RallyNorth.net

NASHUA —  For four quarters, Salem gave the No. 1-ranked team in New Hampshire, Nashua North, all it could handle. And with 5:02 left in the game, the Blue Devils took over 88 yards from an upset, and a trip to their first state championship game since 2009.

Pelham faced its first true challenge of the fall, but the Pythons still punched their ticket to the state title game.
Kevin Bodenrader broke an 80-yard touchdown run with seven minutes left that proved to be the winning score, and Pelham rebounded after allowing a late score to hold off Monadnock 14-10 in the Division 3 state semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
The undefeated Pythons (7-0) advance to the Division 3 state title game, and will take on Stevens on Saturday. The time and location are TBA.
“I’m proud of the team for the hard fought victory,” said Pelham coach Tom Babaian. “This game was a defensive struggle, but we were able to eventually break some long runs for our two scores. Defensively, we were able to step up and make the stops we needed to make in critical situations, particularly on fourth down situations and the fourth-and-goal situation in the third quarter.”
Pelham took the lead in the first quarter on a 61-yard TD run by Jake Herrling.
After Monadnock cut into the advantage with a safety in the third, the Pythons made it 14-2 on Bodenrader’s TD run.
Monadnock struck for a late score, but Pelham twice forced the Huskies to turn the ball over on downs in the second half, including a goal-line stand.
The Pythons will next play for their first state title since winning back-to-back Division 5 titles in 2007-08.
“Next week’s game is for the title,” said Babaian, “so we need to understand that we have to be at our absolute best throughout the week of practice and carry that mentality and focus into the game.”

T.J. Thornton had a brilliant game with 16 carries for 156 yards including a 94-yard touchdown run but Sanborn lost its season finale to Pembroke 20-6.

Thornton was the show for the Indians, who finished up at 0-7. He had 156 of the club's 185 yards of offense. Pembroke improved to 4-2.

SALEM, N.H. — With the game, and a trip to the Division 1 state semifinals on the line, Salem’s Aidan McDonald had a hunch.

“They brought their big running back in, so I knew they were going to run up the middle,” said McDonald, a linebacker. “It was a lucky guess. I went in, wrapped him up, and I think Jake (Brady) and a few other guys came in to bring him down. It was unreal.”

 PLAISTOW, N.H.  — With the field covered in three inches of snow and fog rolling in, the temperature below freezing and the program’s first playoff victory in nearly 20 years within reach on Friday, Timberlane placed the game in the hands of their running backs.

Tavante Thornton once again starred for Sanborn, but the Indians dropped their second straight heart-breaker, falling to Manchester West 21-14 on Saturday.

Thornton carried 17 times for 107 yards and scored both Sanborn touchdowns — on a 10-yard run in the second quarter and a 14-yard run in the fourth.

WINDHAM — In the blink of an eye, Salem found itself in a battle with Windham on Saturday.

When the Jaguars’ Joey DaSilva ran a QB sneak into the end zone for a touchdown with 4:15 left in the game, a three-touchdown Blue Devil lead entering the fourth quarter had been cut to just six points.

PLAISTOW, N.H. — For three quarters, Timberlane’s defense kept the Owls within striking distance on Friday, shutting out one of New Hampshire’s most explosive offenses in the second and third quarter.

LACONIA — Jake Herrling had the game of his career Friday to pace Pelham to a 26-0 shutout at Laconia. 

Herrling scored three touchdowns, including two in the first quarter and rushed for 162 yards in just 12 carries. He capped Pelham's scoring with a 53-yard score in the third quarter.

HOLLIS — Timberlane had momentum early Saturday afternoon, but couldn't sustain it.

As a result, the Owls lost their second game of the season, 34-8 at Hollis-Brookline.