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# Defensive line helped Winnacunnet football achieve goal of slowing Goffstown offense
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/defensive-line-helped-winnacunnet-football-achieve-goal-slowing-goffstown-offense/
- Published: 2017-11-14T14:52:52.000Z
- Updated: 2017-11-14T14:52:52.000Z
- Description: All season long, the Goffstown High School football team found ways to move the ball with its running game, and when it needed a big play, the Grizzlies were able to get the ball into the hands of Andrew Duval. It worked all season long, except for Goffstown's two games against Winnacunnet. In those
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, football, Goffstown, NH High School Sports Insider, playoffs, slider, Winnacunnet, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

All season long, the Goffstown High School football team found ways to move the ball with its running game, and when it needed a big play, the Grizzlies were able to get the ball into the hands of Andrew Duval.

It worked all season long, except for Goffstown's two games against Winnacunnet.

In those two contests - a 9-6 loss in the regular season and a 21-6 loss Saturday in the Division I semifinals - the Grizzlies struggled to move the ball, getting a total of 336 yards and nine first downs. Goffstown went more than three quarters against the Winnacunnet defense without picking up a first down.

"They’re very good on defense," Goffstown coach Justin Hufft said. "They are very strong up front, the (linebackers) run very well, they cover well. Obviously, we had a hard time throwing the ball (Saturday). They’re just a complete team, a very good team."

Goffstown's two touchdowns against Winnacunnet came on missed assignments by the Warriors defense, according to Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant. In the regular season, it was Charlie Keith's 29-yard touchdown run, and on Saturday, it was a 77-yard completion from Keith to Duval.

Duval touched the ball five other times on offense and gained 46 yards, while Keith carried 16 times for 26 yards. The Warriors didn't attempt any passes in the vicinity of Duval and did their best to put punts and kickoffs in places that would make it tough for him to get a big return.

"Our whole front played really well," Auffant said. "Our game plan was to stop the run and not let Duval beat us. If you commit too many to him, they can hurt you with other people.

"When he was in the backfield, we knew he was going to run the ball most of the time. And when he’s out in the slot, we had a guy under and over on him. We had to be careful though because the first time we played them, we did that, and they hit a kid on the backside. We made a few adjustments from that, but we made sure we knew where he was. He’s a game-breaker."

A big reason for the Grizzlies' struggles was the Winnacunnet front four. The defensive line - which consists of James Phennicie, Andrew Mills, Joe MacDougall and Cam Strukel - helped Winnacunnet hold Goffstown to an average of 4.5 yards per play - a number that drops to 2.7 without the long touchdown pass - and put consistent pressure on the Grizzlies.

"I think their defensive tackles (Phennicie and Mills) are terrific," Hufft said. "They do a great job with them. They attack, they stay on the line of scrimmage, they eat up blockers, and their linebackers are really good, too."

The play of the defense has been a big reason for Winnacunnet's turnaround from a 3-6 season in 2016, a year in which the Warriors allowed an average of 27.1 points per game.

"We have some good athletes and kids in the right spots, we don’t ask them to do too much," Auffant said. "Last year, we got a little complicated and overcoached at times. With high school kids, we simplified a lot and just let them play. I think it starts up front. Our defensive backs are good. I think across the board, it’s weird, we don’t have that one superstar. They’re all just good."

The Warriors are one game away from completing a perfect season and they'll be facing a Pinkerton team that has scored 40 points or more in its last seven games.

"We’ll have our hands full," Auffant said.