Melrose, Malden Football Season Opener: Live Updates

MELROSE, MA — Melrose kicked off its Div. 4 Super Bowl championship defense Friday night by hosting Malden at Fred Green Field.

Patch will have live updates throughout the evening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch here and Malden Patch here to follow along.

Third quarter

10:45 - Welp, that was fast. Christopher Cusolito runs the second half-opening kickoff back 80 yards to the house. PAT good. Melrose, 20-0.

9:02 - Jerry Mervil strip-sacks the Melrose quarterback and runs it back to the end zone. About a 30-yard return. PAT no good, 20-6 Malden.

5:46 - Christopher Cusolito scores his second touchdown on a 12-yard run. PAT good. 27-6, Melrose.

Second quarter

3:44 - A very lengthy Melrose drive proves fruitless when Malden holds firm on a 4th-and-2 at the Malden 12.

2:30 - Malden with a quick 3-and-out, and the punt is shanked to about the 17. Very short field for the Red Raiders.

1:15 - Another touchdown run for Kevin Peete, this one from about 5 yards out. Kemar Bynoe nails the PAT. 13-0, Melrose.

Halftime: A relatively flat first half on both sides comes to a close. Melrose leads Malden, 13-0. Off to concessions.

First quarter

8:59 - A dreadful offensive start by Malden saved on an apparently flubbed punt that saw the punter take a low snap himself to convert on a 4th-and-16.

6:40 - Malden ended up punting from around midfield.

6:25 - On first play from scrimmage, Kevin Peete runs up middle for 77-yard touchdown. Fumbled snap on PAT, 6-0 Melrose.

4:30 - Malden converts another fourth down, this one on purpose. Golden Tornadoes convert on a short run on their own side of the field.

3:02 - Dylan Robertson picks up Melrose's first sack of the season. Malden punts soon after.

End of first quarter: Melrose, 7-0

Photo by Mike Carraggi, Patch