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DERRY - Ever since the calendar flipped to October, Windham has had a job to do.

After a rocky 2-3 start, the Jaguars pretty much knew they needed to win out to make the playoffs. And that's what they've done.

WINDHAM - With a mane of flowing blonde hair that would make even Rapunzel jealous, Windham's Cody Stevens looks more like a lion than he does a jaguar.

But Saturday afternoon, the big 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior played as ferociously as any wild animal. 

SALEM — What a way to start a rivalry!

At least for Windham.

In the first football game ever played between the neighboring rivals, Windham scored last to win a thriller, 31-28, to improve to 3-3 and knock Salem (4-2) out of a tie for first in the Division 1 South.

LONDONDERRY - It was a first half of football that Windham would like to forget. But you'd be foolish to think that these Jaguars are going to quit.

Trailing 35-9 early in the third quarter, Windham made it a 35-23 game with eight seconds left in the frame when Tommy Emrick plunged in a 2-yard touchdown. What more, the Jaguars got the ball back and were driving deep into Londonderry territory again.

EXETER — Windham fell short in a defensive battle against rugged Exeter, falling 10-6.

The Blue Hawks (2-2) struck first on a 24-yard field goal from Sam Wolff late in the second quarter, making it a 3-0 game at the half.

ROCHESTER — Windham picked up its first Division 1 victory Friday night in a big way, blowing past Spaulding 54-0.

The Jaguars rushed for 336 yards, led by Steve Mague, who rushed for 75 yards and a TD, Toomy Emrick and Ryan Marotta, who both scored TDs and rushed for 51 and 48 yards. Marotta also returned the opening kickoff the second half for a score.

Windham knocked off by defending champs in move up.

BY JEFF HAMRICK

sports@eagletribune.com

WINDHAM — Rocky Heres was as surprised as anyone when the ball carrommed his way. But the Windham receiver knew what to do once he hauled in the thing.

Reining in the ricochet that bounced off teammate Ryan Marotta's helmet at the 25, Heres ran untouched to finish off Cody Potter's 41-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.

"I saw (the ball) go by my face, I turned around and it bounced off Marotta's head," the sophomore said of his first varsity scoring play. "That's when I knew I had to grab the ball ... I fumbled it a little bit, but picked it up and ran. I looked at the guy behind me, and he was kind of far away ... It's going to be fun this season."

The fun will have to wait at least another week, however, as Windham's initial Division 1 foray fell a bit short. Defending state champion Winnacunnet rallied from an eight-point, second-half deficit for a 17-10 season-opening victory.

The Jaguars, who often had their way at Division 2 where it won the 2014 state title, took a 10-2 lead after that touchdown, but was unable to hold off Winnacunnet's ground attack that controlled the ball for 19 plays on its two ensuing scoring drives.

"We prepared them for Division 1," Windham coach Bill Raycraft said. "We've always scrimmaged Division 1 teams. So, we weren't in shock over anything (Winnacunnet) did. We just have to do the little things. The best thing we can take away from today is we're ready for Division 1. This is where we belong, and these are the types of games we want to be in. It's just a matter of taking care of business."

After spotting the Warriors an early 2-0 lead on a safety with 4:40 spent in the first period, Windham used an 8-minute drive to take a 3-2 lead on a 29-yard Christopher Burke field goal with 8:02 left in the second.

"I don't think we were outmatched physically, so I think that bodes well for the rest of the games," Raycraft said. "Our kids don't lose confidence ... Our defense played an outstanding game, but unfortunately our offense fell short. And like I told them, we went toe to toe with the state champion, and that should tell them we can take care of business."

Windham, which gained 149 of its 172 total yards through the air, threatened late, reaching midfield with a minute remaining, but a couple dropped passes and a sack finished off the Jaguars.

"Cody is a three-year starter at quarterback, so he knows what he's doing," said Raycraft, who wasn't playing for a tie. "We just have to give him some more time. If we complete those passes, it's a different ball game. We had our two-point (conversion) play all drawn up, but we just fell a little short."

Highlights for the Jaguar defense were provided by Bobby Dicicco, who intercepted a Joseph LaRosa pass at the Windham 1 with 3:55 left in the second, and Tommy Emrick, who recovered a fumble that set up the Jag's lone touchdown.

Winnacunnet had a scary moment when quarterback Joseph LaRosa was hit in the head by his a teammate early in the fourth and laid on the ground. The game was delayed almost 30 minutes waiting for an ambulance that took LaRosa to a local hospital.

"It was precautionary," Warriors coach Ron Auffant said. "He had all movement and feeling, but his head was tight and he had a pretty bad headache. So, my guess is a concussion or maybe a neck sprain. We'll know more in a couple days.