Medford’s protection was hungry for the ball all sport lengthy at Hormel Stadium. By the time the sport was over, they’d had themselves a Turkey Day feast.
The Mustangs compelled six turnovers, 4 of them within the second half, and beat Malden 30-14 within the historic 136th assembly of the rival colleges on a blustery Thursday morning in Medford.
The win snapped a seven-game shedding streak within the rivalry for the Mustangs (6-4), who ended their season in model and posted their first successful report because the Nineteen Nineties.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” mentioned coach John Curley. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Stevens Exateur was the workhorse for the Mustangs, speeding 29 occasions for 138 yards and a rating.
“I feel like I could have kept running,” Exateur grinned after the sport. “I wanted it. I wanted it so bad.”
While Exateur’s robust working saved the Medford offense on schedule all through the sport, his affect on particular groups was a difference-maker in a sport that began gradual however completed with an onslaught of factors late within the second half.
After Malden (3-8) wideout Nathan Sullivan made a leaping 30-yard landing catch in double protection to present the Golden Tornadoes a 7-6 lead with 2:21 left within the third quarter, Exateur lined up deep for the following kickoff.
Exateur composed himself after a short battle to corral the ball and located a lane up the left sideline, going 87 yards to present the Mustangs a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“You can’t describe him,” Curley mentioned of his senior working again. “When he has the ball in his hands, you better buckle up. You better be ready to enjoy the ride.”
Medford’s swarming protection took over from there. They recovered a fumble and got here up with two interceptions within the remaining quarter to close down the Tornadoes, together with a 24-yard pick-six from Justin Marino to seal the cope with 1:25 left within the sport.
Defensive again Prince Exavier led the cost with a number of booming tackles, setting the tone within the dominant defensive effort.
“It was all 11 and everyone on this team,” Curley mentioned. “When you see 11 guys battling out there, and they make mistakes and keep on battling, it’s awesome.”
Trailing 24-7 within the fourth, Malden wasn’t able to go quietly, as freshman quarterback Ryan Bowdridge discovered tight finish Earl Fevrier for a 65-yard landing up the seam to make it a two-score sport with just below six minutes to play.
The Tornadoes obtained the ball again and made all of it the best way right down to the Medford 36-yard line earlier than Fevrier was stopped one yard brief on a fourth down go to the flat, and from there the Mustangs knew they had been lastly again within the win column on Thanksgiving Day.
Source: www.bostonherald.com