Sports
Rockets Get Revenge, Beat Redmen 42-6
Reading avenged last year's playoff loss to Tewksbury with a convincing win over the Redmen.
In a rematch of last year’s Division 2 Semifinal, the Rockets got their revenge over Tewksbury with a 42-6 dismantling of the Redmen at Reading High last night.
“We definitely had revenge on our mind this year and we were clicking on all cylinders,” said Reading quarterback Drew Belcher, whose incredible night led the Rockets to a 12-0 record.
Belcher completed nine passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, and rushed nine times for 105 yards and four touchdowns.
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“We worked all offseason to come back and make it to this game,” said receiver Ryan Maney. “They pretty much beat our butt last year,” said the Gronk-like pass catcher who hauled in five catches for 87 yards and had a 61 yard rushing touchdown.
The Rockets also benefitted from running backs Alex Valente and Liam Kenneally who combined for 162 yards from scrimmage.
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Reading advances to the Division 2 Super Bowl against Duxbury which will be on Saturday afternoon at Bentley College. Game time is tentatively scheduled for 2pm, but the MIAA will make an official announcement on Wednesday.
Tewksbury (7-5) can take solace in its MVC Small Championship season.
“To win the league championship is something they can be proud of, and they should feel good about that,” said Tewksbury head coach Brian Aylward.
The Redmen finished 5-0 in their conference.
“That’s the most balanced team from all positions on both sides of the ball,” he said of the Rockets. “They can hurt you in a lot of different ways.”
Aylward’s weapons sputtered throughout the snowy night. The Tewksbury offense yielded only 197 yards from scrimmage.
Quarterback Johnny Aylward completed 10 of his 15 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, but lost a fumble and threw a key interception to keep Tewksbury from gaining any momentum.
Kevin Dick, typically Aylward’s favorite target in the passing game, had three catches for 20 yards including a five yard touchdown on a fade pattern as time expired in the fourth quarter.
Aylward led his team in rushing with 57 yards off 11 attempts.
Reading got to work early; their opening drive ended in the first of Belcher’s four rushing touchdowns.
Tewksbury went three and out, and on the ensuing possession, Ryan Maney rumbled into the end-zone from 61 yards away to make it 15-0 in the first.
The Redmen responded with a solid drive to put them back in the game. When Reading recovered a fumbled snap at their own 14 yard line, the game turned.
Belcher and his boys would finish out the second quarter with another pair of touchdowns. With help from his offensive line, Belcher scored on two short touchdown runs to make it 29-0 at halftime.
The onslaught continued in the third when Belcher threw a short pass to Liam Kenneally who scampered 78 yards to the end-zone making it 35-0.
Belcher added his fourth rushing touchdown with 3:01 left in the third to make it 42-0.
Tewksbury finally found the end-zone when time expired thanks to a pair of excellent catches by Kevin Dick.
The Redmen will have a long offseason to put this one behind them.
“They’ve got some motivation to work in the offseason,” said Aylward.
Meanwhile, the Rockets will refocus and begin Super Bowl preparations for Duxbury.
“It feels great to finally get there,” said Belcher. “We’re going to go out there and try to finish the job,” he concluded. Finishing the job for the Rockets would mean an undefeated 2012 season.
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Check out our live blog from last night to read the play-by-play commentary.
