> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Bedford football's balanced attack helps lead to win against Bishop Guertin (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/bedford-footballs-balanced-attack-helps-lead-to-win-against-bishop-guertin-video/
- Published: 2024-09-22T23:15:52.000Z
- Updated: 2024-09-22T23:15:52.000Z
- Description: NASHUA - Zach Matthews presented a challenge to the Bedford High School football team at halftime of Saturday night's game against Bishop Guertin. With junior running back Brody Helton on the sideline for the rest of the night, the Bulldogs had to show they were capable of still finding a way to win
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bedford, Bishop Guertin, football, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

NASHUA - Zach Matthews presented a challenge to the Bedford High School football team at halftime of Saturday night's game against Bishop Guertin.

With junior running back Brody Helton on the sideline for the rest of the night, the Bulldogs had to show they were capable of still finding a way to win.

Bedford did, using a mix of its running and passing games on offense, while its defense remained opportunistic, coming up with big plays when it needed to in a 35-13 win over the Cardinals at Stellos Stadium in Nashua. The win was also the 20th in a row overall for the Bulldogs.

Jack Maye completed 15 of 17 passes with 232 yards and two touchdowns, with Peter Suozzo catching four passes for 59 yards and a score. Bennett Matthews also had seven catches for 79 yards and Landon Ellsmore had a 36-yard touchdown reception.

Helton had 129 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, but toward the end of a long touchdown run in the second quarter, he injured an ankle and did not return in the second half.

"If he needed to go, he probably could have gone," Zach Matthews said. "It’s a long season, so pushing something like that didn’t feel right. We’ll take a look at it on Monday and go from there.

"I challenged the kids. There are a lot of people around the state that want to say we’re only good because we have Brody Helton. I think you saw a lot of different kids contribute in that half when he was out. We had other running backs who were contributing. Bennett made a play, Landon made a play, Peter had a touchdown catch. We have a lot of other pieces. Is Brody a big part of it? Sure, but we’ve got a lot of kids that this means something to."

Six players combined for 87 yards rushing in the second half, including 35 yards and a touchdown from Eric Millis. The Bulldogs (2-0 in Division I, 3-0 overall, No. 1 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) piled up 439 yards on offense.

Bishop Guertin (1-2) had 364 yards offensively, but 262 of that game in the first half, when the Cardinals were able to control time of possession. They got on the board first, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jonah Feliciano to cap a 15-play, 99-yard drive that made it 6-0 with 1:25 remaining in the first.

But Bishop Guertin couldn't take advantage of other opportunities in the first half, as quarterback Nate Bowen threw two interceptions, including one in the end zone. The Cardinals also missed an extra point and were unable to attempt a field goal in the first half due to a miscue on the snap or hold.

"They’re a seasoned team that is able to play the full 48 (minutes)," Bishop Guertin coach Anthony Nalen said. "I thought our young guys who have not been in these games consistently yet learned a lot in terms of how to finish a game and how not to act in terms of body language. Doing their jobs even when they’re tired, even when they’re down.

"There are a lot of things we need to improve, but I thought overall, I was happy with the kids’ efforts. They played tough, they gave me everything they had, and we’ll put this behind us."

Bowen finished the night 15 of 26 for 150 yards and had another 50 yards rushing while AJ Holmes added 96 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

But after Bishop Guertin took the lead, Bedford needed just four plays to answer, as Helton scored on a 24-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead just nine seconds into the second quarter. The Cardinals responded with a nine-play drive that got them to Bedford's 22-yard line, but Suozzo made an outstanding catch in the end zone to intercept Bowen.

On the next play, Helton broke four tackles before breaking free for an 80-yard run and a 14-6 Bedford lead with 7:37 left in the half. But after the run, he had to be helped off the field and did not return.

It was still a one-score game at halftime, but the Bulldogs changed that in the third quarter. They opened the half getting a 43-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Suozzo to make it 21-6, and after the defense forced a punt, Bedford put the game in the hands of its running backs.

Millis, Winston Huynh, Noah Cassamassino and Bennett Matthews had carries on the drive, as the Bulldogs went 67 yards in 12 plays. Millis scored on a 4-yard run to make it 28-6 with 10:40 left in the game.

"They think they’re in this game because they probably assume Brody is out and it’s their game to come get," Zach Matthews said of his halftime message. "They responded the right way and I was proud of them."