METHUEN — On a crazy Friday night at Nicholson Stadium, it came down to one final play as Methuen turned away Marshfield inside the 10-yard line in the final moments to preserve a 27-24 win.
After the teams traded the lead twice in the final five minutes capped by Drew Eason’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, the Rams took over with 1:29 left and quarterback Tor Maas quickly got the Rams inside the Methuen 35 on completions to Jake Brilliant and Nic Cupples with 30 seconds to go.
Another big completion, this one to Michael Appel for 20 yards got the ball to the Methuen 7 with :09 left.
In range of a game-tying field goal, the Rams tried to run one more play and it proved costly as Appel was tackled at the five and the clock ran out.
“Our defense was able to make the play we needed at the end,” Methuen coach Tom Ryan said.
The Rams had trailed all game before taking a 24-21 lead with 3:29 left on Thomas Kelly’s field goal. That, however, left Eason with time to work with and the senior did just that.
Two quick passes got the ball to midfield before a 24 yard strike to Adrian Blake moved the ball inside the 30. From there, it was the brothers Eason who took the Rangers home. A 14 yard screen pass was followed by a 12-yard dart for Shane Eason’s second TD of the game and a 27-24 lead.
“Drew still isn’t back to 100 percent but when we needed a touchdown in that two-minute drill he delivered,” Ryan said.
The Rangers dominated most of the first half, taking a 21-6 lead to the half on three Eason touchdown passes.
The Rams cut the lead to 21-13 late in the third and then tied the game on a pass from Maas to Reid Bergamesca with 8:03 left in the fourth.