2011.vs Quincy. Game 9

·         Easily the most exciting and nerve racking Oiler game of the year.

·         It was a hard fought game by both sides, neither side willing to give up, with neither team ever able to pull away. A game of ferocious hitting, explosive plays, that wasn’t decided until the final 20 seconds of the game.

·         The Oilers had their running game clicking all night, but numerous drives stalled due to turnovers. A hard hitting Quincy team forced numerous turnovers on the night.

·         The Oilers accumulated over 85 yard rushing in the 1^st quarter, but weren’t able to put any points on the board.

·         In the 2nd quarter, the explosive rb Dolan Reid (#40) for Quincy, proved that he may be the fastest running back in the entire EFL.  Reid ran a sweep in which he was able to outrun the entire Oilers defense, get to the outside, and then turn on the after burners as he raced 57 yards down field with the Oilers on his heels, unable to catch him as he reached the endzone for a td. The xp was blocked, limiting the Quincy lead to 6-0.

·         The Oilers moved the ball on the ensuing possession, but again turned over the ball on a fumble.

·         But once again the Oilers defense rose to the occasion, and gave the Oilers offense an extra opportunity.

·         As Quincy began to move the ball downfield, DT Karl Wells (#76) for the Oilers forced and recovered a fumble, giving the Oilers the ball on the 40 yard line.

·         The Oilers offensive line, consisting 5 veterans- Pete Hogan #75 (5 yrs), T.D. Thompson #77 (10 yrs), Tom Deegan #67 (12 years), and Brian Burns #72 (9 years), and Kevin Clark #51 (4 seasons), all of whom have been named to the EFL All Star team at different points in their careers, had an outstanding performance opening running lanes and giving the qb time to throw.

·         On the drive, the Oilers ran the ball 8 straight plays, mixing in rb’s Frank Gaudette (#5), John Guy (#35), and Brooks Payne (#19), picking up a combined 39 yards (nearly 5 yards per carry).

·         The drive culminated with a perfect over the shoulder pass from qb Ryan Myers (#7) to Matt Trainer (#80), for a 21 yd td reception. (note: this was Myers’s first game back from injury, and he split time with qb James Merrick - #15).

·         The Oilers defense continued to hold their ground, creating constant pressure with defensive ends Jess Barboza-Penn (#1) and De-Yoman Nelson #84 (each with 1 sack).

·         With 40 seconds left in half, the Oilers culminated another impressive drive running the ball, with K Dave Canavan (#3) connecting on 31 yd fg.

·         10-6 Oilers at the half.

·         In the 3rd quarter, Q3.  WR Will Price (#89) got the drive started with a 25 yd punt return. And then after several successful runs, including a dazzling run by former Brockton High & Boston Globe all-scholastic rb  Rich Johnson (and the later played at Merrimac College), on his first offensive snap of the year after playing primarily defense the last 4 games. He displayed his breakaway speed by outracing several Brockton players who seemingly had him pinned for a loss, broke one tackle and raced up field for 19 yards before being forced out of bounds.

·         Johnson had an excellent 2 way game, playing db and a bit of rb, and showing that he has the potential to be one of the best players in the EFL if he is able to stay healthy and play a full season (this was only his 5th game with the Oilers).

·         Later on the drive, Myers hit Price for a 34 yard reception, giving the Oilers 1^st and goal from the 1. On the very next play, RB/LB John Guy (#35) barreled through the left side of the line for a 1 yard touchdown plunge. Canavan hit the extra point for a 17-6 Oiler lead.

·         But Quincy refused to go away.

·         In the 4th quarter, Reid again showed his blazing speed scoring on a 64 yard screen pass in which he again outraced the entire Oiler squad in a race to the endzone.

·         The 2 pt conversion attempt failed, keeping the score at 17-12.

·         With the game remaining a 1 score contest, the final 3 minutes of the game turned into the biggest nail biting and dramatic sequence of the Oilers’ season.

·         After another Oiler fumble, Reid busted another long one for Quincy. He raced 57 yards for a touchdown, but Quincy committed a block in the back in the process, and the play came back to the spot of the foul, which was the 31 yard line.

·         Quincy continued to drive for the go-ahead score by completing several short passes, but with under 2 minutes to go, Oiler co-captain Dan Carroll (#24), intercepted a Quincy pass on the 1-yard line.

·         But after picking up 8 yards on the 1^st 2 plays, and Quincy starting to use their time outs, on a 3^rd and 2 play, the Oilers shockingly fumbled again, and in the pile-up Quincy recovered.

·         Quincy looked like they were primed to take the lead with just over a minute to go, but db Norm Burns (#8) intercepted a pass on the 4 yard line (which was Burns’s 2^nd int of the game), and finally the Oilers were able to take a knee and let the clock expire. 17-12 Oiler victory.

·         Strong performances on offense by the o-line, Ryan Myers, Will Price, John Guy, and Matt Trainor. Also, Oiler defensive tackle and member of the US Army (several tours in Iraq) Mike Eshner (#95), also filled in at tight end, and had a HUGE 19 yard gain on 3^rd and 10, in which he refused to go down and broke 4-5 tackles. His determination on the play energized the entire Oiler squad and had a great impact. Eshner also provided sturdy blocking, overpowering whomever he blocked.

·         On defense, strong performances by LB’s John Martell and Colby Gallagher, defensive tackles Byron Goss (#57) Karl Wells (#76) and Eshner, and the aforementioned pressure from DE’s Barboza-Penn and Nelson. In the secondary exemplary performances by Dan Carroll (#24), Norm Burns (#8),and Richie Johnson (#36).

·         The Oilers final regular season game of 2011 will be on Sunday September 18^th vs the NH Knights, at 7:00, in Quincy.