Focused Patriots thrilled with success
North Middlesex off to 4-0 start
TOWNSEND >> The smiles come in bulk at North Middlesex Regional football games this fall.
It’s not uncommon at all to see Patriots players grinning from ear to ear, laughing with one another and enjoying the experience of playing high school football. It’s what’s expected at most football fields.
But there was a time in the notso-distant past when smiles and positivity were tough to come by on the North Middlesex sideline. Wins were equally rare.
And these times were recent enough that they still live vividly in the minds of current NM players.
The lean years are seemingly over for the Patriots. Wins have come in abundance this season and the fun has returned to Townsend.
Forgive the Patriots if they celebrated heartily after Friday night’s win. They topped neighboring rival Groton-dunstable 40-0 in the annual Border War and improved to a perfect 4-0 on the season with the victory.
“It’s great. We won two games between my freshman and sophomore years and coming back and having a winning season last year was big,” senior quarterback Michael Reardon said following Friday’s
win. “We’ve gotten off to a great start and already matched last season’s win total. It’s been really great.”
It didn’t take long for the Patriots to show what they were capable of this fall. In Week 1, North Middlesex took to Crocker Field and stormed past host Fitchburg, 42-7. The following week, the Patriots bested Greater Lowell Tech by the same score.
Week 3 saw North Middlesex beat up on host Nauset to the tune of 35-8. And Friday’s shutout victory came in what has become a meaningful rivalry game against the Crusaders.
Though success has been plen
Zappe with a 12-of-21, 150yard, two-interception stat line. Zappe, who was cut after a disappointing performance in training camp and preseason, went 4-of-8 for 57 yards.
The Cowboys scored one more touchdown in garbage time after outside linebacker Matthew Judon suffered an elbow injury and didn’t return to the game.
Now 1-3 with two of their best players hurt, their quarterback coming off of a benching, a run game that can barely average more than 2 yards per carry, and a defense that let QB Dak Prescott complete over 80% of his passes, this was a low point for the Patriots in a post-tom Brady age.
BEST
WR Demario Douglas: The rookie still isn’t getting enough playing time. The most exciting Patriots play in Sunday’s loss was a 42yard
completion from Jones to Douglas that saw the slot receiver put a reverse move on Donovan Wilson that made the Cowboys safety stop in his tracks.
TE Hunter Henry: Probably the Patriots’ best current offensive player, Henry made a fantastic onehanded catch early in the third quarter. He finished with four catches on five targets for 51 yards.
Pass rush: It didn’t do much good, but the Patriots were able to pressure QB Dak Prescott, finishing
with three sacks and seven total quarterback hits. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai, defensive end Deatrich Wise and linebacker Josh Uche registered sacks.
WORST
QB Mac Jones: Sunday served as a disastrous performance for a team that doesn’t have a better option at quarterback. Will Grier is also on the roster as an emergency third quarterback after being signed off of the Bengals’ practice squad.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: The third-year pro was one of the Patriots’ best players last season. His horrid start to the season continued Sunday with 14 carries for 30 yards. The offensive line isn’t helping, but Stevenson isn’t producing big plays or successfully creating yards on his own.
WR Juju Smith-schuster: The Patriots’ highpriced free-agent addition laid another egg, catching one 14-yard pass on five targets.