It’s been a long wait for Stevens High’s athletic department and an even longer wait for the Cardinals’ football program. This season, Stevens ended two streaks at once.
The Cardinals defeated InterLakes-Moultonborough, 46-20, to win the NHIAA Division III championship on Nov. 19 at the University of New Hampshire’s Wildcat Stadium, Stevens’ first team title in any sport since 1989 and the football team’s first championship since 1968. The hiatus wasn’t lost on the Cardinals, who said they used it as motivation to get the job done.
“I’ve had this dream since I was in the third grade,” Stevens senior wide receiver Parker Smith said after the team’s championship win. “You can do anything you want in this world with brothers and teammates. With the group of guys we have, anything is possible. … This is the hardest-working group of kids I know.
“We haven’t won a championship since 1968,” he added. “Everyone in our community believed in us.”
Stevens (9-2) outscored opponents, 368-198, in 11 games, including a 104-41 point differential in its three postseason games. The Cardinals avenged their worst loss of the season in the championship process, reversing a 57-12 whopping by the Lakers (9-2) from Oct. 15 in which Stevens turned the football over seven times.
The past never haunted Cardinals coach Paul Silva’s squad. It only made his players more eager to achieve.
“They’ve done everything I asked from the start of the season until today,” Silva said. “I just love these guys. I’m so proud of them for what they’ve done. … I love the city of Claremont. I love Stevens High School. It’s just so nice to give them a championship after it’s been that long.”
Stevens’ offense saw its playmaking stars align in near-perfect synchronicity, an offensive game plan that was derailed a year ago after young star quarterback Henri Bourque went down with a wrist injury, ending his freshman season two games in.
Bourque rebounded as a sophomore thanks to the dual threats of senior running back Richard Bell and senior wideout Parker Smith, who kept opposing defenses on their toes. Bourque threw for 2,010 yards with 125 completions and 20 touchdowns in 11 games, leading all Upper Valley passers in all categories.
Bell continued his dominant production on the ground, rushing for 955 yards and 19 TDs. Smith, Bourque’s favorite target this season, amassed 1,294 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Zach O’Brien caught four touchdown passes and ran for nearly 300 yards.
“When you have a quarterback like Henri, a receiver like Smith and a running back like Bell, you really have to tailor to their strengths,” Stevens offensive coordinator Josh Duford said on Nov. 18. “You want to highlight their strengths. Henri sees the field really well. He’s mobile; he can get out of the pocket. … He’s very poised. Things don’t really rattle him.”
The Cardinals also were powered by a strong offensive line, led by senior Chris LaFont and versatile multi-position player Nick O’Brien. Stevens’ 10 seniors played vital positions on both sides of the ball and were a big part of the state title win. Bourque will have to find new targets going forward.
But next year’s group will have a chance to play a little looser with the weight of a 48-year stretch without state football honors now lifted off their shoulders. For the seniors that made it happen, it’s the kind of accomplishment that they’ll never forget.
“How long am I going to live?” Smith said. “I’m going to remember this forever.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.