Bishop Guertin football takes care of business in win over Alvirne (video)

NASHUA - John Trisciani had a check list to fulfill going into the Bishop Guertin High School football team's game Saturday night against Alvirne.

Keep everyone healthy. Get everyone in the game on senior night. Get the win.

Check, check and check.

The Cardinals took a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter, emptied the bench in the second half, and left Stellos Stadium unscathed in a 42-18 win over the Broncos in a Division I contest.

"It’s senior night, so it’s an exciting time for a lot of the kids and their families," Trisciani said. "We’re trying to play as many kids as we can. Big picture, it was to win, come out with no injuries, and all the seniors got in, so we’re happy with that."

Matt Santosuosso led the way for Bishop Guertin (6-2), as he rushed 12 times for 125 yards and three touchdowns, while Ethan Chmielecki, who was filling at running back for Charlie Bellavance for the second game in a row, added 95 yards and his first varsity touchdown on 18 carries.

"He’s a kid who is coming along," Trisciani said of Chmielecki. "He’s a sophomore and he’s starting at linebacker now for us, too, with some of the injuries we’ve had. It was fun to see him score his first varsity touchdown. He’s a good kid and he’s coachable, he really works hard."

Marcel Vernon also had a rushing touchdown and added 35 yards on the ground, and the Cardinals also got a defensive score, when Carter Accomando returned a fumble 12 yards for a score that made it 21-0 just six seconds into the second quarter.

"I give the kids a lot of credit to just keep it coming," Alvirne coach Tarek Rothe said. "They could have packed it in. I give credit to the staff for keeping the kids motivated. They work hard, they never quite, and I love them for that. BG is a very good football team. We’re young and we make a lot of dumb mistakes some times, but that’s to be expected with all the sophomores we’re playing."

Bryant Montgomery led the Broncos (0-7) with 132 yards and a touchdown rushing while Zachary Peters, who came in at quarterback after Jacob Bradshaw was banged up on Alvirne's first play, was 9 of 20 for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Anthony Ferullo had one of those scores to go with four receptions and 35 yards while Brendan Graham added three catches for 17 yards and a score.

After Accomando's touchdown, Alvirne put together a 13-play, 77-yard drive, with Montgomery rushing for 39 of those yards. A hold on the Broncos pushed them back to the Cardinals' 40, but on the next play, Peters hit Cole Bucknam for a 39-yard gain to the 1-yard line.

Two plays later, Peters connected with Graham for a 1-yard score.

Bishop Guertin answered with a 10-play, 70-yard drive, ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by Chmielecki, to make it 28-6. A 25-yard run early in the third quarter by Santosuosso made it 35-6 Bishop Guertin.

The Broncos were able to go on another long drive, going 59 yards on 11 yards, with Peters hitting Ferullo for a 2-yard touchdown. Vernon's 6-yard touchdown run with 9:31 left in the game put the Cardinals up 42-12, but Alvirne had another lengthy drive in it.

Montgomery had all but nine yards on a 10-play, 63-yard drive that ended with the senior's 1-yard touchdown run.

"(Montgomery) is a good running back," Rothe said. "He keeps coming and he is getting better and better every week."

The teams combined for 22 penalties for 216 yards, plus two offsetting personal fouls and a penalty that was declined.