Meader races for 270 yards to lead Mt. Blue
FARMINGTON – Apparently the pre-game fireworks weren’t enough for Mt. Blue.
Nate Bolduc returned the opening kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown and Lance Meader rushed for 270 yards on 21 carries as the Cougars demolished Cony 35-14 in front of a large homecoming crowd at Caldwell Field Friday.
Meader’s total was a career high, and the win gives Mt. Blue a leg up in the race for a Pine Tree Conference playoff berth.
“This was a big win,” said Mt. Blue Coach Gary Parlin. “We faced a team tonight that had the toughest opening schedule and that had improved tremendously this season. We’re in a good position in the conference, now.”
For Meader, it was all a matter of following his fullback, Dave Fish.
“He was up there blocking for me all night,” Meader said about Fish. “Once I got by the offensive line and into the secondary, it was easy running. This was a huge game for me, especially as a senior at my last homecoming.”
Meader chalked up runs of 76, 45 and 43 yards, and had 110 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
“We hadn’t given up much in the last two games on the ground,” said Cony coach Tom Hinds. “They beat us pretty good on the ground.”
Entering the second half, Cony (2-3) was still within seven points at 21-14, but after gaining 37 yards on the first three plays of the half, the offense stalled.
On a third-and-six from the Mt. Blue 10-yard line, Cony quarterback Derek Gause coughed up the ball to Hazen Pingree. Mt. Blue moved 85 yards on the next three plays to go up 28-14.
“That really put us in control,” said Parlin. “That was huge, especially from a guy (Pingree) who is 5-foot-8, 152.”
On the ensuing drive, Cony again pressed deep into Mt. Blue territory, but an interception off the arm of Gabe Hinds again quelled the rally.
Led by Meader, Mt. Blue (3-2) marched 65 yards on five plays to seal the game with another touchdown.
Instead of being intimidated from the beginning, Cony responded to the quick touchdown with one of its own, marching 70 yards on 12 plays to knot the score at seven.
Meader rattled off a 76-yard run for a score three plays later, but the Rams again tied it up late in the quarter.
Pete Tinguely put the Cougars ahead for good with 5:30 to play in the first half on a nice 19-yard pass down the middle from Garret Lake.
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