Football

Methuen Recreation Dept flag football league reg 3/18

Methuen Recreation Department
in conjunction with
Pat Graham and his MHS Staff are proud to announce an exciting
New Flag Football League

FORMAT: 7 on 7 non contact, 2-20 minute halves
COST: $85.00 per player (includes Jerseys)
WHEN: Sundays – beginning April 25th 2010 at Nicholson Field
Who’s Eligible: Any 7th through 12th grade student from Methuen

DIVISIONS:
7th and 8th – 4:30pm
9th and 10th – 5:30pm
11th and 12th – 6:30pm

Game Dates: 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, 6/13(League Championships)

Registration: will take place on
Thursday, March 18th 2010
at the Marsh School Cafeteria from 5:30 – 7:30pm

For more information Methuen Recreation Dept. (978)983-8590

Methuen West Baseball Tryouts

Methuen West Baseball Tryouts

Tryout Location: Play Ball, 16 Industrial Way, Salem, NH

Cal Ripken: 
Ages 10-12 February 24th 6-8:30 pm
Ages 7-9 February 25th 6-8:30 pm
Makeup : Ages 10-12 – February 28th – 8:30-10:30 am

Babe Ruth: 
Ages 14 & 16 March 1st – 6-8:00 pm
Ages 13 & 15 March 5th – 6-8:30 pm
Makeup: Ages 13-16 – March 6th – 8:30-10:30 am

Find us at www.methuenbaberuth.com
For more information Chris Cyr

Alex Shepherd : Soul of the Rangers

From the Eagle Tribune
November 24, 2009
Soul of the Rangers: Methuen spirit courses through gritty Shepherd’s veins
By Hector Longo

METHUEN — If anyone wondered why Alex Shepherd was named a captain this fall for the Methuen High football team, the definitive response came in Week 6 against Haverhill. Just seven days after leaving the Chelmsford game for what was feared to be a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, Shepherd was back in uniform, long-snapping and working his magic on special teams.

“You could see him wince and feel the pain; I mean, you know he was hurting, but there was no way he wasn’t going to be out there helping us,” said Ranger coach Pat Graham. “The kids recognize stuff like that. They see Alex out there. He didn’t miss a day.”

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Rangers @ Dracut Thanksgiving game live on WCAP 11/26

WCAP 980 am will be broadcasting the Thanksgiving football game
between the Methuen Rangers and Dracut Middies live from Dracut
starting 9:30 until noon.

WCAP 980AM Website – online streaming available.

Thanksgiving Showdown Rangers at Dracut 11/26

From the Eagle Tribune:
Published: November 14, 2009 01:55 am
McCarthy sparks Rangers over Lancers, setting up title showdown
By Dave Dyer

METHUEN — John McCarthy couldn’t have picked a better game to be “Johnny on the Spot.” The Methuen senior and co-captain, who is usually known primarily for his tackling, scored three touchdowns in different ways last night to spark the Rangers (8-2) to a 43-29 victory over never-say-die Lawrence.

The victory sets up a showdown on Thanksgiving at Dracut (8-2), the winner of which will win the MVC small school division and advance to the playoffs.

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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Rangers at Dracut 10:00am

Profile: Ranger’s Cal Carroll “One Man Wrecking Crew”

From the Eagle Tribune
One-man wrecking crew:  Carroll’s ‘fierce’ play has Rangers surging
by David Willis

METHUEN — When Methuen quarterback Cal Carroll is on the run, it is not just defenders that tend to lose the star. “He can be hard to block for,” said offensive lineman Aaron Ferreira with a laugh. “He breaks a lot of tackles, but you never know where he’s going. I just have to run and try to make a block downfield. But he always seems to gain positive yards.” Earlier this season, an announcer spent the first half of a game misidentifying Carroll — calling him Cal Carrollson. But it’s a safe bet everyone around the Merrimack Valley Conference now knows the Ranger signalcaller’s name.

Asked to step in and replace both 2008 Eagle-Tribune offensive Player of the Year running back Mike Bartlett and twin brother and two-time 1,000-yard passer Matt Bartlett, Carroll has been nothing short of dynamic for the Rangers this season.
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Methuen Rangers Varsity Football Schedule

9/11/09 7:00 PM @ Concord-Carlisle (Concord, MA) 20-19 (W)
9/19/09 1:30 PM @ Malden (Malden, MA) 23-6 (W)
9/25/09 7:00 PM vs. Billerica Memorial (Billerica, MA) (Nicholson Stadium) 21-27 (L)
10/02/09 7:00 PM vs. Lowell (Lowell, MA) 20-0 (W)
10/09/09 7:00 PM @ Chelmsford (North Chelmsford, MA) 7-24 (L)
10/16/09 7:00 PM vs. Haverhill (Haverhill, MA) 35-6 (W)
10/23/09 7:00 PM @ Andover (Andover, MA)
10/31/09 1:00 PM @ Tewksbury Memorial (Tewksbury, MA) (Doucette Stadium)
11/06/09 7:00 PM vs. Central Catholic (Lawrence, MA)
11/13/09 7:00 PM vs. Lawrence (Lawrence, MA)
11/26/09 10:00 AM @ Dracut (Dracut, MA)

Home Field: Nicholson Stadium
Head Coach: Pat Graham
Assistants: Bob Hickey, Tom Tone
Garrett Gillick, Mike Marshall

Rangers win one for the coach

From the Eagle Tribune
By Dave Dyer
October 03, 2009

METHUEN — This one was special for defensive captain John McCarthy and the rest of the Methuen Rangers. Following an impressive Merrimack Valley Conference 20-0 shutout of Lowell last night, the Rangers huddled in a large group and chanted “Coach Graham, Coach Graham,” in salute of their third-year head coach, Pat Graham.

Graham was a former assistant at Lowell, for four years, and his brother and several friends still coach there. The Rangers (3-1) knew that Graham wanted nothing more than to defeat the Red Raiders — especially after losing by two points and one point to them the last two years.

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Methuen to retire Dan Ford’s Football Number.

From the Mayor’s Office:

The Late Star Running Back Will Have His Number Retired at Friday Night’s Game

Methuen will retire the number of Dan Ford on Friday, September 25, 2009 during half time of the Methuen vs. Billerica football game. Game starts at 7 p.m. The former star running back died of cancer at the age of 40 earlyer this year.

Dan Ford, a member of the Methuen High School Class of 1988, was an outstanding three-sport athlete whose incomparable dedication, enthusiasm, passion, and athletic prowess set him apart from his peers. Though he ran spring track where he distinguished himself as one of the area’s finest quarter milers, and was a power forward on the hockey team scoring thirty-two goals and thirty-six assists, his favorite sport was football where he excelled on the gridiron. A natural leader, Dan was elected a tri-captain of both his football and hockey teams.

During his junior and senior seasons, Dan ran for over a thousand yards. For that effort, he was honored by sportscaster Mike Lynch with the “High Five Award.” Dan also was named to the Merrimack Valley All-Conference Team. He was also named Methuen High’s Athlete of the Year in 1988. Those who played with Dan remember that he led his teams by both his tenacity and skilled example. Many of his former teammates will be on hand for Friday night’s cerimony.

Inducted into the Methuen High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, Dan Ford stands as a remarkable role model for those who will follow. Only one other superb athlete, Michael Jozokos, Class of 1981, has been honored by having his football number retired. Dan will now join Mike in this elite category as his number #42 is retired. “The entire City of Methuen salutes Dan Ford’s superlative accomplishments as well as his courage,” said Methuen Mayor William M. Manzi, III. “This promises to be a moving night for the Methuen Rangers as well as Dan’s many friends and family members.”

Related:
From the Eagle Tribune
Obituary: Dan W Ford, 40,
Published April 7, 2009

Rangers’ boast longest win streak in 16 years

From the Eagle-Tribune
Methuen defense steamrolls Malden 23 – 6
By Jeff Hamrick
September 20, 2009

MALDEN, Mass. — Very little provides more comfort to an inexperienced offense than an opportunistic defense. And the youngsters responsible for Methuen’s offense are plenty grateful.

The Rangers’ ball-hawking defense forced six second-half turnovers yesterday afternoon to defeat Malden 23-6 at McDonald Stadium. Winning for the second straight week to begin the season, Methuen is off to its best start since 2002. And its six straight wins dating back to last season is the most since the Rangers in 1992-93 won eight straight.

“It really started with our defense giving us great field position,” said Methuen quarterback Cal Carroll, who scored all three touchdowns on short runs.

A defensive line featuring Pat O’Leary, Mike Lussier, Matt Whittaker, Sean Whittaker and Tyler Bolduc pressured second-string quarterback Shakarus Semexant into throwing three interceptions and fumbling three times on Malden’s first six possessions of the second half.

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