Five touchdowns by #5 sends Wayland packing, 35-21
Published in the November 11, 2016 edition
ALL PEDRINI. The Melrose Red Raider football team relied on Mike Pedrini’s 5 touchdowns and 300 total yards to lift them 35-21 over Wayland on Nov 4 and improve to 6-3. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — One week after being eliminated by Gloucester in the D3 playoffs, the Melrose Red Raiders (6-3) bounced back with a 35-21 win over Wayland (3-6) last Friday night in consolation play at Fred Green field, lead by a historic performance by Melrose running back Mike Pedrini.
The senior captain’s five touchdown game may (or may not) be a school record but its certainly a feat coach Tim Morris hasn’t seen the decades he’s coached at Melrose.
“Mike had a tremendous game,” said Melrose coach Tim Morris. “They were a tough team, and came back towards the end. And their QB could really throw. It was nice for us to bounce back with a win.”
Pedrini amassed 300 all purpose yards, including over 230 in rushing on 16 carries. His performance puts him near the top of the leader board statewide. Pedrini sits among the top five in touchdowns in Eastern Mass., second in the division behind Matt McCarthy of North Reading.
While Melrose maintained a lead throughout the game on Friday, Wayland put up a strong fight behind the efforts of their talented senior quarterback Liam Henning, who threw for two touchdowns including two 50 yard bombs that made it a game in the second half.
The evening served as an occasion to start QB Charlie Stanton for Melrose, who helped get Melrose on the board twice, including setting up a 61 rushing touchdown by Pedrini in the first that gave Melrose a 7-0 lead. Stanton connected on a pass to Pedrini in the second, helping to set up a 13 yard Pedrini sprint into the end zone and a 14-0 Melrose lead. Melrose forced the punt on Wayland’s next possession and Melrose’s Ray Guity ran a nice kickoff return to give Melrose solid yardage that helped Pedrini take off on a 38 yard run, which culminated in his 4 yard TD, his third of the evening which put Melrose up 21-0. Wayland struck back shortly before halftime when Henning connected on a series of passes to Wellington Perreira and Manny Oliver, who caught a 36 yard bomb to put Wayland on board 21-7 at the half.
Pedrini opened things up after the half on a hot note, with a 70 yard rushing touchdown on a hand-off from Melrose QB Jack Mays. When the dust settled, Pedrini earned his fourth TD of the game and Melrose extended their lead to 28-7. Wayland put up a serious fight after the score, launching a two touchdown rally beginning with a 5 yard touchdown by Jeremiah Darlington and, after an onside kick recovered by Wayland, that huge 54 yard TD pass to Ben Robinson.
With less than 10 minutes to go it was a new game and Melrose held a slight 28-21 lead. Fortunately, they completed a long drive that killed much of the clock, with solid running from QB Jack Mays and a 20 yard pass to Pedrini that brought Melrose to the red zone. Mays threw a 7 yard touchdown pass Pedrini to make it a 35-21 final, giving Melrose’s standout player his fifth TD of the game and 21st of the season.
Friday marked the last home game of the season for the Raiders. On Saturday morning (Nov. 12) they play a final consolation game against Winchester on the road at 10 a.m., after which they will prepare for a Thanksgiving showdown with arch rival Wakefield. On the road.
