T-Day Key Battle: Cal Carroll vs. Matt Silva

     The Methuen-Dracut battle will again decide who represents the Merrimack Valley Small in the Eastern Mass playoffs.  No two players will play bigger roles in their teams success than quarterbacks Cal Carroll of Methuen and Matt Silva of Dracut.  Here are some of the ways we feel these two excel.

• Ground Game - Both can and will beat you with their feet.  Carroll has 19 of his 37 touchdowns on the ground, executing the Rangers' zone read with precision.  He has shown the ability to break the long run, as well as the willingness to put his head down and pick up tough yardage.  Inside the red zone he is the Rangers most dangerous player, scoring 17 rushing touchdowns from 20 or fewer yards out.  Silva has showed the ability to be just as dangerous.  He's racked up 12 rushing touchdowns, and is more of a home-run threat; he has scored three of those 12 touchdowns from 25 or more yards out.
• Passing Attack - Silva seems to have the more powerful arm despite being the smaller of the two.  He can fit the ball into tight spaces, and does a good job throwing on the run.  He is also able to find throwing windows by shifting in the pocket, which helps him neutralize his size disadvantage.  Carroll is the more accurate of the two.  He does a fantastic job putting the ball where only his receiver can catch it, especially when throwing the deep ball.  
• Play-action - Each is excellent when executing these plays.  Both use their eyes and shoulders well in selling the run.  This will be super important for both these signal callers.  For Silva, his ability to get the Methuen defense out of position is paramount.  If Dracut can get the running game going, then hit on a few big plays, they should be able to get Methuen on their heels.  For Carroll and the Rangers, their running game has forced almost every team they've faced to load the box.  If this game follows suit, Carroll should be able to pick apart the Middies secondary for a few easy scores.