Red Raider Gridmen Cut Down the Lumberjacks

The Massena Red Raiders varsity football squad defeated the Tupper Lake Lumberjacks 47 – 20 at Mike Nichols Field, Massena on Saturday Sept. 14.

Massena’s offense blasted onto the field with running back J.P. Reagan taking the ball 80 yards down the field for a touchdown on their first possession of the day. The Raiders had taken the ball on an interception in the endzone from outside linebacker Matt Thibault. Regan missed the extra point attempt, leaving the score at 6 – 0.

Tupper Lake was unsuccessful on their next series of scoring attempts, ending with Massena defensive end Ross Davis sacking Lumberjack quarterback Morgan Stevens, forcing a punt on fourth down and 14.

From there, Massena quarterback Rory Corcoran lobbed a pass to running back Josh Manley, going 50 yards into the endzone. Reagan ran in a two-point conversion, bringing the tally to 14 – 0 with just under five minutes to go in the opening quarter.

Tupper Lake’s offense garnered their first points on the next possession, with Mitch Kenniston taking a pass from Massena’s 23 yard line into the endzone. A two point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Several possessions later with less than a minute to go on the first quarter, Reagan made a long carry where he appeared to be taken down at one point, but dodged multiple defenders and moved the ball 54 yards upfield. Corcoran ran the ball to within inches of the goal line, but a holding call moved it back to the Tupper Lake 19 yard line. Immediately following the first quarter buzzer, Lumberjack wide receiver Noah Santana picked off a pass in the endzone, garnering possession for his squad.

After almost seven minutes of scoreless play, Reagan broke through the Lumberjack defense and brought the ball 40 yards upfield and combined with a 15-yard personal foul citation to Tupper Lake, gave the Raiders the ball on their opponents’ 24 yard line. Two plays later, Manley took a pass into the endzone and combined with an extra point kick, brought the score to 21 – 6.

After a Tupper Lake drive, Massena linebacker Jeremy Malone picked off a pass from the Lumberjacks’ Stevens and was brought down on Tupper Lake’s 31 yard line. Manley then took yet another pass to the endzone, making the scoreboard read 27 – 6 with 1:22 left in the half.

Reagan opened the second half in the same fashion as he did the opening half – taking the fist handoff into the endzone, this time from 35 yards out. He went into the endzone again on a two point conversion, making the score 35 – 6.

A failed Lumberjack drive would give the Raiders the ball on downs, and Corcoran would fake a handoff and take the ball about 60 yards up the field, but it was invalidated by a holding penalty. He tried the same move on the following play and was stymied, along with his team being cited for illegal shift. Four plays and 81 yards later, Regan would push the ball into the endzone from the one yard line. Tupper Lake defensive back Cody LaPierre then blocked the extra point try, leaving the score at 41 – 6.

The fourth quarter opened with Tupper Lake taking the ball on downs. After two plays, Lumberjack running back Brasen LaVassaur would put six points on the board, but his team would fail on a two point conversion, the scoreboard reading 41 – 12 with just under 8:30 to go.

After a successful onside kick, Tupper Lake would cede the ball on downs. Raider running back Isaiah Dillabough would take the ball into the endzone after several plays from 28 yards out, putting his squad ahead 47 – 12. The Raiders tried a fake punt attempt, but the pass for two points was incomplete.

After several attempts to move up the field, Tupper Lake running back Hunter Savage would score with the ball inches from the goal line, followed by a two point conversion, making the final score Massena 47, Tupper Lake 20.

Massena goes on to play St. Lawrence Central in Brasher Falls on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m.