Fiengo, defense help lead Souhegan football to road win against Plymouth (video)

PLYMOUTH - Michael Fiengo hadn't put on his football pads, hadn't practiced, and hadn't played in a game in three weeks thanks to an injury.

Then, Saturday morning, the Souhegan High School senior quarterback woke up feeling better and decided he should suit up for the Sabers, even though he knew it was unlikely he would play. But when Cole Brandt, who had been filling in at quarterback, went down on the first play of the second half, it was Fiengo's turn to step in for Souhegan.

The reigning Division II Player of the Year led two second-half touchdown drives and the Sabers' defense shut out Plymouth in the second half, as Souhegan came back for a 19-9 win in a matchup between the final two undefeated teams in D2.

"One of the grittiest wins we’ve ever hard," Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett said. "Playing a physical football team and guys are dropping like flies. Both teams, kids are playing hard. I’m so proud of my team. It was like a rollercoaster of emotions."

Along with Brandt, the Sabers (7-0, No. 8 in the New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center/NHHSSports Coaches Poll) also lost senior lineman Sean Reardon to a lower leg injury in the first quarter and sophomore receiver Kobe Morin was banged up in the fourth quarter, but did return.

But Souhegan was able to grind out a win thanks to the return of its starting quarterback.

"I needed to be there for my guys because they’re always there for me," Fiengo said. "I had to step up and deal with the pain. It’s my senior year and I don’t want to miss a big game.

"I told coach this morning, I’m going to dress, I’ll be prepared. I’m not expecting to play, I won’t take it personally if I don’t play. But if you need me, I’ll be ready whenever."

Fiengo, who came in for one play in the first half and threw a touchdown pass to Ryland Raudelunas, was 8 of 13 for 100 yards and two touchdowns and had 18 yards rushing, as the Sabers tried to limit his carries.

"We were having success throwing the football and felt that was the best way to keep Fiengo upright and not run him as much," Bowkett said. "I think he’s just an ultimate competitor and he was feeling it. He didn’t want to miss Souhegan-Plymouth and he felt he didn’t want to let his teammates down."

Morin caught seven passes for 129 yards and a score while Raudelunas ran for 71 yards and a score to go with two catches for 22 yards and the first-half touchdown reception. His touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave the Sabers a 10-point lead with 5:21 remaining.

Plymouth (6-1, No. 10) opened the game with a 12-play drive that took up 7 minutes, 55 seconds, but stalled at Souhegan's 26-yard line. Bryson Stone came in to kick a 42-yard field goal and gave the Bobcats a 3-0 lead with just 4:03 left in the opening quarter.

The Sabers responded with a long drive of their own, which included converting a fourth-and-9 and a fourth-and-13, with Brandt completing a 17-yard pass to Morin to the Bobcats' 18 on the later.

But on the next play, the snap sailed over Brandt's head for a 19-yard loss and Souhegan ended up punting. Brody Smith pinned Plymouth at its own 7, and four plays later, a fumble by Logan Marsh was recovered by Souhegan at the 9.

Fiengo came in for his one play in the first half and connected with Raudelunas for a 9-yard touchdown with 6:16 left in the second quarter.

"We were like maybe we put him out there for a pass play," Bowkett said. "We put him out there for a pass play and he throws a touchdown."

Plymouth responded with an eight-play, 69-yard drive that used up just 2:43 of the clock, but ended with a 7-yard touchdown run by Ben Valenti (19 carries, 89 yards). But the Bobcats missed the extra point to keep it a 9-7 game.

The Sabers moved down the field quickly on the ensuing drive, but a fumble by Morin at the Bobcats' 5-yard line ended the possession, and Plymouth ran out the final 2:13 to go to halftime up two.

Souhegan got the ball to start the second half, but on the first play, Brandt tried to scramble and hurt on the tackle. Fiengo came in and the Sabers picked up a first down on four of his first five plays before the quarterback connected with Morin on a 19-yard touchdown.

The run failed to make it 13-9 Souhegan just 2:30 into the second half.

"I saw the coverage and Kobe ran a great route," Fiengo said of the touchdown. "Kobe cooked (Saturday) and that was another huge play. He made clutch catches all day long."

The Sabers defense came up clutch from there, bending but stopping the Bobcats on the next possession after they'd driven down to the Souhegan 26. After punting the ball back to Plymouth, the Sabers forced a three-and-out, but Stone unleashed a booming kick that forced Raudelunas to call for a fair catch while backpedaling.

The punt slipped through the senior's arms and Cam Magoon was there waiting to fall on it for Plymouth at Souhegan's 25. But the Sabers held again, and on fourth-and-two, stopped Valenti for a game of 1 to take the ball on downs. Plymouth had just 42 yards on offense in the second half.

Souhegan put the game away with a 13-play, 84-yard drive the saw the Sabers go 4 for 4 on third-down conversions and Raudelunas capped it with a 3-yard touchdown run.

"We had that great three-and-out, they punted and the kid boomed it," Bowkett said. "What a great opportunity our defense has to get a great stop and that’s what they did. Instead of ‘oh crap, we just fumbled inside our own 20’ and those kids dug in and were so gritty. I’m so proud of them."