CLAREMONT — There is one big reason why the Stevens football team has won an NHIAA state championship (2016) and been to three semifinals in the last four years: preparation. There have been losses along the way, of course, but this team always does its homework.
Three years ago, the Cardinals lost to Monadnock and InterLakes-Moultonborough during the season then beat them both in the postseason. Sixth-seeded Stevens faces the same sort of scenario heading into Saturday’s NHIAA Division III semifinal at No. 2 Trinity in Manchester.
“I’ve known a lot of coaches who have prepared extensively,” Stevens athletic director Doug Beaupre said this week, “but nobody like Paul Silva,”
For Silva, preparing for the next game is what he is paid to do.
“I wouldn’t be doing what I was hired for if I didn’t prepare my team,” he said.
Right now Stevens is getting ready for Saturday’s game, one that did not seem logical after the Cardinals (6-4) not only lost their last three regular-season games but were outscored, 105-26, to drop into sixth place and a quarterfinal assignment at No. 3 Campbell. Stevens upset the Cougars, 20-8, last Saturday.
“On the bus ride back to Stevens after the game, Paul was already making plans for Trinity,” assistant coach Matt Bean said.
Trinity (9-1) is coming off a 35-0 quarterfinal win over Newport.
And it is hard to discuss Trinity without mentioning running back John Thibault, a former Tiger who ran for more than 300 yards when Stevens lost to the Pioneers in the regular season, 36-13.
“He’s as physical a running back as I’ve seen,” said Silva, who added that Thibault is bigger and faster than he was last year. He has to be one of the best runners in the state.”
Stevens also has a dynamite runner in Keaghan McAllister, who has rushed for 1,354 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.
“He runs with an attitude,” Silva said. “He can get you that yard when you need it most.”
McAllister is also a solid defender and had 13 tackles and two quarterback sacks in the win at Campbell. Still, the rock in the defense is linebacker Quentin Bicknell, who has been involved in an incredible 353 tackles this season. Other solid defenders are ends Hunter Paradis and Tucker Derosier.
Lebanon and Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton meet in the other Division III semifinal on Saturday, with the winners advancing to the D-III final on Nov. 24 at UNH’s Wildcat Field.
Trinity’s only loss came to top-seeded Lebanon, 21-7, but the Pioneers steamrolled the rest of the opposition, outscoring everybody else, 388-127.
Still, such numbers were staring the Cardinals in the eyes last year as well as they went to Trinity and came home with an upset win.
“Hudl helps a lot,” said Silva of the website that allows teams to view films of upcoming opponents hours after playing.
“Hudl has allowed our coaches to stay on the sidelines on game day. But I still like physically watching the teams.”
By seeing Trinity up close and viewing all the Hudl offerings, Silva can prep his team all week with Saturday’s game getting ever closer.
“Stevens will not lose because they are not prepared,” Beaupre said.
The Cardinals will also be a sharp-dressed team, as Silva sees to that as well.
“He washes the uniforms himself,” Beaupre said. “He not only wants them to play good, he also wants them to look good.”