STONEHAM – All the emotion that had been pent up inside Stoneham head coach Bob Almeida got here out with a number of dancing and smiles on Friday evening when his workforce polished off a 30-13 win over Melrose for his two hundredth profession win, turning into the 56th coach to take action in Massachusetts historical past.
“That was a lot of pressure last week and coming into this week,” Almeida stated after his workforce gave him the compulsory water bathtub as time wound down. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about it and this is a credit to all the players and coaches that we’ve had everywhere we’ve been. Every one of them is responsible for this.”
The milestone win was a clinic in successful soccer for Stoneham because the Spartans (4-1) dominated on each side of the ball within the second half in outscoring the guests 23-6 after the half. It was additionally dominated by the large play as operating again Shane Farren did all the things however carry the kitchen sink for Stoneham.
The senior turned all of the momentum Stoneham’s method halfway by the second quarter together with his workforce trailing 7-0 after a Nick Chiulli first-quarter landing for Melrose. On third-and-21 from the Spartans 25, quarterback Jason Nutting went deep and located Farren broad open on a publish route for a rating that reduce the result in 7-6 at halftime.
“That touchdown pass was huge. We’ve hit that for a big play to Shane more than once this year,” Almeida stated. “He really is having a great year and he ran like a beast (Friday).”
Feeding off that landing and a half-ending cease by its protection, the Spartans got here out of the locker room and took management of the sport within the third quarter.
Stoneham obtained the kick and didn’t let Melrose (3-2) see the sector for nearly 9 minutes due to a 16-play drive that noticed the Spartans convert twice on each third and fourth downs. A 25-yard Nutting to Paul Mannke go obtained Stoneham in place to strike earlier than Farren’s leaping seize on fourth down on the Melrose 38 saved the drive going.
James Landers paid off all of the work as he capped the 87-yard drive with a five-yard landing run on fourth and objective to offer the Spartans a lead they by no means relinquished.
Desperately in want of a drive to offer its protection a relaxation, the Red Raiders as a substitute went three-and-out, giving the ball proper again to the red-hot Stoneham offense. The Spartans went proper again to work as Nutting and Farren related for a 25-yard acquire on yet one more third down on the penultimate play of the third quarter.
Early within the fourth, Landers busted across the left aspect for his second rating of the half, this one from 17 yards to offer the Spartans a 22-7 lead after Farren’s conversion rush.
Melrose wanted a spark to try to proper the ship and that’s what quarterback Josh Madden gave the Red Raiders on the following offensive play as he saved on a learn choice play, broke 4 tackles, after which proceeded to out run the Stoneham secondary to the top zone for a 70-yard landing. The conversion rush was stuffed, maintaining it a two-score sport with 9:53 to go.
It was as shut as Melrose may get because the Spartans’ floor sport lastly started to wear down the Red Raiders protection. Fittingly it was Farren that insured Almeida’s milestone victory with a 27-yard jaunt to the home with 3:09 to go.
“This was just a gutsy performance but our team,” Almeida stated. “We were able to wear them out in the second half.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com