Red Raiders Football Wears Down Belmont in 28-7 Victory

Touchdowns by senior running back Spencer Walsh and junior quarterback Bryan Reale were bookend by a pair of scores by senior back Brett Barbati as the wore down hosts Belmont Marauders and won their season opener going away 28-7 on Friday, Sept. 9.

Red Raider Head Coach Tim Morris said neither team could find much rhythm in the first half with mistakes and penalties hampering both offenses.

“But once we had a few series with the ball, we got it going,” said Morris.

On the first play of the second quarter—Belmont’s running backs found some sizable holes in the Melrose defensive line in the first 11 minutes—Barbati broke to the left side of the field and scampered down the sideline 40 yards to pay dirt.

Then for most of the quarter, Melrose defense was on their back heels as the Belmont offense took six minutes off the clock to drive 76 yards on a mix of passes from junior quarterback Mike Richardson and short runs from a quartet of running backs to convert a fourth and one when JC Reynolds drove into the end zone to tie the score at half time.

But the same Melrose D that was pushed around in the first half stiffened in the second half, holding Belmont after they crossed midfield. Taking the ball on their 16, a combination of misdirection handoffs and runs up the middle soon found the Red Raiders on Belmont’s 21 when Reale took the ball up the middle then skipped outside and daylight for a touchdown, upping the score to 14-7.

It only took Melrose two plays the next time they touched the ball as Walsh broke at least three tackles and ran 58 yards down the left sideline for a score in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Barbati took the ball eight yards to finish off the scoring against an improved but tired Marauder team.

 “It was a tough win but then all wins are good,” said Morris.