Fall Sports

Around the Granite State: Nashua North football comes back for win over Bishop Guertin

The Nashua High School North football team scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes Friday night to come from behind to beat Bishop Guertin 35-28 in a Division I West Conference game at Stellos Stadium.

NASHUA - The Nashua High School North football team scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes Friday night to come from behind to beat Bishop Guertin 35-28 in a Division I West Conference game at Stellos Stadium.

Derek Finlay found Jack Peters for a 61-yard touchdown reception with 1:26 remaining to tie the game at 28, and after the Titans (8-0) defense forced the Cardinals to punt, a bad snap gave North the ball at Bishop Guertin's 7-yard line. Amaury Almonte ran the ball in on the next play to put the Titans ahead for good with 42.5 remaining.

It was the third touchdown of the game for Almonte, who returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a score and had a 9-yard scoring run in the second quarter. Finlay was 8 of 13 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns, both to Peters (four catches, 114 yards) in the second half.

Bishop Guertin's Ethan Labbe had 111 yards rushing and two touchdowns, including a 5-yard run that put the Cardinals (6-2) up 28-22 with 2:11 to play. Matt Santosuosso added 137 yards and a touchdown on the ground and was 8 of 17 for 146 yards with a touchdown and an interception and Ronan Balistreri caught three passes for 57 yards and a score.

North took a 14-0 lead in the first half, but Bishop Guertin came back to tie it with 1:08 left in the first half. The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead before halftime, but a 23-yard field goal attempt by Connor Lennon was blocked by Finlay as time expired.

Bishop Guertin took a 22-14 lead in the third quarter on a 13-yard run by Labbe and a two-point conversion by Santosuosso, but North answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Finlay to Peters and Finlay ran in the conversion to tie it at 22 with 3:50 left in the third.

The win likely gives North first place in the conference, which means the Titans would receive a first-round bye in the D1 playoffs.

Timberlane 48, Dover 42 (OT)

Dom Coppeta ran for 125 yards on 19 carries and was 7 of 12 passing for 140 to help the Owls (7-1) survive a shootout with the Green Wave.

Coppeta completed touchdown passes to Jaden Mwangi and Eddie DiGiulio for 45 and 43 yards, respectively. DiGiulio had 71 yards rushing and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime after the Timberlane defense stopped Dover on its possession.

Ryder Aubin led Dover (3-4 in D1, 4-4 overall) by going 26 of 41 with 425 yards passing and five touchdown passes while also rushing for another score. Bryce Carberry (nine catches, 136 yards) and Brett Davis (11, 221) each had a pair of touchdown receptions while Sam Grube had one.

Exeter 31, Spaulding 7

Evan Pafford had a hand in three touchdowns, rushing for two and throwing for another, as the Blue Hawks (5-2 in D1, 6-2 overall) picked up a win over the Red Raiders.

Pafford ran for 80 yards while Ethan Moss rushed for 106 and had three catches for 26 yards and caught the touchdown pass from Pafford. He also kicked a 23-yard field goal.

Kaiden Melendez had the lone score for Spaulding (3-4, 4-4), running in from 8 yards out early in the fourth quarter.

Girls Volleyball

Hollis Brookline 3, Nashua North 1

The Cavaliers wrapped up the regular season with a win over the Titans. Game scores were 25-17, 25-10, 16-25 and 25-23.

Cheyenne Colbert led HB (16-2) with 17 kills and nine digs while Annette Schlunk had 12 kills and five blocks. Abbie Hoffpauir recorded 11 kills and five blocks.

Maia Schneider had six aces and 10 digs and Sophie Jordan recorded 40 assists for HB.

Portsmouth Christian 3, Concord Christian 0

The Eagles ended the regular season with a road win. Game scores were 25-18, 25-20 and 25-20.

Liahna Messier had six kills and five digs for PCA (12-4) while Alex Griffin added five kills and Kailey Holt had 10 assists and six aces. Emma Eisner also had four aces and Emily Esters recorded 16 digs.