METHUEN – Was it a statement game for Methuen High and running back Shane Eason?
Damn straight it was.
The No. 8 seeded Rangers (8-1) opened the state tournament with an exclamation point, beating perennial power Franklin High, 35-21.
As for Eason, what else more needs to be said?
On offense, at least, he was a one-man wrecking crew running the ball a career-high 39 times for 335 yards, scoring all five of Methuen’s touchdowns.
It puts home over 1,700 yards in only nine games this fall, with 33 touchdowns, averaging 3.66 touchdowns per game.
“He’s a freak!” said Methuen’s top defender last night, linebacker Vinny DeMaio, who had 11 tackles, two for a loss.
“He’s always making a big play,” said DeMaio. “Tonight was no different. He’s been doing this every game.”
The first half was a legit game against two of the state’s top 10 teams.
Franklin opened with an impressive 8-play, 74-yard drive. Methuen answered back with back-to-back drives, each including “wow” plays from Eason of 38 yards and 32 yards, before he scored from one and eight yards out.
Franklin tied it up at 14-14, with their senior star back, Cole Sidwell, who had a 30-yard run before scoring from 42 yards out, untouched.
This is where Eason literally took over the game. A Franklin onsides kick was recoved by Methuen at the 50, with Eason ending the half rushing 10 times for the go-ahead score, 21-14, with only 17 seconds remaining the half.
That late second quarter drive punctuated the game and really Eason’s season.
“You’re not going to shut him down. You’re hoping to contain him,” said first-year Franklin head coach Todd Kiley. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to contain him.”
Methuen’s defense had issues in the first half containing Franklin’s double-wing offense.
But Franklin’s first two drives in the second half were three-and-outs, which included a great interception by Adrian Blake, leaving Eason the opportunity to finish the game.
And he did.
Eason scored from 11 yards and five yards before the third quarter ended to put Methuen up 35-14.
“Obviously I wasn’t expecting to carry the ball 37 times,” said Eason. “But it happened and I was ready for it. We were all ready for it. My offensive line is so good. I wait for my blocks and go.”
Franklin gave a mini-scare at the end, scoring an easy touchdown on six pass plays and then got the onside kick with 2:09 remaining.
But Methuen’s Alex Santiago snared an interception on the next play to end it.
Now Methuen gets the biggest opportunity of the season, traveling to play No. 1 St. John’s Prep, which won 42-0 over Attleboro.
The teams met in a game-scrimmage before the season, in a game Methuen coach Tom Ryan said was close.
“Style points are gone now. It’s survive and advance. That’s all the matters,” said Ryan. “St. John’s Prep is a great team. They are a tough matchup. They have elite wide receivers. We have some work to do to prepare.”