METHUEN — For a few moments, it appeared Methuen was setting up another classic, headline-grabbing finish.
Rangers Alex Santiago and Josh Defatima combined for a massive hit to force a Billerica turnover on downs with 2:58 to go in the game, and five Caiden Hartley-Didio runs later, Methuen had the ball at the Indians’ 4-yard line with 0:41 left on the clock.
But Billerica stuffed a third-down run, and a missed field goal on fourth down gave the Indians an upset 34-32 victory over the Rangers in the regular season finale for both teams, on a rain-soaked, windy Thursday evening at Nicholson Stadium.
“Our kids played hard,” said Rangers head coach Ryan Dugan. “Billerica is just such a tough team to prepare for on any week, let alone a short week. We really only had one real practice to prepare for their double-wing, wishbone offense. It was tough. We picked it up a little bit in the second half, but we didn’t play well enough to win the game in the end.”
Methuen (6-2) entered the game No. 6 in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings, and Billerica (5-3) entered the day No. 7 in the Division 2 power rankings.
“We’ll see where the chips fall when the (MIAA playoff) seedings come out on Sunday,” said Dugan. “I feel like we played well enough to earn a home playoff game. Division 1 is tough with all the Catholic schools. You have teams that have elite seasons, and it’s impossible for them to get into the Top 4 in the power rankings.”
Methuen started hot in the rain on Thursday, quickly driving down the field on the game’s opening possession, with Hartley-Didio finding Defatima for a 7-yard TD pass.
Billerica tied it up, but the Rangers struck right back. Hicham Aboutoui drilled a 42-yard field goal, then — after a fumble recovered by Jayvien Castillo-Vasquez — Hartley-Didio ran for a 1-yard score. That was set up by a beautiful 33-pass from QB Josh Danella, returning from a broken collarbone.
The Indians, however, responded with a pair of touchdowns — one set up by a blocked punt — to take a 21-17 lead into halftime, then opened the second half with a touchdown to make it 28-17.
But back came the Rangers, as receiver Alex Santiago took a reverse 10 yards for a touchdown, and Hartley-Didio hit lineman Vinny DeMaio for the 2-point conversion. Then, after another Billerica score, Tim Dornezon broke a 34-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to just two points with 5:18 left.
Methuen managed the defensive stop, with big tackles from Myckal Pitman and DeMaio, who was playing without his twin brother and fellow top inside linebacker Anthony, who missed the game with an MCL injury. But the offense could not manage one final score.
Now the Rangers will have to rebound going into the state tournament, something Dugan is fully confident in.
“We’re hurting right now,” said the coach. “But it’s great to have both Josh and Caiden back healthy at quarterback. Josh is feeling 100 percent.
“Like I just told the team, the last time we lost (to Tewksbury), we came out against Andover and Central Catholic and our team was angry, and we played with energy and effort, and that’s what we’re going to do next week.”
Billerica 34, Methuen 32
FIRST QUARTER
M — Josh Defatima 7 pass from Caiden Hartley-Didio (Hicham Aboutoui kick), 7:48
B — Erik Knight 41 run (Daniel Venezia kick), 6:10
M — Aboutoui 42 field goal, 2:49
SECOND QUARTER
M — Hartley-Didio 1 run (Aboutoui kick), 11:55
B — Knight 2 run (Venezia kick), 6:37
B — Knight 1 run (Venezia kick), 4:01
THIRD QUARTER
B — Venezia 61 run (Venezia kick), 9:51
M — Alex Santiago 10 run (Vinny DeMaio pass from Hartley-Didio), 5:00
FOURTH QUARTER
B — Jackson Gearin 12 run (kick failed), 5:34
M — Tim Dornezon 34 run (Aboutoui kick), 5:13
STATISTICS
RUSHING: Methuen — Caiden Hartley-Didio 21-126, Tim Dornezon 7-59, Thomas Rodriguez 4-9, Josh Danella 2-9, Alex Santiago 2-28; Billerica leaders:
PASSING: Methuen — Danella 4-6-0, 73, Hartley-Didio 4-8-0, 38; Billerica —
RECEIVING: Methuen — Josh Defatima 4-71, Dornezon 3-33, Cole Smith 1-7
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