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# Bowen finding his rhythm for Bishop Guertin football
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/bowen-finding-his-rhythm-for-bishop-guertin-football/
- Published: 2025-09-19T19:39:20.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-19T19:39:20.000Z
- Description: There has been a common theme for the Bishop Guertin High School football team throughout the early part of the season. Whether it be a scrimmage or a regular-season game, the Cardinals have started fast, taking early leads and putting points on the board in bunches. While there are many factors th
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bishop Guertin, Cardinals, football, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

There has been a common theme for the Bishop Guertin High School football team throughout the early part of the season.

Whether it be a scrimmage or a regular-season game, the Cardinals have started fast, taking early leads and putting points on the board in bunches.

While there are many factors that go into that early efficiency on offense, the biggest is junior quarterback Nate Bowen.

A year ago, Bowen was a sophomore, not only getting varsity reps for the first time, but also not in sole possession of the starting quarterback job. But by the second week of the regular season, he'd forced himself into that role, thanks mostly to his physical abilities.

With a whole year under his belt, Bowen has taken the next step in leading the Bishop Guertin offense.

"He’s done a lot in the offseason to be able to understand what we’re looking for," Cardinals coach Anthony Nalen said after the team's 48-8 win over Merrimack last Saturday. "I think last year, when I’d call a play, he’d be going through it. This year, he understands what I’m thinking and we’re able to work through it together. He’s making a lot of good decisions."

The coach isn't the only one who feels that way, as Bowen has seen himself improving whenever he watches film.

"I think my understanding is way better," he said. "I was still learning the offense last year. This year, I’m way more confident, especially with everyone else knowing the offense. That helps a lot."

It's also helped that Bowen has had that time to spend with the group of receivers the Cardinals have on the roster. Bishop Guertin has been without senior Alex Dolan, but Ryan Connelly, Sam Fayad, Hudson Schmitt and Jonah Feliciano are other senior skill players who played alongside Bowen last season.

Add in junior Rocco Roy, sophomore Deion Sisay and freshman Will Adams, and the Cardinals have a plethora of players for Bowen to distribute the ball to.

"I feel way more comfortable, especially with all the guys coming back," Bowen said. "We’ve got new additions that we have a good connection already. I have confidence in all my guys. They all get open for me, they sit in the hole and they make it nice and easy for me. I would say I have a good connection with all my guys."

And when it's needed, the running ability is still there for Bowen, as he showed against Merrimack on a 30-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.

"I think it’s more mental than physical," Nalen said. "He had that mental ability last year, he’s just making better decisions with the ball and putting our team in a safer spot at times. He’s a good runner, but he’s going through his progression."

When mistakes have happened, Bowen isn't one to let it get to him.

"Sometimes he’d sling it and throw a bad all, but he’d come off (the field) like a gunslinger," Nalen said. "But it was good for his development because he didn’t get down on himself. That’s something you can work with and this year, he’s grown in terms of his mental game."

Bishop Guertin is on the road for the second time in the first three weeks, as the Cardinals travel to Keene for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday.