Red Raiders Fall to Dartmouth, 34-15

Even Vince Lombardi would be left scratching his head.

Down by scores of 13-7 and 20-15 with just 8:16 left in the game, the Barnstable High School Red Raiders could not piece together even a semblance of a string of good luck, watching those close scores evaporate in as little as 60 seconds versus the host Dartmouth High Indians at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Dartmouth Friday night.

With the score at 20-15 with 8:16 left in the 4th quarter, Dartmouth ran off a pair of touchdowns in just 50 seconds to seal the victory over the hard-luck Red & White. The 2014 Red Raider campaign is the first time BHS has recorded a losing record in head coach Chris Whidden’s four-year tenure and it is the first time in 39 years (0-9/1975) that the Red Raiders have lost five or more consecutive games to start a season. The losing streak dates back to the 2013 loss in the MIAA playoffs to Mansfield (eight-game losing streak).

Still, Barnstable had some numbers that give every indication the Red Raiders have not yet given up the fight.

Junior wide receiver Eric Holzman posted his first career 100-yard receiving game, hauling in six catches for 108 yards, including a 44-yard reception from junior quarterback Griffin Burke in the 3rd quarter that made the score 13-7. Burke alternated at the QB slot throughout the night with sophomore Keaton Bergal (4-7, 24 yds., int.) and went 7-12 in the air for 113 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Senior running back DeMichael Johnson also posted a fantastic game, running the ball 18 times for 116 yards and one touchdown. It was his 3rd 100-yard game of the season and it included his longest career run of 66 yards.

Out of postseason contention, Barnstable will face either Taunton or Durfee next Friday night. The announcement will come from the MIAA Sunday evening (10/26).