October 22, 2024 By Kevin Riordan
The 8th Grade Raiders finished the regular season unbeaten with a systematic dismantling of the Newton Mustangs on Sunday. The Raiders dominated the regular season with a seventh straight victory by more than twenty points. This was a pretty fascinating game as QB Hudson Garrity put on an offensive clinic throwing for 3 touchdowns and running for two more while running back Evan Tomasello rushed for over a 100 yards and Shamus Devine had two TD catches. Next stop, the Bay State League playoffs where the Raiders look to defend their Super Bowl title.
The Raiders coaching strategy has been to control the first quarter by scoring early and often and that is just what they did as QB Hudson Garrity took the snap from center Brooks Johnson and followed the blocks from Will Berkeley and Denny Costello to sprint 42 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead. The defense came out aggressive with Cam Forger and John Peterson making tackles for losses, then Even Tomasello read the fake punt cues and tackled the punter for a turnover on downs. In short order QB Garrity threw slant passes to Johhny Heller and Even Tomasello who stiff armed his way into the end zone to go up 12-0. Continuing his stellar performance Tomasello intercepted a pass and ran it back 65 yards for a pick-six and an 18-0 lead.
Defensively, Frank Cavagnaro and Denny Costello continually disrupted the offense with consecutive QB sacks as Neil Deininger and Mason Aframe broke up passes to force a punt. QB Garrity threw a 40 yard strike to Shamus Devine which was quickly followed up by a perfect pass into the corner of the end zone where an outstreched Devine made the TD catch. On the extra point QB Neil Deininger threw a pass to Andrew Nolan for the 25-0 lead. Newton answered with a 56 yard run up the middle to cut the lead to 25-8. Just before the half Garrity connected with Shamus Devine who leapt between three defenders for a 28 yard catch for a first down. Two plays later Garrity again found with his trusty receiver on a crossing route for a 25 yard TD pass and a 31-8 lead at the half.
The second half was a continuation of defensive pressure by Cavagnaro, Huber, Devine and run stuffing tackles by Cam Forger, Michey Syp, Jack Hart and Mason Aframe to shut down Newton’s drives. Keeping their foot on the gas QB Garrity launched a bomb to Johhny Heller to set up a first and goal which Garrity ran in behind blocks from Duncan Wilder and Will Taylor for the TD. Back on defense Shamus Devine, Braden Oun, Ryan Crespi and Carter Karis combined for tackles but Newton managed to score a TD making it a 37-14 game. On the very next play Garrity hit Shamus Devine for a 31 yard gain and Evan Tomasello ripped off an18 yard run to set up a TD run by Garrity that increased the lead to 43-18 in the fourth quarter. Defensively Grant Riordan, Mathew Palmero, Ryan Fernquist and Mickey Syp made a touchdown saving tackle as time ran out on the Mustangs