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# Adjustments in running game gave Nashua North football some life on offense
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/adjustments-in-running-game-gave-nashua-north-football-some-life-on-offense/
- Published: 2018-10-01T19:21:06.000Z
- Updated: 2018-10-01T19:21:06.000Z
- Description: The Nashua High School North football team made no secret about what it wanted to do on offense in Friday night's game against Nashua South. The Titans ran the ball on their first nine plays, the first seven of which went for positive yardage, as North took the opening kickoff and moved from its own
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, football, Nashua North, Nashua South, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

The Nashua High School North football team made no secret about what it wanted to do on offense in Friday night's game against Nashua South.

The Titans ran the ball on their first nine plays, the first seven of which went for positive yardage, as North took the opening kickoff and moved from its own 19-yard line to the South 31.

But on the next two plays, the Titans went backward, putting them in a third-and-long situation, and after picking up four yards on their first pass of the game, North turned the ball over on fourth down.

The running game continued to stall after that, as North went three-and-out on its next three possessions, gaining just eight yards.

"They were playing great up front defensively," North coach Dante Laurendi said. "They were really running around, physical, hustling, moving their front. They have a very good team speed. They run really, really well. They fly around to the football, and if you have a hole, it’s not open very long."

On their fifth possession, the Titans mixed it up. Down 6-0, North took over at its own 26 with 5:32 left in the first half, and with sophomore Curtis Harris in the backfield to take the direct snap.

North ran the ball nine straight times on what turned into a 74-yard touchdown drive, with Harris getting seven carries for 55 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game 6-6.

"They ran a little Wildcat, and I thought we lost our composure a little bit," South coach Scott Knight said. "We started running around and not reading our keys right. We settled down at halftime and thought we did a better job in the second half. And then the turnovers happen."

Harris and quarterback Mike Loveless split time taking the snap in the second half, in some cases, even on the same drive. With the help of two South turnovers in the third quarter that led to points, North scored 15 unanswered points in a 21-14 win over the Panthers.

"I think Curtis might be a little more elusive in the hole," Laurendi said. "Mike is more of a power kid, he made some great plays (Friday) as well. You have the threat of Curtis running up the middle and outside as well. Our line did a pretty good job of adjusting. It wasn’t pretty, it was a grind."

While seniors like Loveless (11 carries, 64 yards) and Brian Montminy (14 carries, 33 yards, touchdown) have been key for the Titans this year, North is also getting major contributions from its underclassman.

Harris led the rushing attack with 163 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while freshman Isaac Smith had 91 yards on eight carries, including the game-clinching touchdown. And on defense, junior Sherod Williams had a strip sack and recovered two fumbles in a standout performance.

"They’re a nice combination," Laurendi said. "We’ve got some pretty good skill kids. We try to divvy the ball up as much as we can to see what’s working. For those guys to come up in key situations is huge."