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Dracut Middies Football '08

Thu, Nov 27, 2008 10:00 AM @ Methuen
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Dracut 7 6 14 6 33
Methuen 0 17 13 7 37
Methuen: Methuen High School Ranger Marching band entertains the crowd during the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Methuen High School and Dracut High School. Methuen upset Dracut 37-33.  » Carl Russo, Staff PhotographerMore photos

Methuen can make its season with an upset

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A year ago, Methuen ended an albatross-like 33-game Merrimack Valley Conference losing streak.

Thanksgiving morning, a little more than one full season later, the Rangers can make history as they host Dracut.

The Middies have locked up the league title and will face Acton-Boxboro Tuesday in the Division 1A playoffs. Methuen plays the holiday game with one goal in mind, proving the recent resurgence in the program is no fluke.

“Finishing 7-4 would be a big deal, especially because if we could win it would be six of the last seven,” said Ranger coach Pat Graham. “I’m proud of what my kids have done. They’ve turned things around quite a bit. But this is a tough matchup. Dracut has been rolling over people. That’s a real good football team.”

Middies QB Matt Grimard leads Division 1A with 28 touchdowns scored and has also thrown 15 TDs, eight to Rok Shepherd. The 6-4, 230-pound Grimard has rushed for 1,225 yards and Jon Rivera has added 995 yards.

“They have so many weapons, we have to hope our offense has a really good day, just to match them,” said Graham. “Dracut’s defense gets overlooked, though. They’ve held down an awful lot of good teams this year.”

Central, which Methuen beat, gave the Middies their toughest MVC test, losing 20-14.

“I’ve watched that film quite a bit,” said Graham. “Or defense is pretty similar to Central’s, but it all comes down to the individual matchups.”

Dracut doesn’t have to look far to know where the Rangers offense is coming from.

Mike Bartlett (1,212 yards, 19 TDs) and his twin brother Matt (1,066 yards passing, 8 TD passes).

Methuen holds a 23-19-3 advantage in the series, but the Middies have owned the recent past, riding a streak of five straight wins.

Game Statistics:

First Quarter

D — Jonathan Rivera 41 run (Rakeem Shepherd kick), 3:29

Second Quarter

M — Joenrry Acosta 20 pass from Matt Bartlett (Matt Gordon kick), 8:14

D — Shepherd 39 pass from Matt Grimard (kick failed), 7:12

M — Mike Bartlett 1 run (Gordon kick), 3:54

M — Gordon 23 field goal, 0:00

Third Quarter

D — Shepherd 26 pass from Grimard (Shepherd kick), 8:18

M — Acosta 61 pass from Ma. Bartlett (kick failed), 8:01

M — Mi. Bartlett 2 run (Gordon kick), 3:05

D — Jordan Murphy 11 pass from Grimard (Shepherd kick), 1:57

Fourth Quarter

M — Matt Bartlett 7 run (Gordon kick), 2:54

D — Grimard 1 run (run failed), 0:24

 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: M (32-145) — Mi. Bartlett 20-79, Ma. Bartlett 12-66; D (20-111) — Grimard 12-26, Rivera 8-70, Jared Gauthier 1-15

PASSING: M — Ma. Bartlett 17-23-1, 267 yards; D — Matt Grimard 19-31-0, 279 yards

RECEIVING: D — Murphy 7-80, Jared Gauthier 6-44, Rivera 3-88, Shepherd 2-65, Chris Malonis 1-2; M — Acosta 4-118, Matt Richardson 5-52, Pat Phillion 3-59, Cal Carroll 2-22, Mi. Bartlett 1-8, Tim Higgins 1-6, Justin Marsan 1-2

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