The Malden Catholic Lancers’ (2-2) first visit to Concord-Carlisle High School since the late 1990s ended the way their last visit ended — with a convincing win over the Patriots. The 28-7 loss on a soggy Memorial Field evened the Patriots record at 2-2 on the campaign.
The Lancers set the tone on the first drive of the game. After a touchback put Malden Catholic at their own 20, the Lancers got to work behind running back Jaiden Williams (213 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries for the game) and moved into Patriots territory.
But the C-C defense stiffened behind stops by seniors Aengus Wilson, defensive end; Cal MacClary, linebacker/defensive back: and Ryan DeMayo, linebacker, and the Lancers were forced to punt. An unfortunate penalty (too many men on the field) extended the Lancers drive.
On the very next play, the Lancers managed to fall on a fumble and again extend the drive — a drive that would consume 10:46 of the first quarter (quarters are 12 minutes long) in 18 plays that ended with a five-yard Williams plunge and a 7-0 Malden Catholic lead.
The Patriots were on the move as the quarter ended. Senior quarterback Ryan Fivek hit junior wide receiver Matt Carleton for a 10-yard strike that was followed by a Carleton 10-yard scamper and the Pats were at the Lancers’ 38. But in keeping with a common theme of this dank evening, the Lancers defense held and forced a C-C punt. The Patriots defense stepped up and held Malden Catholic on the ensuing drive, but a 45-yard punt had C-C pinned deep in their own end.
On a key third and long, Fivek had a spectacular scramble for 25 yards and the Patriots again were on the move. Carleton’s 10-yard end around and a DeMayo seven-yard run had the Pats moving into Malden Catholic territory. But a C-C holding penalty stalled the drive, the Pats had to punt, and the first half ended with C-C still down 7-0.
The second half opened with the Patriots once again moving the ball into Lancers territory behind four DeMayo rushes and a 10-yard completion from Fivek to junior wide receiver Will Hoover. But, again, the Lancers defense tightened up and the drive stalled at the Malden Catholic 41.
After a Fivek punt pinned the Lancers at their own six, Malden Catholic’s offense revved up and went 94 yards on 14 plays, eating up more than eight minutes of the clock. The two-yard Lancers touchdown run put Malden Catholic up 14-0 with 9:59 left in the contest.
After the Patriots turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, the Lancers again controlled the ball with a 10-play, 39-yard drive the culminated in a six-yard touchdown run and a 21-0 Lancers lead. But the Pats weren’t done yet, as Carleton took the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for the score. The extra point kick by sophomore K. Sam Griswold cut the Lancers’ lead to 21-7.
The Patriots needed another big play to truly get back in the game, and the defense did their part as senior defensive lineman Seamus Rudolph jumped on a Lancers fumble and the Pats were in business at their own 30 with 4:59 left.
But the wet conditions and the Lancers defense made a quick strike offense difficult. After picking up one first down, the Pats comeback stalled, and Malden Catholic took over on downs. The Lancers added a late touchdown to make the final 28-7.
