "It's an awful thing. The only thing you can do is play as hard as you possibly can out of respect for your loved ones and people that are lost from us.

"We had the utmost respect for Haverhill today. We knew they were going to play an awesome game and they did."

The Hillies (2-2) certainly came ready to play through adversity.

"I thought we came and we played hard," said Haverhill coach Tim O'Connor. "I don't question the effort. Overall I'm proud of my boys. They had a tough week and they showed up and worked hard."

But credit has to go to Methuen, which trailed 10-0 at half before Ricky Brutus (18-171 rushing, TD) and Bryant (12-63, 2 TDs) came alive.

The Rangers still found themselves trailing as the clock went under 30 seconds, but that's when Bryant found Coleman in the back of the end zone.

"We've run that a lot in practice," said Coleman, who also had an interception. "Coach called the play from the sideline and we just executed."

After the game, hundreds of Haverhill students formed a large circle on the field and knelt hand-in-hand.

It ended with everyone coming together at midfield, all screaming together: "We love you, Jordan!"

 

Methuen 28, Haverhill 24

Haverhill (2-2):     0 10  0 14 - 24

Methuen (3-1):     0  0 14 14 - 28

Second Quarter

H - David Carreiro 11 run (Sergio Martinez Tapia kick), 7:16

H - Martinez Tapia 35 field goal, 2:18

Third Quarter

M - Ricky Brutus 1 run (Justin Sheehan kick), 6:49

M - Connor Bryant 4 run (Sheehan kick), 2:49

Fourth Quarter

M - Bryant 29 run (Sheehan kick), 5:53

H - Hunter Prescott 31 pass from Brady Skafas (pass failed), 4:43

H - Carreiro 11 run (Carreiro pass from Skafas), 2:52

M - Kareem Coleman 13 pass from Bryant (Sheehan kick), :23

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: METHUEN (33-240): Ricky Brutus 18-171, Connor Bryant 12-63, Kareem Coleman 3-6; HAVERHILL (33-165): David Carreiro 18-107, Carlton Campbell 7-30, Ayden Alvarado 6-22, Brady Skafas 1-3, Disani Houston 1-3

PASSING: M - Bryant 5-12-1, 58, Wesley Correa 1-1-0, 13; H - Skafas 6-12-1, 86

RECEIVING: M - Correa 2-22, Caleb Adames 1-21, Anthony Romano 1-13, Coleman 1-13, Brutus 1-2; H - Hunter Prescott 2-39, Carreiro 1-18, Devon Cunningham 1-17, Dante Cadeus 1-17, Samuel Powell 1-(-5)