Woburn no match for Red Raiders, 35-6

Published October 18, 2019

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider football team’s joyride season continues as they picked up their 5th win to remain unbeaten, 5-0, after a 35-6 thumping over Woburn on Friday, Oct. 12 to improve their season to 5-0.

Melrose is simply firing on all cylinders this fall. The Red Raiders have outscored opponents 200-54 in five contests, scoring an average forty points a game while allowing just an average of ten points per contest. This was the case at a rain-swept Woburn High as Melrose ran out to a commanding 28-0 lead at halftime, thanks in part to senior captain Chris Cusolito, who had a Player of the Week performance by rushing for 175 yards with three touchdowns on 8 carries. But he had plenty of support, with a solid air and ground game by Melrose quarterback Brendan Fennell and a stifling Red Raider defense.

For their efforts, Melrose is currently ranked first in Div. 4, their best rating since their 2017 Super Bowl season.

THE MELROSE Red Raider football team improved to 5-0 with a 35-6 win over Woburn last Friday. Tonight, they host Burlington at 7:00 p.m. (Keith Curtis photo)

At the start of the game, Melrose’s Cusolito kicked things off by scoring just thirty seconds into the game on an 80-yard touchdown run that put melrose up 7-0. After, Melrose forced Woburn three and out and went on to make the most of their next possession. Melrose’s Fennell kept things rolling with a huge 50-yard running gain that set Melrose up for another touchdown, this one again by Cusolito on a 20-yard run that gave Melrose a quick 14-0 lead.

A Woburn attempt to convert on fourth down at the Melrose 28 was stymied by the defensive work of Melrose’s Jared Karelas and Andrew Norton Jefferson. Yet another Woburn possession was forced to a punt and Brendan Fennell scored Melrose’s third touchdown after the Red Raiders picked off a Woburn pass courtesy of Jessie Gardner. That made the game 21-0.

Fennell continued his strong night with a 41-yard touchdown run and a good kick by Zack Federico (4-4 night) made it a 28-0 game at halftime. Fennell stunned again as he delivered icing on the cake: a 73-yard bomb to Matt Dussault to put Melrose up 35-0. But Woburn finally got a score of the game, a touchdown by Simon Sathler for a 35-6 final.

Tonight, Melrose hosts rival Burlington at Fred Green Field. Kick off time is at 7:00 p.m.

Division 4 North Standings

1. Melrose (5-0)

2. Marblehead (5-0)

3. Revere (5-0)

4. North Reading (5-0)

5. Wayland (4-1)

6. Wilmington (2-3)

7. Burlington (3-2)

8. Dracut (3-2)

*special thanks for the reporting contributions from super fan Cory Thomas