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Perdomo, Rangers thump Cambridge

METHUEN — This was a big step forward for the Methuen football team as it strives for the one goal it desperately wants.

“We want to have a winning record, that’s what we’re working for,” said junior quarterback Jordan Perdomo Friday night following a 40-20 thumping of Cambridge Rindge & Latin.

The win lifted the Rangers to 4-5 with two games remaining and, if they can play anywhere like they did against Cambridge, the goal is quite attainable.

Perdomo, who missed more than two games with an ankle injury, played a major role in the convincing victory, rushing for 130 yards and four touchdowns and passing for a fifth score, a 56-yard strike to Joey Hutnick in the fourth quarter.

“He (Perdomo) is a good runner and he can throw the ball,” said Methuen coach Tom Ryan. “The thing that people forget is that he’s really only started six or seven varsity games, so he’s only going to get better.”

Perdomo opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 3-yard run five plays after a shanked punt gave the Rangers the ball on the Cambridge 32.

He followed that with scoring runs of 9 and 49 yards on Methuen’s next two series as the Rangers took a 20-6 halftime lead.

While Perdomo and running back Peter Kwakye (10-105) provided most of the offense, which totalled 346 rushing yards overall, the Methuen defense played some of its best ball of the season, twice stopping Cambridge on key fourth downs, once on the Methuen 26 and then on the 8.

Among the key defenders for Methuen in what was a good helping unit, Christian Page forced two fumbles, Travis Manick was a force in the middle and senior Nino Masterangelo made a number of impressive tackles on the edge.

“He (Masterangelo) has been playing well the last four or five games,” said Ryan. “We just had to find the right position for him.

“The scores haven’t always shown it, but we’ve been okay on defense. It’s definitely better than last year.”

Ahead 20-6, the Rangers put the game away quickly in the second half, scoring three touchdowns in their first three possessions and using nine plays total.

Kwakye took advantage of some big holes provided by the offensive line to garner a 47-yard run from scrimmage and scoring from 20 yards out while Perdomo scored from 20 yards out before connecting with Hutnick for the final score.

Cambridge kept the game a bit closer late by scoring off the Methuen reserves before the Rangers’ second team offense went 55 yards with some nice runs by Danny O’Connell, Matt Martino and Erick Lucas to run out the clock. Methuen will attempt to get to .500 next weekend against an opponent yet to be decided.