LUDLOW — The Mahar Regional School football team took the long ride south to take on Ludlow High School Friday night, and the ride home seemed a whole lot shorter as the Senators beat the Lions, 20-7, in an independent match up.
It was the first victory of the year for the Senators (1-2), and it was a stifling defense and bruising ground game that got it done for Mahar.
The Senators had three interceptions off the Lions’ junior quarterback Justin DeBarge and rode the legs of senior Ben Gilmore to give first-year head coach Chris Bailey his first career victory.
“It feels great,” Bailey said of the win.
The first interception for the Senators came in the first quarter after DeBarge had led the Lions on a nine-play, 69-yard opening drive, and had a first-and-10 at the Mahar 23-yard line. DeBarge, who had been picking apart the Senators defense through the air on the drive with three completions for 45 yards, tried to find receiver Andrew Conchinha down the right sideline, but the pass was grabbed by sophomore John Gariepy, killing the drive.
The Mahar offense would stutter in the opening frame, going three-and-out twice, and would fall behind with just 29 seconds remaining in the frame, as DeBarge hit receiver Tod Holloway on a post pattern down the middle for a 28-yard score. The kick was good, and Mahar was looking at a 7-0 deficit entering the second quarter. It would be the last score the Senators would surrender on the evening.
The Senators cut the lead to 7-6 in the second, with Gilmore scoring on a 4-yard run up the middle. The two-point try would fail, and while Mahar hit the half down a point, there was a a noticeable feeling of confidence coming from the Senators.
Mahar took the opening kickoff in the second, and ran 11 straight running plays, bringing them to the Ludlow 8-yard line where it faced fourth-and-2. The Senators were stopped short, and were then called for two 15-yard personal fouls, giving the Lions the ball at the Mahar 35. The Senators composed themselves quickly, however, as two plays later they forced a fumble, and Sam Paul hopped on it for the recovery at the Lions 33. After another five straight runs put Mahar at the 6 with a first-and-goal, Paul hit Miller Richardson for the scoring strike. Paul ran in the two-pointer, and the Senators were up 14-7 at the end of three.
Ludlow (0-3) had one last gasp left in the fourth, but on a third-and 15 from the Mahar 48, DeBarge threw a pass downfield that was picked off by Paul for his second pick of the night. Four plays later, Paul hit senior Jake Lacasse in the middle of the field, and Lacasse did the rest, cutting up the field for a 77-yard touchdown, making it 20-7.
Mahar next hosts rival Athol, Friday at the Woodward Complex.