ORANGE — Round One goes to the Red Raiders.
In an unusual early-season tilt under the lights Friday night at The Woodward Complex, the Athol High School football team put up its second shutout in a row, handily beating arch rival Mahar Regional School, 28-0, in an Intercounty League North showdown at the Woodward Complex.
The game was close early, with Athol (2-1, 1-0 IL North) taking an 8-0 lead into halftime, the only score of the half coming on a 6-yard burst up the middle by the Raiders’ power back Robbie Nelson with 9:32 remaining in the second quarter. Nelson’s score was the culmination of a 10-play, 72-yard drive that started midway through the first stanza, and established a bruising running attack that controlled the time of possession and the pace of play.
Mahar (1-3, 0-1 IL North) had their longest and most impressive drive of the night following the Athol score, a 15-play, 48-yard march, but came up empty as a 21-yard pass from Sam Paul bounced off receiver Hugo Frost in the end zone on a fourth-and-10-from the Athol 21.
The teams played a scoreless third frame, but with Athol driving as the final quarter began. Four plays into the final stanza, Athol capped off its second sustained scoring drive of the night, again on a six-yard run by Nelson. The possession covered 68 yards on 11 plays, all runs. The two-pint conversion would fail, and the lead was 14-0 with 8:08 remaining in the contest.
The Athol defense would come up huge forcing a three-and-out on the next series, after pinning Mahar deep at its own 7-yard line on the kickoff. Weather was a huge factor on the ensuing punt, as the wind and the rain were in full swing, and the kick went out of bounds at the Mahar 28. On the next play from scrimmage, Tyler Lutz would run the ball down to the 1-yard-line, setting up quarterback Trevor Mousseau for a 1-yard keeper for the Raiders third score with 5:48 to play.
The Athol defense, which stood tall all evening continued to do so, forcing a four-and-out, and taking the ball over on downs at the Senators 31. Two plays later, Lutz ran it in from 30 yards out, and the two-point conversion made it 28-0, which would be the final.
“I thought the game was a bit closer than the final score indicated,” said Mahar head coach Chris Bailey. “I’m proud of the effort the kids gave, and we’ll just keep on working to get better.”
Athol head coach Bill LaRose was understandably happy with his team’s effort, as over the last eight quarters his team has not given up a point and has outscored its opponents 62-0.
“It’s always great to beat your rival, but it feels a little weird tonight,” said LaRose, who along with everyone else is used to these two squads meeting for a Thanksgiving Day matinee. “I feel like I should be going home to have some turkey, but there won’t be any tonight.”
Not to worry, the teams will meet again on Turkey Day, with Athol trying to do what no Red Raiders squad has done before — beating the Senators twice in a season.