WEST CANAAN — Preparing for a game without adequate practice time proved to be a disastrous proposition for the Mascoma High football team, which lost to visiting Somersworth on Saturday, 49-8.
A failed water pump that closed school for two days also forced the cancellation of football practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. All Royals coach Kyle Colburn could do was meet with his team via online conference.
The players returned to the field at 8 a.m. Saturday for a walk-through, but it didn’t make up for lost time.
The result was a long day on the gridiron for Mascoma (1-1), which halted the Hilltoppers’ shutout bid on the final play of the game.
The Royals began their final drive of the NHIAA Division IV matchup on their own 38-yard line. Tyler Mekus contributed 19 yards on two runs, Damian Nestle chipped in 11, and sophomore quarterback Tyler-Jay Mardin ran for 10, including a 1-yard keeper with four seconds remaining in the contest. Nestle ran in the two-point conversion, ending the hard-fought game on a high note for his team.
“We finished at the end, which was awesome,” Colburn said. “I’m really proud of our guys, the effort they showed and the toughness to fight through, because this wasn’t easy.”
The Hilltoppers (1-1) set the tone when Hayden Grant rushed for 47 yards on their first play from scrimmage. Jeff Dekorne capped the drive with a short QB keeper for the early lead. The guests led, 22-0, at halftime and forced running time by building a lead of at least 35 points with 8:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Royals went three and out on their first series before hiking a ball over Ethan Gelinas’ head, which prevented him from punting and gave the Hilltoppers the ball 16 yards from the end zone. Mascoma’s defense picked up its first of three fumbles two plays later, temporarily staving off the Somersworth attack, but it was only a matter of time before the visitors took control of the game, evening their record after losing to Newport, 24-7, in their season opener two weeks ago.
Both Somersworth and Mascoma were off last weekend, the Royals for a bye and the Toppers for a cancellation of a scheduled game with Newfound.
“We had two weeks to prepare for this, which was fantastic,” said Hilltoppers coach, Jeremy Lambert. “I think it really motivated these guys. Two weeks straight of practice before you get to have a game kind of gets a little fire in your belly and we came out, we played awesome.”
The opposite was true for the hosts, who lacked offensive rhythm and appeared rusty.
“Right from the start, it didn’t go our way,” Colburn said.
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Notes: Farnsworth led the Royals’ ground attack with 93 total yards. … The Hilltoppers’ roster featured 32 players — 10 more than the Royals … Mascoma’s pep band gave its first-ever performance at a Royals football game. The band, conducted by Amy Morse, comprised some 15 members. … Mascoma’s next game is Friday at Raymond, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.