RallyNorth.net

Fri, Oct 19, 2018 07:00 PM @ Pinkerton

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Windham	7	14	7	7	35
Pinkerton	0	7	0	14	21

Windham runs past Pinkerton to keep playoff hopes alive

Friday, October, 19 By Kyle Gaudette

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.

In fact, they've been so focused on getting there, you can forgive them if they didn't quite fully soak in their rather dominant 35-21 win over perennial power Pinkerton Friday night - a result not too many predicted.

"It doesn't mean anything if we don't win next week," one Jaguar could be heard saying while heading back to the locker room.

But, when they finally get time to reflect, they'll probably remember this one in Windham for a while.

It's a win that signifies the move to Division 1 this year has been a fruitful one.

The Jaguars can play with anybody in the state. They proved that against Pinkerton, where Windham students used to attend prior to the new high school and the Salem High days.

"First and foremost, it keeps our playoff hopes alive," said Windham coach Bill Raycraft. "This was a playoff game for us. But to be able to beat a powerhouse on their field speaks volumes to where this program has come and where it's headed."

Need some help

Windham (5-3) needs to beat Portsmouth next week and then get some help to squeak into the postseason.

Still, the Jaguars came into Friday night knowing it was a do-or-die game, and ended up running down Pinkerton's throat for 301 total yards on 50 carries.

"It felt great," said Tommy Emrick, who rushed for 147 of those yards on 19 carries with two total TDs. "It's our first year in D1. We're just working hard every week and trying to beat the next opponent in front of us. Pinkerton just happened to be in our way this time, but we prepared and we got it done."

Emrick scored Windham's first touchdown late in the first quarter on a 1-yard run. The Jags went up 14-0 early in the second after Emrick caught a 16-yard score from senior QB Cody Potter.

Pinkerton (6-2) didn't have trouble moving the ball, but hurt itself with two fumbles on its first two possession. The Astros cut it to 14-7 after a Nick Lombard TD, but Potter hit Stephan Robert on a 5-yard strike right before the half to make it 21-7 at the break.

Stevens runs clock

Windham would open the lead to 35-7 before Pinkerton scored twice within a two-minute span in the fourth. The Jags got the ball up 35-21 with 7:30 left, and used Emrick and 6-foot-4 Cody Stevens to run the clock down to ice the game.

"We needed this game to have a shot to play past next week," said Emrick. "We dug deep, we played as a team and we got it done."

That's three straight wins for the Jaguars, who will host Portsmouth next Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Pinkerton got good games from backs Gannon Fast (13-86, TD) and Genarro Marra (13-71, TD), but the Astros will need to regroup quickly before traveling to defending champion Winnacunnet (6-2) Friday at 7 p.m.

It will be a rematch of last year's Division 1 final won by the Warriors.

 

Windham 35, Pinkerton 21

Windham (5-3):     7 14 7  7 - 35

Pinkerton (6-2):     0  7 0 14 - 21

First Quarter

Wind - Tommy Emrick 1 run (Christopher Burke kick), :33

Second Quarter

Wind - Tommy Emrick 16 pass from Cody Potter (Christopher Burke kick), 9:21

Pink - Nick Lombard 4 run (Brandon Roy kick), 2:52

Wind - Stephan Robert 5 pass from Cody Potter (Christopher Burke kick), :24

Third Quarter

Wind - Rocky Heres 6 pass from Cody Potter (Christopher Burke kick), 7:54

Fourth Quarter

Wind - Cody Stevens 4 run (Christopher Burke kick), 11:04

Pink - Gannon Fast 6 run (Brandon Roy kick), 9:32

Pink - Gennaro Marra 2 run (Brandon Roy kick), 7:36

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING:

WINDHAM (50-301): Tommy Emrick 19-147, Cody Stevens 15-78, Cody Potter 5-28, Ryan Marotta 2-25, Seth Maffeo 4-12, Riley Desmarais 4-8, Stephan Robert 1-3;

PINKERTON (35-204): Gannon Fast 13-86, Gennaro Marra 13-71, Avery Battle 3-24, Nick Lombard 4-17, Aiden Goujon 2-6

PASSING:

Windham - Cody Potter 9-17-0, 90; Pinkerton - Aiden Goujon 7-10-0, 108

RECEIVING:

Windham - Tommy Emrick 4-59, Seth Maffeo 1-15, Rocky Heres 1-6, Riley Desmarais 2-5, Stephan Robert 1-5; Pinkerton - Ryan Auger 4-50, Trent Leduc 2-40, Gennaro Marra 1-18