METHUEN – The span in which Billerica overcame a five-point fourth quarter deficit Friday night only lasted 1:52, but that time created a story that will now live forever in program lore.
The Indians got a go-ahead touchdown run and a two-point pass on a fake PAT from Mike Murnane, a squib kick recovery and another touchdown run from Steven Gentile in that 1:52 to take a 10-point lead, eventually kneeling out a stunning 23-13 win on the road.
Billerica (6-0) trailed 13-8 prior to Murnane’s touchdown. Adding to the drama was the fact that Murnane was playing his first game of the season after coming back from a broken collarbone in the spring. The No. 3 team in Division 3 taking down the No. 5 team in Division 1 is quite a feat, but it meant even more than that to the players and head coach Duane Sigsbury.
“This is special to me because nobody picked us to really, where we are right now. It’s just special because these kids are just like my group of friends growing up,” said Sigsbury. “It’s awesome. It’s special to be a part of.”
“They’ve been balling out all year. They were 5-0 without me, I knew I had to make a show for my first game back,” Murnane said.
In a strange game that saw both teams go on numerous lengthy drives but ultimately not have much to show for them, Billerica took over at its own 27 late in the third quarter after a missed field goal down 13-8, the same score it was at halftime. The drive extended into the fourth quarter where Murnane rumbled in from 10-yards out with 9:51 to play. A fake PAT play call put the ball in Murnane’s hands, rolling to his right and tossing a two-point conversion to Cole Dillon, giving the Indians their first lead of the night at 16-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, Billerica squibbed it downfield and Tim Murphy ended up with the ball at the Methuen 30.
“We worked on squibbing it all week long because they’re so dangerous back there,” Sigsbury explained. “We saw a couple holes we thought we could kick it to, thought we might have a chance and it worked.”
Four plays later with 7:59 remaining, Gentile scored and Murnane added the PAT for the 23-13 lead.
“I didn’t have the best first half obviously, but I know Methuen’s a huge game. We had to win this game for the MVC, it’s huge,” Gentile said. “I just stepped up. I just worked, that’s it…I wouldn’t be able to do this without my D-line and O-line. Mike’s back, he’s a huge help. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without any of them.”
A huge Shane Eason catch and run one play after the kickoff quickly put the Rangers at the Billerica 29, but moments later Dillon came up with a massive hit on Drew Eason for a third down sack. The 40-yard field goal attempt that followed was no good and the Indians took over with 5:00 left. Gentile and Murnane then went to work along with Dhaethmy Dorival killing the clock. One last big run for Murnane and a kneel down sealed it as Billerica stormed the field, then went over to celebrate with fans in the stands after the handshake line.
“He didn’t miss a day of practice except when he had to go to a couple of rehabs,” Sigsbury said of Murnane. “He’s the heart and soul of this team. He could play quarterback, he could play running back, he could play anywhere for us.”
Billerica received the ball to start this one and went on a 12-play excursion that ended at the Methuen three yard line with a turnover on downs. The Rangers answered with a 13-play march of their own and went up 7-0 on a nifty 17-yard TD run for Shane Eason. Omar Aboutoui added the extra point.
Billerica fumbled the kick off and Methuen recovered at the Indians’ 24, but Billerica’s defense stood tall and forced a 31-yard field goal from Aboutoui. A sneaky double reverse pass that Billerica used a few times throughout the night to find Dillon downfield came in handy on third down the next drive. Early in the second, Billerica got on the board on a Dorival six-yard TD run and successful two-point conversion to make it 10-8.
The Rangers worked their way down to the Billerica 13, but a personal foul flag after a play halted momentum and eventually forced another Aboutoui field goal to push the lead back to five. An interception by Matt McCormick ended any hopes Billerica had of scoring again before halftime as the teams headed to the locker room.
Methuen had a 64-yard touchdown run by Shane Eason called back on a hold on the first snap of the third quarter. The Rangers worked down into the red zone, but turned it over on downs at the 16. Billerica went three-and-out, but the missed field goal on the ensuing drive set up the wild finish.
After the game, Sigsbury told his team he was a part of a 10-0 team that went to Methuen and lost a Super Bowl in 1992. He told his team that he had gotten text messages from old friends and teammates prior to the game on Friday night. He told them that this win was for all of them.He told them that they had helped slay his Methuen demon that still lingered from that painful loss.
Sigsbury also reminded his guys that while they could certainly enjoy it on Friday night, it wasn’t a championship and there’s still a long way to go in this season. In fact, the team was due back at BHS by 7:30 on Saturday morning.
But, the emotional scene postgame was one everyone wearing green and white won’t soon forget. In a football town like Billerica, this was a game that kids growing up will learn about. Tales from the sideline the night they stunned Methuen will ultimately make them want to wear an Indians’ jersey.
“This just shows we have heart,” said Murnane. “We were down coming into the half. We came back, we fought. They didn’t score in the second half. We’ve just got to thank the offensive and defensive line for pushing. We knew that we had it in us. There was no doubt. We’ve been saying it all week. Coach Sigs said ‘no doubt, one heartbeat.”
