Manchester
Stevens, now 6-4 overall, was dominated to the tune of a 39-6 loss against visiting Trinity on Oct. 19. Just 15 days later, the tables were turned for coach Paul Silva and the Cardinals.
“To come down here on this blustery, cold night and do what we did is just outstanding. I’m really proud of them; we did what we had to do,” Silva said.
The game’s lone score came in the second quarter, when Keaghan McAllister capped a 97-yard drive, which consumed more than six minutes of clock time, with a 21-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Quentin Bicknell connected with Josh Stithen for a long pass play earlier on the drive to advance the ball deep into Trinity territory.
The rest of the game featured nothing less than an inspired defensive effort by the Cardinals. Trinity’s potent offense had scored 40 or more points on five occasions this season, but was held in check throughout by Stevens.
Silva praised the game plan put in place by defensive coordinator Bill Gobin, saying: “the defense was outstanding today. They (Trinity) tried everything, but we just shut them down.”
Stevens was fortunate to survive after losing three fumbles, making the shutout of the Pioneers all the more impressive. Next up for the Cardinals is a semifinal matchup at No. 3 seed Campbell on Saturday. The teams did not play in the regular season.
Plymouth 34, Hanover 0
Plymouth, n.h.
Owen Brickley scored all five touchdowns for Plymouth, including a 96-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter for the fifth and final score of the day.
Playing through cold, rainy and windy conditions, Hanover kept the game close in the first half. Plymouth led, 14-0, at the break before pulling away in the second half. The Marauders were undone in part by a pair of fumbles for turnovers inside the Plymouth 10-yard line.
Simon Roach had 23 carries for 81 yards to lead Hanover, which finishes 6-4 overall. Jack Loftus added 32 yards on 12 carries and Griffin Young had 31 yards on the ground.
Hills.-Deering/Hopkinton 21 Lebanon 7
Hillsboro, n.h.
The Raiders led, 7-0, at halftime thanks to a touchdown run and extra-point kick by Wade Rainey. The Red Hawks then took control after the break, tying the score at 7-7 through the third quarter before scoring a pair of touchdowns in the fourth to seal the win.
Lebanon finished with an overall record of 6-4. The Raiders will graduate Ryan Sullivan, Austin Whitcomb, Caiden Skakalski, Justin Rogers, Brad Plodzik, Devin Benson and Mack Greger.
Kimball Union 3Phillips Andover 0
Andover, Mass.
Ethan Barrett and Noah Spaulding each scored before the break for KUA. Seth Stadheim added a goal in the second half. Barrett, Jon Schafer and Dominick DaCruz each had assists.
The Wildcats host Phillips Exeter on Wednesday.
N.H. Meet of Champions
Nashua, n.h.
Trummel finished with a time of 19 minutes, 19.0 seconds for her 21st place showing. With a top-25 finish Trummel advanced to the New England championship meet, which will be next Saturday at Derryfield Park in Manchester. Teammate Christine Aman was just behind in 33rd (19:52.1), followed by Kennedy Lange in 79th (20:49.6). Charlotte Tagupa finished 96th and Alice Garner was 97th for the Marauders.
Sam Murray led the Hanover boys, finishing 55th in 17:13.2. Daniel Frost was 64th in 17:18.8, edging Jack Lynch in 67th with a time of 17:21.4. Daniel Bandler was 73rd (17:30.3) and Matthew Bonner took 89th (17:40.5).
The races were plagued by cold, wet conditions and the course was clogged with standing water and mud in many areas.
Cody Davis was 71st for the Lebanon boys in 17:25.9. Brianna DeBanico (86th, 20:58.8) and Zoe Chinn (126th, 22:20.1) paced the Raiders on the girls side.
Girls team scores: 1. Exeter 118, 2. Coe-Brown 121, 3. ConVal 155, 4. Pinkerton 167, 5. Oyster River 179, 10. Hanover 241, 18. Lebanon 496.
Boys team scores: 1. Concord 83, 2. Oyster River 124, 3. Coe-Brown 126, 4. Keene 128, 5. Pinkerton 156, 10-tie. Hanover 295, 10-tie. Exeter 295.