by Kevin McCaskill Jr.
11/19/22 * 4:32 AM
(SHREWSBURY) - Shrewsbury HS hosted one of the two Semifinal Games in the MIAA Division 1 Playoffs on Friday. The #8 seed Methuen HS tried to stop the high-powered offense of the #4 seed Springfield Central HS (Central). Each team was one win away from going to Gillette Stadium.
Methuen won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball. Their 1st drive ended when QB Drew Eason threw an INT that was caught by Central DB ShaunDez Buckhannon.
(ShaunDez Buckhannon INT)
Central turned the ball over on downs on their 1st drive. Their second drive ended with the same result. Central’s All-American QB Will Watson couldn’t connect with his receivers early. Methuen’s secondary played their coverage well on Central’s first two drives.
Central got the spark they needed from DB Kymari Latney. He blocked a punt that set up Central’s offense at the Methuen 26-yard line. The drive was capped off by Watson throwing a 9 yard TD pass to WR Kevin Jackson. The 2-point conversion was no good. Central led 6-0.
In the 2nd quarter, Central solidified their claim to be the best football team in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Watson used his arm and his legs to score in this game. He threw his 2nd TD pass to RB Conellius Patrick. He also threw the 2-point conversion score to Jackson. That put Central ahead 14-0.
(Will Watson pass to Conellius Patrick for TD)
Two running TDs - one by Tariq Thomas and one by Patrick, with one 2-point conversion from Watson to Jackson - put Central ahead 28-0.
(Tariq Thomas run TD)
(Conellius Patrick run TD)
Methuen had a long drive to end the quarter, mainly because of penalties committed by Central. Those penalties sustained Methuen’s drive into the redzone. Drew Eason threw a 2 yard TD pass to his brother Shane Eason with 13 seconds left in the half. The EP kick was good; Metheun pulled closer before halftime 28-7.
(Drew Eason to Shane Eason for a TD)
In the third quarter, Thomas scored another run TD for Central. The 2-point conversion was no good. Central led 34-7.
(Tariq Thomas 2nd run TD)
The Eason brothers connected again, this time for a 39-yard TD. The EP kick was good and Methuen pulled closer 34-14.
(The Eason Brothers connected again for their 2nd pass TD)
Will Watson took over the game from that point to the final horn.
He made some timely passes but he ran around and past Methuen on Friday evening. He scored 3 run TDs in the 3rd & 4th quarters. He continues to prove why he is an All-American and FBS commit. On the 3 TDs, only one of the 2-point conversions was successful - a pass to Cam Walter.
(Will Watson run TD)
(Will Watson run TD)
Central beat Methuen 54-14.
Central will play St. John’s Prep at Gillette Stadium for the MIAA Division 1 Championship.