I hadn't witnessed a high school football game in 30 years. What I saw this night shocked me. I was amazed by the creativity and complexity of the offenses, the skill level of the players and the intensity of the competition...all happening with a brilliant orange harvest moon rising over the proceedings as the game began. It was inspiring. The story follows.
LEXINGTON, MA. Sept. 16, 2016
On a perfect night for football under a huge harvest moon the Minutemen from Lexington and the visiting Patriots from Concord staged a battle worthy of their storied names. Ultimately the hosts won Battle Road bragging rights by the slimmest of margins in a 35-34 thriller.
After Concord Carlisle won the coin toss and deferred (they are the Patriots after all--more on this later) Lexington promptly scored on their first drive and on every one of their possessions thereafter to keep CC climbing uphill for the entire contest.
It looked from the start that this seesaw affair would come down to the final moments and it did not disappoint. Down 35-28 the Patriots opened the fourth quarter with an impressive 7 minute 13 play 70 yard drive needing only the extra point to pull even. But they wanted more and faked the kick with the holder attempting to pass for two points and the lead. The alert Minuteman defense saw it coming and smothered the attempt in what became the game’s turning point.
CC’s ensuing onside kick failed to go the required 10 yards giving the Minutemen great field position on the Patriot 48 to start their final key possession. On the next play Lexington’s electrifying quarterback, Sal Frelick rolled left, cut sharply up the middle and sprinted all the way to the end zone only to have the play called back on a holding penalty. Instead of game over, it was first and 20 from the Lexington 42 with three minutes left and the outcome suddenly and very much in doubt.
From there the Lexington captains, running back Ben Quint and Frelick, took over and five plays later had the Minutemen with a first down at the Patriot 18. While it appeared they could score again, the last thing Lexington wanted was to give the ball back to CC’s high powered offense. Intelligently, the Minutemen chose killing the clock instead of scoring forcing CC to exhaust their time-outs. The game ended with Lexington on CC’s 6 yard line.
This was truly an offensive show with each team amassing close to 400 yards in total offense. Typically a passing formation, literally anything can happen out of Lexington’s shotgun/pistol. Quarterback draws, rollouts, swing passes, option pitches and throws downfield were all on display for an offense that seems made to order for Frelick who was 10 for 13 through the air for 130 yards and one touchdown and 17 rushes for 119 yards and three more TDs. Quint did more than chip in with 6 rushes for 117 yards and a score.
In post game comments CC coach Mike Robichaud was asked if all the offense was because of problems on defense. “I think our defense is pretty strong,” he asserted. “That’s a great offense we just played. Incredibly explosive. Really well coached with multiple guys who are capable of making plays.”.
Meanwhile the CC offense was equally potent behind the power of senior running back Sam Randle (opponents will be celebrating his graduation) who rushed for 177 yards on 24 attempts and the elusive speed of Jayden Farquharson 9 rushes for a 115 yards. Junior quarterback Jack Easterday played brilliantly bailing his club out with clutch passes on several key third and fourth down situations including a perfect throw for a TD to Alex Hamel with no time left on the clock in the first half. Coach Mike Robichaud observed,. “We were having some trouble right there. I thought we were going to run out of time. We were fortunate. But it was a great throw and a great route.”
It didn’t take long for the Lexington offense to show its explosiveness. On the very first play from scrimmage Frelick rolled to his left, faked a move to the inside drawing the defense then pitched wide to Quint who streaked down the left sideline for 40 yards to the CC 26. After two penalties it looked like the drive might stall, but on fourth and 10 Frelick hit Quint with a swing pass to save it. One play later Frelick rolled to his left on a pass/run option from 14 yards out to open the scoring.
In a precursor of what was to happen all night CC came right back with a nine play 77 yard drive featuring a heavy dose of Randle and Farquharson. Randle scored up the middle from the eight breaking two tackles and carrying several Minutemen with him into the end zone.
Lexington surged back in front rumbling 63 yards on only four plays with Quint again scintillating on a weaving 44 yard run to the end zone.
Not to be outdone the Patriots stormed back to tie the score on just one play, a 62 yard run by the quick and elusive Farquharson.
The back and forth continued with Lexington scoring quickly again moving 62 yards in just under 3 minutes. Frelick rolling to his left against his throwing arm, delivered a 16 yard dart to an open James Lane in the left corner of the end zone for a 21 – 14 Lexington lead. In just under 11 minutes of football these two offensive machines had run up 35 points.
The Minuteman defense stiffened in the second stanza, and, aided by a holding call against CC which nullified a Farquharson touchdown run, forced a punt…the only one of the game. Lexington took over on their own 16 and moved 84 yards in just 7 plays with Frelick scoring again, this time rolling to the right side from 13 yards out and diving just inside the right pylon. The big play in the drive was a pitch and catch from Frelick to Anthony Bianchi rescuing Lexington from a deep 3rd and 14 hole to gain a first down on the CC 26.
Now down 2 scores 28 – 14, the Patriots trudged up that hill yet again with Randle leading the way, breaking tackles powering his way to 41 of the 76 yards on the drive.
But with just :15 left in the half Lexington Sophomore safety Matt Stevens stopped Randle cold on first and 10. The entire Lexington interior line then swarmed Easterday for a 4 yard loss and this combined with an illegal procedure penalty left CC with 4th and goal from the 17 with just 8 ticks on the clock. No problem for the CC quarterback who arched a perfect lob to Hamel in the right corner of Lexington’s end zone as the half ended.
It is probably no surprise that the Patriot deferral strategy worked for these Patriots as well. Having scored on the last possession of the first half they got possession again to start the second and launched a successful 80 yard, 14 play drive featuring Randle’s ground game and two absolutely clutch passes both from Easterday to Hamel on 4th and 5, and again on 4th and 6. The senior QB completed the drive with a 13 yard strike to Junior running back Robert Doherty bringing CC even for yet a third time.
Naturally, Lexington came right back to score the go-ahead and winning touchdown as the 3rd quarter closed. Lane started it with a nifty kick-off return giving the Minutemen great field position on their own 45. The drive was in deep trouble, though, facing 4th and 9 on the CC 27, but Frelick found his lanky target Spencer Kendall for 15 yards and a critical first down at the 12. Two quarterback draws later, Frelick was in the CC end zone setting the stage for the fourth quarter drama that followed.
Along with Frelick and Quint’s offense, sophomore wide out Anthony Bianchi contributed 4 receptions for 66 yards. Junior receiver James Lane gathered in 2 Frelick passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
While Randle and Farquharson carried the load for the CC offense, Easterday threw sparingly but effectively. He and receiver Alex Hamel connected on 3 drive saving passes in 3rd or 4th and long situations and a fourth time for a touchdown.