Grimard, Dracut roll on

LOWELL - Quarterback Matt Grimard directed Dracut to its first Super Bowl appearance in 20 years, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for another in a 28-21 win over Acton-Boxboro last night at Cawley Stadium.

"We've been preparing for them all week," Grimard said. "We felt pretty comfortable coming in, defense did what they needed to do, and the offensive line moved the ball as usual. We established the run game early and we took it from there."

Dracut (10-2) will face Marshfield Saturday in the Division 1A Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.

The Colonials (10-2) dominated the first half, keeping the ball out of Grimard's hands as much as possible.

Acton-Boxboro struck first when quarterback Alex Kastrinelis found Robby Ruggiero open at the back of the end zone for a 3-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

The Middies seemed on their way to tying it up when Jared Gauthier fumbled after catching a pass from Grimard at the A-B 14-yard line. Trevor Jeanson recovered for the Colonials with just over a minute left in the quarter.

Dracut coach Jeff Moore was ready for the smashmouth style of play that Acton-Boxboro is known for, and the team's preparation paid off in the second half.

"I know they're good at doing that, that's what they do, they just smash the ball at you," Moore said. "The second quarter was great. We just needed a chance to have the ball."

After the Colonials went three-and-out on the first drive of the second quarter, Dracut took control.

Grimard rushed for his first touchdown from the 2 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first half, but Rakeem Shepherd's extra-point attempt failed, leaving the Middies behind by 1.

After another three-and-out for Acton-Boxboro, it only took two minutes for Grimard to find Gauthier for a 16-yard score. Grimard connected with Jordan Murphy for the 2-point conversion, putting the Middies up, 14-7.

Dracut kept on punishing the Colonials in the second half, coming on strong with an eight-play drive that was capped by Grimard's second rushing touchdown, a 3-yard run that made it 20-7.

"[Dracut] played a lot better on defense than we had seen," Acton-Boxboro coach Bill Maver said.

Jeanson scored with five minutes remaining in the third on a 1-yard dive to make it 20-14, but Grimard answered with a 3-yard TD run, taking down Acton-Boxboro's best defensive player on the way.

Grimard went head to head with Ruggiero en route to the Middies' final touchdown, but Ruggiero shook it off and came back in to make a 9-yard reception during A-B's final possession.

Acton-Boxboro closed the gap one more time with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Kastrinelis to J.P. Ashline, but the Middies were able to run out the clock.

"We just didn't tackle well," Maver said. "I take my hat off to them."