DRACUT — You watch a John McCarthy pounding people on defense from sideline to sideline. You see Nick Wright refusing to go down in the most severe traffic on a punt return.
You grin at the sight of a beaten-up Raudy Minaya, outwilling a pair of defenders and making athletic plays, then laboring to drag himself off the muddy pitch.
And as one of the 4,000 gathered yesterday at Beaudry Field, you realize even in a disappointing 28-14 defeat to Dracut that Methuen High football has returned to where it rightfully belongs.
"You just don't know if you're going to get back here, this would have been such a great opportunity for this program," said Ranger coach Pat Graham. "I'm proud of the kids, the way they fought all year long. They exceeded everyone's expectations."
Dracut and Methuen took center stage, drawing the Boston TV stations for this standing-room only MVC Small slugfest.Remember, this is just two-plus years since Methuen ended a 33-game conference losing streak.
"It was just an awesome atmosphere," said QB Cal Carroll. "The adrenaline for the game was through the roof."
A Ranger team that went 7-5 last year and returned just eight lettermen sent the message that the past two seasons have been more than just blips.
"Before the year started, I didn't think this team would be playing here for a chance to go to the playoffs," admitted Carroll. "We're a young team, and we walked into almost every game as an underdog. I think as a program, we definitely have made a name for ourselves."
The Rangers aren't about to take a step back.
Carroll, who went over 1,000 yards rushing with 121 yards yesterday, leads the returners. He scored 15 TDs this year and threw for 968 yards and 11 more scores.
They also return big-play man Raudy Minaya (9th TD catch yesterday) and reliable targets Kevin Higgins and James Staples.
Defensively, big hitters Jason Doyle, Jeff McAndrew and Matt Delmonte all have another year to shine on the MVC's second stingiest defense (15.0 points a game).
"These kids have a lot of heart," said Graham. "They play hard the whole game. They play 100 mph. It's exciting."
Just not your day
If there were any breaks to be had for the Rangers, they were bad breaks yesterday.
"A lot of things didn't go our way," said Carroll.
A roughing the passer call kept Dracut's late second-quarter TD drive alive.
Even the folks in Carolina Blue were surprised when the flag flew on a call that wouldn't have been made in the ultra-protective NFL.
Per usual, the Rangers swarmed the football, forcing a pair of fumbles that bounced right into another Middie's hands. And a third was correctly blown dead by a whistle.
Ex-Ranger leads Middies
The havoc wreaked inside by behemoth 340-pound Dracut defensive tackle James Acosta (6 tackles) especially hurt. Acosta attended Methuen High for one year. ...
The MIAA cites health concerns for slicing the quarters to 10 minutes from 11 since some teams are coming back for playoffs Tuesday. Still, it seems pretty strange to settle a championship in a league that plays 44-minute games all season with a 40-minute game. ...
While the EMass playoffs are supposed to be played at neutral sites, Methuen High AD Jim Weymouth reports that there has been serious discussion that Dracut would have to play Tuesday at Reading. ...
With 121 yards yesterday, Cal Carroll topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season. The junior finished with 229 carries for 1,058 yards on the ground and 93-of-189 passing for 968 yards and 11 TDs.
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