Red Raiders Overpower OCL Rival Dartmouth

By: Tom Moran Jr.
Published: 10/19/12

For the Barnstable High football team, it was the first game that really counted and the Red Raiders made sure it counted in a good way, bringing home the 35-6 win over host and Old Colony League rival Dartmouth last Friday.

The win over the Indians ran the Red Raiders’ record to 6-0 on the season and much more importantly, to 1-0 in the OCL.

“We played a very smart game,” said BHS coach Chris Whidden. “We were very disciplined defensively, and offensively we were very balanced. This win is big because it was a league win and our first goal for the season is to win the league. Now we are in position to do that.”

The Red Raiders’ defense played a big role in the victory, forcing four Dartmouth turnovers and limiting the Indians to just 155 yards while Barnstable’s offense was making the most of the extra possessions by turning three of the four DHS turnovers into touchdowns.

The Indians found themselves in a hole of their own making when they fumbled away the opening kickoff and just 1:31 later, the Red Raiders had forced their way into the endzone.

Halfback Robbie Stuart scored the first touchdown, his first of the season on a one-yard plunge. Defensive end/place kicker Jason Frieh booted the PAT and with less than two minutes gone on the game clock, the Red Raiders had a lead they would not give up.

Frieh, who was filling in as the place kicker for the injured Terrence Mudie, did his kicking mate proud by connecting on all five of his PAT attempts.

The Red Raiders found the Dartmouth endzone again before the first quarter ended with defensive back Tedaro France (another sensational two-way performance) latching onto the first of his two interceptions and giving Barnstable great field position at the Dartmouth 49.

Three plays later, BHS quarterback Nick Peabody (15-28, 226 yards and three touchdowns) connected with wideout Manny Perry on a 27-yard scoring toss that doubled the Red Raider lead to 14-0 with 1:13 still to play in the first quarter.

Things only got worse for the home team as Peabody and France, now in his role as a wide receiver, combined on a 75-yard scoring pass with France showing off his open-field running skills on his way to the endzone.

The Red Raiders took that 21-0 lead into the half and then went right back to work padding that scoreboard advantage over the final two quarters of action.

France’s second interception of the night gave the ball to the Red Raiders at the Dartmouth 45 and Peabody capped an impressive drive with a seven-yard TD carry in the waning minutes of the third quarter to up his team’s lead to 28-0.

The Indians spoiled the Red Raiders’ bid for the OCL shutout midway through the fourth quarter on a 21-yard pass from quarterback Dalton Soares to halfback Nick Simonetti.

The Red Raiders countered with their final tally of the night when France, now playing as a running back, scampered into the endzone from 10 yards out to run the score to its final margin.

In addition to getting another solid outing from Peabody, the Red Raiders also got key contributions from their running backs with Hayden Murphy gaining 83 yards on 15 carries, Justus Chafee picking up 18 yards on three carries and Stuart coming through with six yards and a touchdown on two carries.

Leading the Red Raiders’ defensive charge were France with his two interceptions, three tackles and two passes defended; Andrew Ellis with eight tackles; Frieh with six tackles and a sack; Ryan Litchman with four tackles and a fumble recovery; Derek Pacheco with four tackles; Kevin Hardy with five tackles and two passes defended; and John Eldredge with three tackles.

The Red Raiders will have the weekend off and will return to action on Saturday, October 27, against Billerica at Leo Shields Field.

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