Silverio right at home with Central rout

METHUEN — High-flying Methuen had plans to celebrate its first Merrimack Valley Conference Large title since 1992 while playing in front of a large home crowd, but Central Catholic arrived with a smothering defense and a well-balanced offense to ruin the party for the Rangers.

Central Catholic (4-2) secured a 28-6 victory last night and is now the front-runner for the league title heading into next week’s showdown with Haverhill.

“We’re young and we’re getting better,” said Central Catholic coach Chuck Adamopoulos after the Raiders’ third straight win. “It’s a good win and we played well in all different facets. They are a good team and were 3-0 in the league, so to come in here and play like this makes me happy.”

Central Catholic scored 21 unanswered points in the first half, including a score just three minutes into the contest. Jared Silverio connected on a 6-yard scoring strike with Nick Donatio out of the hurry-up offense.

“It’s big to knock them off and I’m from Methuen, so it’s always nice beating your hometown team,” said Silverio, who passed for two touchdowns and 70 yards.

A screen pass from Silverio to Mark Kassis went the distance from 15 yards out to push the Raiders’ lead to 14-0 in the opening quarter.

Next, speedy Shaun Morgan returned a punt 62 yards for Central Catholic early in the second quarter to pump up the lead to 21-0 and take the air out of the home crowd at Nicholson Stadium.

Joe Howshan’s 13-yard touchdown run capped an impressive eight-play, 72-yard drive with 8:21 left to ice the win for Central Catholic.

The Raiders swarming defense held Methuen (4-2) to just 12 yards on the ground the entire game and gave standout quarterback Connor Bryant little time to operate. Bryant connected with eight receivers for 129 yards, but critical sacks and costly penalties took back any gains made by the Methuen offense.

Bryant’s 2-yard touchdown run in the last two minutes denied the shutout for Central Catholic.