DRACUT – Both teams showed grit on offense and defense. But Dracut got a bit more at both ends to take a 28-20 win over St. John’s Prep Friday at Dracut.The Middies (4-1) compiled 260 rushing yards and took a 14-7 halftime lead over a Prep team that couldn’t quite catch up.”We gave up 28 points,” said Prep coach Jim O’Leary. “In spots, people played well (defensively). We were not good enough in the second half ? We couldn’t get the stop when needed.”St. John’s (4-2) punted on its first possession of the second half. It looked like the Eagles had Dracut at their mercy when the Middies punted on their ensuing drive, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave Dracut a first down on its 28. The Middies would drive down the field, scoring on a one-yard run from quarterback Matthew Grimard.St. John’s answered on the first play of the fourth quarter, on an 11-yard touchdown run by Tyler Coppola that made it 20-13. Dracut responded with another scoring drive, this one capped by a seven-yard Grimard touchdown run. Grimard added a conversion pass to Rakeem Shepherd.St. John’s scored the final touchdown of the game- a 16-yard run by Coppola and Bobby Preston kicked the final point. But the Eagles would not have the final say.St. John’s opened the scoring in the first quarter on a five-yard run from George Sessoms. Preston kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The Eagles would find frustration in their efforts to add to the lead. Near the end of the first quarter, the Prep had a second-and-seven on the Middies’ 31, but a high snap sent the ball sailing backwards, producing a 25-yard loss. Two plays later, the Eagles had to punt.Dracut capitalized, driving from its 18 to a score. Good defense battle good offense, with Grimard connecting with Shepherd on fourth-and-five for 21 yards. Two plays later, Johnattan Rivera ran 15 yards for a score. The extra point, missed, but Dracut pulled to within 7-6 with 7:32 left in the half.Dracut added one more score before halftime after St. John’s quarterback Greg Donahue threw a pick to Steven Reardon and once more, the Middies capitalized when they recovered on their 43 with 1:10 left in the half. Jordan Murphy caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Grimard with 11 seconds left. Christopher Malonis caught a conversion pass to give Dracut a 14-7 lead at the half.