This week's football notebook examines Milford's stunning upset over previously unbeaten Souhegan.
This has been a season of dominant teams and lopsided scores in New Hampshire high school football, so it comes as no surprise that the state is still buzzing about Milford’s 23-8 upset of Souhegan in Division III last Friday.
The defending champion Sabers had won 18 straight games dating back to Thanksgiving Day 2007. Souhegan (5-1) was also coming off a 49-6 rout of Portsmouth, which is seen as the Sabers biggest threat in Division III.
Milford, meanwhile, entered the game with a 2-3 record and had suffered a 51-6 loss to Division IV Plymouth only two weeks earlier.
The Sabers won their first five games by an average of 32 points, and coach Mike Beliveau rarely played his starters beyond the first half in any of them. Things had been so easy for Souhegan that Beliveau pined for better competition following some blowout wins, hoping to see how his team would react to being challenged.
Well, he certainly had a good view of it Friday night in Milford.
“They played their hearts out and they won this football game,” Beliveau told the Nashua Telegraph. “They set the tone right away in the trenches. Their time of possession was unbelievable, and when we did get the ball we had a hard time punching it through, and we turned it over a couple of times.”
Undoubtedly, most of the credit for the stunning outcome goes to the Spartans. Milford frustrated Souhegan’s defense by controlling the clock and keeping the high-scoring Sabers offense off the field using a variation of the Power-I formation in which three running backs head toward the quarterback prior to the handoff. The big beneficiary was senior Josh Ibarra, who rushed for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
But this was also a perfect storm of sorts for Souhegan, as the Sabers were missing two-way linemen Sean Cultrera, Colin Cray and Kyle Beaulieu due to illness and injury.
Then there’s the sad part of this story, which involves the Oct. 4 murder of 42-year-old Kimberly Cates and the attempted murder of her 11-year-old daughter. Four teenagers charged in the attack broke into their Mont Vernon home early that morning, and two of them were seniors at Souhegan High School.
It would only be human nature if the emotion of a devastating week to the Amherst community had an effect on the Sabers players. Nobody used that as an excuse following the game, but it does deserve to be mentioned.
This was the first time Milford had beaten its top rival since Souhegan High School opened in 1992. The Sabers have appeared in nine Division III championship games since then, winning two titles.
“This is a big win for these players, these coaches, and this program,” Milford coach Keith Jones told the Telegraph. “We just beat one of the best, if not the best, high school program in New England.”
News of the upset was quick to spread around the state, and Plymouth coach Chuck Lenahan cited the surprising outcome following his team’s 13-7 win over Laconia on Saturday.
“I saw that Milford-Souhegan score,” said Lenahan. “Just goes to show you, anybody can beat anybody. If you think I’m looking past anyone, you’re crazy.”
The Sabers, still the overwhelming favorites in Division III, will try to bounce back Saturday at Pembroke Academy.
Londonderry’s Sean O’Gorman (17) races past Manchester Central’s John Taylor (90) en route to a touchdown during Friday night’s Division I game at Lancer Park in Londonderry. Josh Gibney photo.
Gotta have Hart
Londonderry coach Jon Rich was quick to praise his team’s ground game after Friday’s 31-20 win over Manchester Central, and with good reason.
The Lancers rushed for 312 yards behind a workhorse effort from Alex Lambert (22 carries, 150 yards).
“(Lambert) was a very dedicated young man in the weight room this summer,” said Rich, whose team improved to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in Division I. “He runs hard, and he’s a tough, durable kid. He brings his ‘A’ game every week, and he did so this week as well.”
But Rich didn’t save all his praise for the Lancer players. He also cited the work done by Londonderry trainer Michelle Hart-Miller in helping the team get better.
“It’s also a tribute to our trainer,” said Rich. “She works with these kids all year round. And we work on speed, mechanics and weight training. Becoming stronger and having more power. A lot of it is attributed to her as well. I attribute a lot of the physical football to Michelle.”
Finishing kick
This has been a tough season for legendary coach Rod Wotton and St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Saints are 2-4 overall, with all four losses by seven points or fewer. St. Thomas’ latest defeat was its most painful.
Bishop Brady’s Pat Michaud kicked a 32-yard field goal directly into the wind as time expired to give the Green Giants an 18-16 win over host St. Thomas on Saturday.
Earlier in the game, Michaud badly missed a shorter field goal with the wind at his back.
"He nailed it," Wotton told Foster’s Daily Democrat. "And the one down there, he didn't kick anywhere. That's why you play the game."
The loss was costly to the Saints’ playoff hopes, as St. Thomas still has Trinity and defending champion Pelham left on its schedule. The Saints have been a postseason fixture over the last decade, winning four Division IV championships. St. Thomas lost to Pelham in last year’s Division V title game.
Oh, Canada
Campbell has rebounded quite nicely from its early-season struggles, thanks in large part to terrific play by senior quarterback Kiel Canada.
The Cougars were a preseason favorite in Division VI, but they started the season 0-3 after lopsided defeats against Winnisquam, Inter-Lakes and Pelham. Things have gotten much better lately, as Campbell beat Franklin for its third straight win on Saturday.
The 28-12 victory was especially sweet for the Cougars, who suffered an 8-0 loss to Franklin in last year’s championship game. Canada had his revenge on Saturday, passing for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 90 yards and another touchdown, helping Campbell build a 21-0 lead after the first quarter.
Canada was just as impressive a week earlier, running for two touchdowns and throwing for two more in the Cougars’ 61-8 rout of Mascoma Valley. He carried the ball six times for 109 yards.
Looking ahead
Football fans in New Hampshire will be treated to a pair of huge showdowns between undefeated teams on Saturday.
In Division VI, Winnisquam will host Inter-Lakes in a 1:30 p.m. game in Tilton. Both teams are 6-0, and the winner will have the inside track on the top seed for the Division VI playoffs.
About 50 miles to the south, Nashua North (6-0, 5-0 Division I) will host Salem (6-0, 4-0) in a 3 p.m. game at Stellos Stadium with first place on the line in Division I.
Extra points
Bishop Guertin's Matt Bayne and his Cardinal teammates are 6-0 on the season. Bishop Guertin photo.
Nashua South’s run defense may prevent the Purple Panthers from defending their Division I championship. South (3-3, 1-3 Division I) has lost three straight games and struggled to stop the run in losses to Manchester Central, Salem and Nashua North. Central’s Mike Cavanaugh (230 yards), Salem’s Max Jacques (329) and North’s Andre Williams (276) all had big days against the Panthers. … Exeter turned to its third-string quarterback in Friday’s 27-14 Division II win over Keene. With Carson Cross and Brian Clark out due to illness, Jamieson Tymann was behind center in the Blue Hawks victory. Tymann made his lone throw of the night count, tossing a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ben Callahan. … Portsmouth welcomed back quarterback Nate Jones in Friday’s game against Pembroke. Jones, who missed the Clippers’ loss to Souhegan with an ankle injury, threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in Portsmouth’s 41-7 victory. … Timberlane’s Derek Furey is used to scoring touchdowns for the Owls, although he usually does it with his legs. Furey tested out his arm in Friday’s 35-34 overtime loss to Division I Salem, throwing a touchdown pass on a halfback option play. He also scored three TDs on the ground. … Bishop Guertin (6-0) is making a habit of putting games away early. The Cardinals led Winnacunnet 28-0 at halftime on Friday and rolled to a 35-6 Division II win. Senior running back Adam Hall rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries and scored four touchdowns for Bishop Guertin. … Division III Hollis-Brookline celebrated the first night outdoor sporting event in school history with a 27-0 victory over Division IV Sanborn on Friday. The rented lights helped draw a crowd believed to be the largest ever to witness a Hollis-Brookline football game. Justin Shutt led the Cavaliers to victory with 151 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.
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