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Dracut crushes Methuen on miserable Turkey Day

Wednesday, August, 29 By Alan Siegel
Staff writer

METHUEN | Wind, rain, mud and Dracut combined to spoil Methuen's Thanksgiving morning.

Moments after a 35-6 defeat in front of about 400 fans at Nicholson Stadium, the Rangers gathered at the goal line for a final time this season. Coach Glen Gearin, whose club finished the year with a 1-9 record, managed a smile when talking about his players.

"You always want to win," Gearin said. "But when the kids give effort, you're proud of them."

Gearin's club did make an effort, but not enough to make a serious run at the Middies (9-2). Methuen's lone highlight of the annual holiday matchup came after Dracut scored on its first possession of the game.

With 1:54 remaining in the first quarter, quarterback Matt Naylor capped a five-play drive with a 50-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Justin Marsan. The junior QB hit a wide-open Marsan at the Dracut 35, and he sprinted up the sideline to put the Rangers on the board.

Known as the best passing team in the state, the Middies instead went to the ground in the heavy rain.

The Middies, led by quarterback Bobby Russo (103 yards rushing, 2 TDs) and running back Dave Surprenant (165 yards rushing, 2 TDs), proceeded to score 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to put the game out of reach.

"They're 9-1 for a reason," Gearin said.

Dracut now leads the all-time series 23-18-3 and has now captured the Jaycees Memorial Trophy five straight years.

The Middies finish the regular season in a three-way tie with Lowell and Central Catholic atop the Merrimack Valley Conference. Central ended up winning the coin flip to earn the playoff berth.

It's back to the drawing board for the Rangers, who should return a core of talented players next fall. Marsan and Naylor will be back, as will their fine sophomore receiver/defensive back Matt Bartlett.