Wilmington latest victim, 48-14; home opener tonight
Published October 2, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider football team is the team to beat in Div. 4 after issuing another slaughter, this time against Wilmington on the road, in a 48-14 thumping at Wilmington High. Melrose senior captain Chris Cusolito was merciless on the Wildcats with 4 touchdowns and over 200 yards rushing, helping the Red Raiders improve to 3-0 on the season. Tonight, Melrose hosts reigning Div. 6 Super Bowl champ Stoneham at Fred Green Field for Melrose’s long-awaited home opener. Action takes place at 7:15 p.m.
Wilmington, experiencing a rebuilding year, was never quite in the contest and Melrose ran out to an early 7-0 lead on their first possession after an 80 yard TD run by Cusolito, who sits near the top of Div. 4 in touchdowns with six.
Fellow senior captain Sean Herbert made it a 14-0 game when he picked off a Wildcat pass and returned it into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown making it 14-0. The first quarter didn’t get easier for Wilmington as Melrose quarterback Brendan Fennell helped move the ball up the field before Melrose’s Matt Hickey ran for a 44-yard touchdown that made it a 21-0 game with just 3:40 left. Stifling Wildcat offensive was work of defenders Mical Duntin, Micye Duntin, Jared Karelas, William Pesce, Andrew Norton and Charlie Haggerty.
CHRIS CUSOLITO had four rushing touchdowns against Wilmington for the 3-0 Melrose Red Raider football team, who opens at home this evening. (file photo)
In the second, things went from bad to worse for the Wildcats, who fumbled their kick return, recovered by Melrose’s Jared Karelas at the 13. From there, Chris Cusolito found the end zone again with his second touchdown of the night and Melrose took a 27-0 lead.
Senior quarterback Jesse Gardner entered the game before the half and found success with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Cusolito, who scored again to make it a 34-0 game (a good kick by Zac Federico).
Wilmington was finally on the board with a 75-yard kickoff return by freshman Andre Turner to make it a 34-6 game. Melrose, however, countered that with an 88-yard kickoff return by Cusolito, making it a bloodbath of 41-6 at halftime.
Wilmington was able to find the end zone once more thanks to a Bailey Smith touchdown, while Gardner continued to connect with Red Raider receivers, including Brendan Maher, who helped set up the final score of the night: a 27-yard Sean Herbert touchdown for Melrose. The result was a 48-14 rout that keeps Melrose undefeated going into tonight’s home opener.
Melrose should expect stiffer competition from Stoneham, who is coming off last year’s Super Bowl win, but could be light team due to graduated talent and injuries. A great rivalry exists nonetheless. Game time is at 7:15 at Fred Green Field.
CHRIS CUSOLITO had four rushing touchdowns against Wilmington for the 3-0 Melrose Red Raider football team, who opens at home this evening. (file photo)
Golf team takes the top spot at ML Shootout
Pierce, Melrose emerge as Freedom champs
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Last season, Melrose enjoyed a league winning season and an appearance at MIAA North Sectionals. This season they are showing signs of repeating that feat. Certainly, their effort at the 2019 Middlesex League Shootout held last Thursday at Bear Hill Country Club in Stoneham was proof of that.
Melrose standout Will Pierce shot an even-par of 71 to take place first in Freedom League, which helped catapult Melrose to the top of all Freedom League teams with 235 points and a league trophy. Melrose sent three golfers to the event, Quinn McCarthy, Will Pierce and Sean Senior, and the trio helped Melrose edge closest rival Wakefield, 235-237.
Melrose coach Rick McDermod saluted their effort. “It’s been a while since we took this event and the kids are excited.” He also noted the perfect green conditions and weather. “There was some great golf here today and some good numbers.”
On the Middlesex Large side, Trevor Lopez and his Winchester golf team helped secure a win in the Liberty division.
Melrose remains 2-0 in the Freedom league after defeating Wakefield 44-28 last Friday at the Mt. Hood Golf course. Melrose swept Wakefield in the top 8 spots. Taking wins were Will Pierce, Quinn McCarthy, Sean Senior, Tim Healy, Brian Healy, Tom Brodeur, Matt Lynch and Anthony DelGenio.
“Let me tell you, depth makes a different,” said McDermod. “Some of our best wins have been coming from our 7th and 8th spots. Wakefield is a good team, and it was a competitive match, but we just slowly pulled away when we needed to.”
Melrose will need a couple more Freedom wins to repeat their league title. They get that chance when they face Wilmington and Burlington on Thursday and Friday of this week. Things are moving fast for this team, who finish their regular season schedule on Oct. 10 at home against Arlington at Bellevue Country Club.
“They know if they want to compete in a postseason,” says the coach about this team. “That can happen if we replicate recent winning efforts and also give a little more. This team got a taste of states last year. This year, they want to get there and really make a go of it.”
