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Football Team Bounces Back: Crushes Clinton 35-6 to Improve record to 4-1

After last week's 41-6 defeat at the hands of Westford Academy, I wondered how Groton-Dunstable would respond. The answer came quickly last Friday afternoon when the Crusaders (4-1, 2-0) scored 21 first quarter points on their way to an impressive 35-6 demolition of visiting Clinton (1-4, 1-3) in Mid-Wach C action.

"I am extremely proud of how they responded," said GD varsity football coach Derek Asadoorian. "This is the first time we have ever beaten them!"

For a team that traditionally is well prepared and plays solid, hardnosed football, it was striking to see GD take it to Clinton early.

The Gaels won the coin toss and elected to receive but on the first series, the Crusaders recovered a fumble on the Clinton nine yard. Junior quarterback Mack Eberhardt, with a first and goal, slid off tackle and into the end zone for a TD. Freshman Corey Romich's PAT was good giving GD a 7-0 lead at 8:41 of the opening quarter.

The Crusader defense held Clinton on downs, forcing a punt. GD senior fullback Matt Manning, returning to the lineup, starting just inside the 20, bulled his way to the 35 yard line carrying Clinton tacklers with him. On the next play, Eberhardt threw a strike to classmate Joey Steward who hauled in a 65 TD pass pushing the advantage to 14-0 (Romich PAT).

After a Clinton first down, the Crusaders' defense stiffened behind solid defensive effort by Alex Dhionis, Matt Plausse, Manning and Charles Hill. Once again the Gaels had to punt. Sophomore Joe Orlando, on two successive carries, moved the chains. A 10 yard pass completion to Coleman Hill brought the ball just past midfield where Eberhardt, on a QB keeper, broke off a 45 yard TD run for the Crusaders' third TD of the quarter. (Corey Romich PAT).

"We gave them nothing defensively and got ahead early," enthused Asadoorian. "They are always good, and well coached but after our practice yesterday, I felt confident."

In the second stanza, starting on their own 23 yard line, the Crusaders kept rolling behind bruising runs of 11, 10 and two yards respectively by Manning. But the big play was an Eberhardt pitch to speedster Quintin Forbes who raced 53 yards to the Clinton two. This set up a Manning TD (Romich PAT) giving the Crusaders a 28-0 bulge.

The teams were scoreless in the third but early in the fourth quarter, it was Manning again, this time hauling in an Eberhardt pass in the flat and racing 47 yards for the Crusaders' fifth touchdown. Again, Romich tacked on the extra point. Not certain but, has the sure-footed kicker missed an extra point this season?

Clinton senior Matt Notaro caught a 39-yard TD pass from Kyle Cutler in the closing minutes getting the visitors their only score.

Manning had 13 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while Eberhardt had a pair of TDs, 101 yards on the ground and went four-for-eight for 177 yards in the air. Manning also made eight tackles, Coleman Hill six, Charles Hill and Matt Plausse each added five hits for the Crusaders who are away on Friday, October 12 against Hudson (3-2, 2-0 Mid-Wach B).

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