> ## 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.

# Faced with adversity, Bishop Guertin football finding ways to win
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/faced-with-adversity-bishop-guertin-football-finding-ways-to-win/
- Published: 2019-09-24T14:17:05.000Z
- Updated: 2019-09-24T14:17:05.000Z
- Description: That the Bishop Guertin High School football team has won two of its first three games is not something that John Trisciani felt was outside of the realm of possibility. That the Cardinals have been able to do it despite the adversity they've at times faced qualifies as quite a surprise to the head
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bishop Guertin, football, NH High School Sports Insider, Portsmouth-Oyster River, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

That the Bishop Guertin High School football team has won two of its first three games is not something that John Trisciani felt was outside of the realm of possibility.

That the Cardinals have been able to do it despite the adversity they've at times faced qualifies as quite a surprise to the head coach.

Going into last Saturday night's game against Portsmouth-Oyster River, Trisciani and the Bishop Guertin coaching staff were prepared to split time at quarterback between two players who were not quarterbacks a little more than a week ago.

But with the top three quarterbacks for the Cardinals sidelined, they've had no choice but to move junior Dylan Santosuosso and senior Joey Lupo to the position.

"We knew we were going to use them both," Trisciani said. "We were going to go with Dylan to start and then go to Joey some point early and try to gauge it from there. I’d say the split was probably what we expected."

What Bishop Guertin didn't expect was that it would much more difficult to move the ball against the ClipperCats' defense. A week after Lupo had run all over Nashua South's defense, the Cardinals gained just 52 yards on the ground in the 24-19 win over Portsmouth-OR.

But it was big plays that Lupo made on defense and special teams, to go with some big moments for Santosuosso as well, that put the Cardinals over the top.

Lupo returned a punt for a touchdown, blocked the extra point on the ClipperCats' first touchdown and had two interceptions on defense, the first of which set up Bishop Guertin's first score. That touchdown came on a 2-yard run by Santosuosso on a drive that started at Portsmouth-OR's 15-yard line following the turnover.

"Dylan, we coached him up this week, and he was in a tough spot," Trisciani said. "He threw the ball well at times. He did a great job. He had his first varsity touchdown."

Santosuosso and the Cardinals took advantage of another short field after the ClipperCats' scored, as Josef Homola returned the kickoff to the Portsmouth-OR 11-yard line. Two players later, Santosuosso hit Kyle Baker for a 7-yard touchdown.

The two would connect again, on Bishop Guertin's first drive of the second half. After the ClipperCats took the lead on a nine-play, 76-yard drive, going up 19-18, Santosuosso and Baker combined for a 62-yard touchdown that put the Cardinals up by the final margin.

"It’s kind of a week-to-week thing for some of these kids as we try to get them in the right spot," Trisciani said. "Guys have to step up. Now they’re starting to have success and that’s where you get the buy-in.

"It’s been kind of a whirlwind. I don’t think we’ve peaked as a team, but I’m surprised. They’re constantly surprising me. It makes practice fun. It makes watching film easier to swallow."

The Cardinals will try to keep the momentum going Friday at Keene, in a place they've had some trouble in the past. Although the teams have played every year going back to the old Division II days, this is just Bishop Guertin's fifth trip there since 2009 and the teams have split the previous four games.

"It’s not a game we’re taking lightly," Trisciani said. "It’s a huge game for us. If we don’t go there and perform well, the last two weeks don’t mean as much."