Red Raiders Take Care of Business Over Dartmouth

It may have not seemed perfect, but it was good enough.

Senior Tedaro France led his still unbeaten Barnstable High Red Raiders to victory for the second straight week Friday night, scoring two touchdowns on offense and adding a pair of key interceptions on defense as the Red & White downed the host Dartmouth High Indians (1-5), 35-6. France had 114 yards receiving including a 67-yard touchdown reception.

It was the fourth straight season Barnstable has defeated Dartmouth and third straight its done so by scoring 35 or more points. Joining France in the Red Raiders' touchdown-scoring parade was junior Rob Stuart (his first-ever varsity touchdown) and seniors Manny Perry and captain Nick Peabody.

Peabody went 16-31 in the air with two touchdowns thrown and 215 yards as well as one interception. He also recovered an onside kick on the kick return special team.

Barnstable's running attack had much to do with its methodically efficient field position throughout a brisk, but dry October, autumn night, as junior workhorse Hayden Murphy bulled, barrelled and busted free into open space for 85 yards rushing on 15 carries. Murphy also hauled in three Peabody offerings for 17 yards and got a taste of defense with the season's loss last week of defensive stalwart Terrence Mudie to a knee injury sustained versus New Bedford.Peabody now has 1,596 yards passing on the season, the 4th all-time highest mark in Red Raider history, with more than half the season remaining.

Kevin Hardy also added an interception for the Red Raiders and rock-solid defensive efforts were turned in by linemen Jonathan Eldredge and Jason Frieh as well as Derek Estes on the corner.

Stuart's one-yard first quarter touchdown, combined with Frieh's PAT kick to make it 7-0 proved to be all the Red Raiders would need to pull this one out, thanks also in part to the tone set on the opening kickoff by senior captain Ryan Litchman.

Litchman hammered the Dartmouth kick-returner to open the game, caused him to fumble and Barnstable scored a minute later on Stuart's touchdown run. Freih went 5-5 on PAT kicks and his kickoffs were exceptional given he had but a week to practice.

Barnstable has a bye week this week, then welcomes Billerica at 1:00 pm, Satuday, October 27.