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NEEDHAM - The Natick offense steamrolled cross-division and conference rival Needham last night in a 35-0 victory. The Red and Blue managed to work the ball on both sides, scoring once on a Brian Lewis interception and getting set up at the Needham 12-yard line on another pick.
Both teams were undefeated going into the game. Fifth-ranked Natick improved to 8-0 while No. 16 Needham dropped to 7-1.
Natick, tied for the Bay State Herget lead with Walpole, took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after marching the ball 78 yards down the field on its first possession. Quarterback Scott McCummings was responsible for 55 yards on Natick’s first touchdown drive, including the 4-yard scoring rush. Brett Flutie added the extra point.
McCummings recorded 197 of Natick’s 338 total yards, scoring on a second touchdown rush and throwing for another.
Needham’s Kevin Brennan threw an interception on the Rockets’ ensuing drive, and the Red and Blue made it to Needham’s 7-yard line following a nine play, 48-yard drive. But Flutie fumbled a pass from McCummings and Needham recovered.
The Rockets held Natick off until the end of the second when C.J. Dawson scored on an 8-yard drive with just under two minutes left in the half. Flutie’s extra point gave the Red and Blue a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Needham turned the ball over on downs to start the second half after a gain of only 8 yards and turned the ball over on downs at their 43-yard line. The Red and Blue went three-and-out on the next possession, before Brennan was intercepted on a pass intended for Kevin Cray.
Lewis picked the ball off at the Needham 20-yard line and returned it for a third Red and Blue touchdown to give them a 21-0 lead with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter.
Thirty seconds later, Brennan’s next pass attempt to Cray was intercepted by defensive back Melvin Williams at the Natick 42. The Red and Blue scored on the next drive when McCummings faked a handoff to Dawson from the 3-yard line and ran it in for a fourth Natick score. Flutie added another point, making it 28-0 with just 24 seconds left in the third quarter.
The final touchdown came 16 seconds into the fourth after a third consecutive pass attempt from Brennan was picked off by Natick cornerback Mark Parker at the Needham 40-yard line and returned to the 12. McCummings threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Andrew Siden to finish the scoring.
