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# Batstone, Exeter football bater Winnacunnet in 2nd half to stay unbeaten
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/batstone-exeter-football-bater-winnacunnet-in-2nd-half-to-stay-unbeaten/
- Published: 2024-09-28T14:00:26.000Z
- Updated: 2024-09-28T14:00:26.000Z
- Description: HAMPTON – After beginning his season with a five-touchdown performance, Exeter High School running back Daniel Batstone had been held to one touchdown in the past two games heading into Friday night’s game against rival Winnacunnet. The senior got back to visiting the end zone multiple times to carv
- Author: Dan Doyon
- Tags: Division I, Exeter, football, slider, Winnacunnet, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

HAMPTON – After beginning his season with a five-touchdown performance, Exeter High School running back Daniel Batstone had been held to one touchdown in the past two games heading into Friday night’s game against rival Winnacunnet.

The senior got back to visiting the end zone multiple times to carve out his legacy during the 95th installment of the rivalry.

Batstone bulldozed his way to a season-high 172 yards on 15 carries and scored four touchdowns in Exeter’s 38-12 Division I victory on Alumni Field over Winnacunnet.

He scored all three touchdowns during a 21-0 second half that helped improved Exeter’s record to 4-0, while Winnacunnet dropped to 3-1.

“This was an extremely big deal for us,” Batstone said. “We were expecting nothing but a really competitive, hard game because we know they’re tough. But I think we’re tougher.”

Batstone only had two carries until the Blue Hawks got the ball back with 3:20 left in the second quarter up 14-12\. Batstone highlighted a 10-play drive with a 21-yard run that helped set up a 32-yard field goal by Jonathan Adams as time expired to give Exeter a 17-12 halftime lead.

“This line pushes as hard as anybody,” Batstone said. “They’re extremely tough, extremely strong and disciplined. Once we get going, there is no stopping us.”

Batstone fed off the way he finished the first half by ripping off a 17-yard run on Exeter’s first drive of the third quarter that set up his own 3-yard score to give Exeter a 25-12 lead with 3:42 left in the third quarter.

Sam Dulac then intercepted a pass from Winnacunnet quarterback Riley McDaniel on the ensuing drive that helped set up a 10-yard scoring run by Batstone. His 51-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter brought his season rushing total to 501 yards on 49 carries (10.22 yards an attempt) with 10 touchdowns.

“Even when you’re in a position to make a play on him he is so tough to bring down,” Winnacunnet coach Ryan Francouer said. “He runs so hard and we were tired. His strength and speed wore us down.”

Dulac also came up defensively on Winnacunnet’s first play of scrimmage when he collapsed on an option play by McDaniel to force and recover a fumble. Batstone ran it into the end zone from 7 yards out to give Exeter a 7-0 lead.

“I just knew we had to be aggressive, set the tone, and that’s exactly what I did,” Dulac said. “It was an option, I got in his face, he tried to toss it and I just dove on it.”

Winnacunnet responded with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard scoring keeper by McDaniel, but the Warriors faced adversity again when Exeter’s Jack Kavanaugh took the opening play of the ensuing drive 43 yards for a score to give the Blue Hawks a 14-6 lead with 57.5 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Warriors countered this time with a 19-yard, 80-yard drive that chewed up 9:27 off the clock and ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Mason McDonald (14 carries, 85 yards) to bring Winnacunnet within 14-12.

“It was a really great effort against a good team that’s well-coached and they gave us a lot of headaches in the first half,” Exeter coach Bill Ball said. “I was really proud of how we played in the second half. I really enjoyed this one. This is always a fun game.”