Defense leading the way in Nashua North football's strong start

The Nashua High School North football team has played eight quarters this season, and so far, the Titans have allowed an average of one point in each of those quarters.

Those eight points came in the final seconds of North's season-opening win against Winnacunnet. The Titans improved to 2-0 last Friday with a 36-0 win over Spaulding, and over the two games, the Titans have allowed just 138 yards rushing.

While junior Curtis Harris has drawn plenty of attention for his offensive numbers in the first two weeks - 271 yards rushing, five touchdowns - Spaulding coach Kevin Hebert believes he has as much of an impact on defense for the Titans.

"I think he’s the factor," the Red Raiders coach said. "I think he takes big plays and makes them 4-yard gains. Those are difference making type of plays. We have some good skill kids, and we’re starting to get some kids in our program athletically, but when you get that kid in the middle of the field, and he’s making big plays into minimal gains, it’s tough to get going."

Spaulding had just 92 yards against North's defense, including 12 yards in the first half, and early in the game, it was Harris coming up to deliver some big hits that set the tone.

"He’s done that since he was a freshman, how physical he is," North coach Dante Laurendi said of Harris. "He gets to the ball in a hurry and he gets there with some bad intent."

But Harris wasn't the only one on the Titans' defense who has stepped up to make plays in these first two games. Laurendi pointed to the guys up front - Max Ackerman, Dylan McIntyre, Travis Holbrook, Lucas Cunningham and Devin Bracetty - as to where North's success has started.

"Defensively, we’re running to the football well and we’re playing good team defense," the coach said. "The guys up front have been doing a good job. Our linebackers were very physical. Justin Edwards, Spencer Whiting did a real good job."

Up 29-0 in the second quarter, North had a chance to put another score on the board before halftime, but had a 56-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Xavier Provost called back on a hold. That was one of four penalties - two were declined - on the Titans' final drive of the half and they eventually turned the ball over on downs.

Spaulding got the opening kickoff to the second half and put a drive together, picking up three first downs, including a 28-yard pass from Logan Gadbois to Ryan Lane. The Red Raiders had a first-and-goal at the North 8, but after Garrett Langis picked up five yards on first down, the Titans held, dropping Langis for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal at the 3.

North answered with a long drive of its own, going 88 yards on 14 plays, but on first-and-goal at the Spaulding 7, Harris and Brian Mwangi couldn't connect on a handoff and Lane recovered the fumble.

"We needed that (defensive stand) because we finished the half real sloppy," Laurendi said. "And then we opened up and gave them good field position on the kick, then we let them dive. To be able to rebound from some sloppiness and then have that, and then drive the distance, unfortunately we had the fumble, but to eat the clock, that was big."