> ## 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.

# Big plays on defense allowed offense to control game for Nashua North football
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/big-plays-defense-allowed-offense-control-game-nashua-north-football/
- Published: 2017-10-03T11:30:43.000Z
- Updated: 2017-10-03T11:30:43.000Z
- Description: Kevin Maldonado knew there wasn't anything the Nashua High School North football team had to change to stop a two-game losing skid. The Titans, to a player, just needed to get back to doing what they do best. For Maldonado, that meant being a one-man wrecking crew, as he led North's defense to a bou
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, football, Merrimack, Nashua North, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Kevin Maldonado knew there wasn't anything the Nashua High School North football team had to change to stop a two-game losing skid.

The Titans, to a player, just needed to get back to doing what they do best.

For Maldonado, that meant being a one-man wrecking crew, as he led North's defense to a bounce-back performance after the team had allowed a combined 60 points in the two previous games.

"We worked as a team," Maldonado said. "We played how we a practiced and all week we worked hard. We stuck together, kept our energy up. Our coverage was good, we were getting pressure."

And the junior was leading the way, as he had three of North's five sacks of Merrimack quarterback Ryan Devanna in last Friday's 45-20 win. Maldonado also had a one-handed interception that set up a touchdown and he also forced a fumble on a play where he beat the Tomahawks' running back to the handoff.

In all, the Titans (3-2) forced three turnovers, and scored 17 points off all three.

"He’s consistently disruptive," North coach Dante Laurendi said. "He’s a powerful kid, he’s competitive and he has a very good sense of the game. He’s a football player."

The turnovers, two of which came on Merrimack's first two possessions, helped the Titans take a three-score lead into the second quarter. That fast start allowed them to withstand any offensive attack the Tomahawks could throw at them.

"If you can win the turnover battle, that’s huge and we got some at key times," Laurendi said. "Having that turned the momentum. Any time that they don’t have the ball, it’s a good thing because they’re so explosive.

"We just tried to limit their touches and do the best we can to keep them contained."

That's something North wasn't able to do the week before in a 34-15 loss to Nashua South, and because the defense couldn't stop the big plays, the offense was forced into making some of its own and came up short.

While the Titans had six plays that went for 15 yards or more, they were also able to put together sustained drives and use up the clock in the second half.

"Any time you can move the chains and keep the ball (it’s big)," Laurendi said. "We were able to move the ball and get some favorable down and distances. You’ve got more favorable play calls when you’re in second-and-5 or third-and-short, then when you’re dealing with second-and-12 and third-and-long.

"It was huge the fact that we were able to run the football, get some yardage, and get some big plays on them. Our guys did a good job grinding and our backs did a great job adjusting to the blocks and seeing things."

With a home game against Pinkerton coming up on Friday, the Titans were in need of a game that helped get their confidence back.

"It was really big for us," Maldonado said. "Our heads were down and we needed something to pick us up. We needed something to get us back up, get us confidence."