Methuen goes the distance
When you’ve waited 15 months to get on the football field, what’s a few extra minutes to determine a winner?
That was the case Friday night at Nicholson Stadium where Methuen knocked off No. 8 Andover, 20-14, in overtime. Anthony Romano’s third touchdown of the game, a 1-yard plunge, sealed the deal.
“It was kind of surreal, with no postgame handshakes due to COVID, our kids didn’t know how to react right away,” said Methuen coach Tom Ryan. “But they finally stormed the field and celebrated. It really was a community win, we had kids, parents and friends at the game and they were excited.
“It’s good to have football back in Methuen.”
The night didn’t begin so well for the host Rangers as Andover marched down the field at breakneck speed. Even after a 70-yard touchdown run was called back, the Golden Warriors were in the end zone a few plays later. Considering the fact that Andover put 40 points on Methuen in the first half of a playoff game last year, one could have forgiven the Rangers’ faithful for having a bad feeling.
Undaunted, the Methuen defense gradually stiffened as the game wore on. Their play was a big reason why Ryan opted to put the defense on the field first in overtime after winning the coin toss.
“I felt really where we were defensively at that point,” Ryan said. “I was pretty confident we were going to get a stop. When you are starting from the 10yard line, you don’t have as much space and the threat of the vertical passing game with Scotty Brown gets cut down a little.”
Methuen made things interesting on its overtime possession. After getting eight yards on first down, the Rangers needed three tries to find the end zone as Romano scored from the 1 on the final play.
“After we got the eight yards, I told the offensive coordinator that we are just going to pound the rock,” Ryan said. “Anthony is a throwback in a lot of ways. We haven’t had a back like that in a while, someone who can pound it in between the tackles.”
Kicking for a cause
Central Catholic kicker Nick Mazzie is putting his foot to good use. The senior standout is using his skills to raise money for childhood cancer as he did a season ago when he raised $1,046.
“I am just trying to do my part in helping the world become a better place,” said Mazzie, who committed to New Hampshire over the weekend. “At Central Catholic we are always taught to care for the least favored and in a sense, that’s exactly what my teammates and I are doing. With the help of my teammates I am able to use my kicking abilities to raise money for pediatric cancer.”
People interested in donating can do so in two ways. One can either make a one-time donation or pledge an amount for every point Mazzie scores this season. To pledge: https://alexslemonade.org/mypage/1857229
Mazzie converted five PATs and a field goal in a season-opening 38-13 win over Lowell.
Sweet 16
1. CATHOLIC MEMORIAL (1-0): Solid road win for the Knight, but it came at a cost as quarterback J.C. Petrongolo went down with an injury.
2. CENTRAL CATHOLIC (1-0): Raiders showed little rust in jumping all over Lowell in the season opener.
3. XAVERIAN (1-0): I guess we know who takes Thursday
Pickorama seriously. Especially when we pick against the Hawks.
4. MANSFIELD (1-0): Cincere Gill is going to be a major headache for the Hockomock League once again.
5. ST. JOHN’S PREP (1-0): Eagles were more than happy to get a game after Malden Catholic was unable to compete.
6. NATICK (1-0): Redhawks will be a nightmare to defend as they can move the ball on the ground or in the air.
7. BROCKTON (1-0): Devonte Medley showed why hope springs eternal in Boxer Country.
8. READING (0-0): Rockets make their debut Saturday against Winchester.
9. LINCOLN-SUDBURY (1-0): Veteran Warriors team handled Concord-Carlisle easier than many expected.
10. DUXBURY (1-0): Matt Festa appears fully ready to make up for lost time after losing most of his freshman year to injury.
11. BC HIGH (0-1): The road doesn’t get easier for the Eagles as two-time Division 1 state champion St. John’s Prep awaits.
12. MILFORD (1-0): Impressive opening win against Attleboro. Now the Scarlet Hawks will truly see where they stand this week against Mansfield.
13. MELROSE (0-0): Red Raiders will be tested right out of the gate by a tough Stoneham squad.
14. KING PHILIP (1-0): Warriors started slowly but kicked into high gear down the stretch.
15. BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM (1-0): Anthony Morrison is merely the latest in a long line of workhorse backs under Dan Buron.
16. TEWKSBURY (0-0): Redmen will be busy with two games in five days starting with Dracut on Monday night.
ON THE SIDELINES: North Attleboro (1-0), Methuen (1-0), North Andover (1-0), Stoughton (1-0), Wellesley (1-0), Marblehead (1-0), Holliston (0-0).