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Crusaders Third Quarter, the Difference

Leading 7-6 at the half, Groton-Dunstable exploded for 21 third quarter points on route to an impressive 28-6 win over visiting Gardner in both teams' season opener.

The first quarter was not pretty with offensive spurts, turnovers, penalties and no scores for either team. 

The defensive effort continued in the second stanza with senior Tristan Lynch and Joey Orlando combining to stop Gardner on a third and nine on their own 21 yard line. Forced to punt, Jose Lopez's snap was high and wide of quarterback Mathew Seward and bounced into the end zone. GD's Drew Moore swooped around left end and pounced on the loose ball putting the Crusaders ahead, 6-0. The extra point from Corey Romich was good for a 7-0 lead at 6:24 of the quarter. 

"Defensively, we really played well," said head coach Derek Asadoorian. "We took their running game away.  Juniors Joey Orlando, Ronnie Peck and sophomore Shane Dawson were solid at linebacker."

Starting on their 44 yard line, Gardner answered, moving the ball effectively behind the Wildcats' big offensive line. Seward and Jake Shetrawski got big chunks of yardage, eventually getting on the board when senior Peter Gallant broke off left tackle and drove into the end zone from the two-yard line with 21 seconds remaining in the half. The two-point conversion was missed leaving GD with a 7-6 lead at the break.

"Shutting off their extra point was huge for us," stated Asadoorian. "We won the first half and then we made adjustments." 

In the third, GD sealed the game. They received the kick-off and immediately started moving the ball on the ground behind big gains from Lynch and Orlando. Quarterback Quintin Forbes, running the keeper, broke off right tackle from the 25 and in for the score. With Romich injured after making a tackle, Erik Yanchenko stepped up, kicking the PAT putting GD ahead 14-6 at 10:21. 

"They were playing us man-to-man, so we tried to stretch them out by using the running game more," Asadoorian said. "Once we got the run game going, that opened up the pass."

As though scripted, GD struck in the air. With just over two minutes remaining in the third, a Forbes to Moore completion for 30 yards had the ball at the Wildcats' 19. The talented quarterback threw a perfect strike to wide receiver Drew Moore who raced in to the end zone for the Crusaders' third TD.  Yanchenko's kick was good.

With time running out in the third, senior Joey Stewart and Forbes teamed up on a 32 yard touchdown pass completion and that was that! Eric Yanchenko's PAT made it 28-6.

Forbes finished with 9 carries for 57 yards and was 6 of 11 for 118 yards in the air. Moore caught three passes for 70 yards and Stewart had two catches for 42 yards. Joey Orlando had 11 tackles and Ronnie Peck had nine tackles for GD.  The PJ Kendall fan club roared their approvable after each of his many tackles.

 

"The defense played really well. We were able to take away their running game," continued Asadoorian.  "Offensively we executed very well in the second half. I am so proud of the effort because we were able to overcome penalties."

It's early in the season but the Crusaders have a big game on September 20 against Hudson. The Hawks bring back most of the players from last year's team and have the added incentive of the shutout loss GD handed them last year.

Groton Herald

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