Grassini glad to get record chase over quick in Merrimack football's playoff win

Justin Grassini had a lot on his mind going into the Merrimack High School football team's quarterfinal game last Saturday against Goffstown.

The senior quarterback was preparing to lead the Tomahawks in their first playoff game in 11 years, looking for the first postseason win since 1995, but there was more going on than just that.

In Merrimack's regular-season finale, Grassini had tied the single-season state record for touchdown passes, and he knew going in that one more would put him alone at the top.

"It was in the back of my head the whole time," Grassini said. "All my receivers and the line were telling me to be myself, be confident, and you'll get it. I kept it in the back of my mind but stayed confident."

Fortunately for Grassini, it didn't take long.

On Merrimack's second possession, he connected with Tyler DeNeill over the middle for a completion to the Goffstown 10-yard line, and DeNeill broke away from two defenders to get into the end zone. Merrimack went on to a 42-7 win and Grassini finished the day with six touchdown passes to push the mark to 41 heading into Saturday's semifinal against Bedford.

"I'm sure he's relieved," Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. "He's pretty much a flatliner, unless he does something pretty stupid. He doesn't show much emotion. The kids have been very good about being focused on trying to do what's best for the Tomahawks and keep moving forward."

Goffstown tried to drop players into coverage and confuse the Merrimack offense as to who was going to be where, and at the start, the Grizzlies were able to bottle up the Tomahawks' short-range passing game. But Grassini was able to hit a couple of deep throws and loosen up the defense.

"Mix up coverages and try to bring some pressure at times," Goffstown coach Justin Hufft said. "We'd stop them at times, like we held them on the first drive, but we were giving the ball back to them so fast. They hit some plays. They got guys open, sometimes wide open and sometimes just by a hair, and the quarterback made some great throws."

According to Jackson, more teams have tried to do that to the Tomahawks this year, as they've had more receivers develop into big-play threats.

"Last year, we saw a lot more pressure," he said. "This year, so far, teams have been dropping. I think it's because we have a lot more weapons this year. The emergence of (Justin) Wiser has balanced out the offense quite a bit, and now (Danny) Vanacek is an outside threat, it's very difficult."

And those two to DeNeill and Joe Eichman and it's a tough group to slow down, let alone stop.

"They just bring life to the team," Grassini said of his receivers. "Everyone loves it, they love when they put themselves on the line for it. It's a great thing to watch."