Keith continuing to make strides as Goffstown football's quarterback

The Goffstown High School football team may run its offense out of a spread formation, but when it comes right down to it, the Grizzlies go-to play looks a lot like something else, according to Ryan Ray.

"It’s all option," the Manchester Central coach said. "Their running game is hard to defend with average athletes, but they’ve got way above-average athletes at quarterback and running back. Obviously, (receiver Andrew Duval) is one of the best in the state. The quarterback is reading and if he likes what he sees, he’s keeping it. If he doesn’t like what he sees, he’s handing it off."

Since coach Justin Hufft came to Goffstown and installed the offense, the Grizzlies have had quarterbacks who have been able to successfully run the football, and convince defenses that they are when they've opted to hand it off. But going into this season, who was going to be the starter was a bit of a question mark.

With the season more than two-thirds of the way done, and Goffstown sitting atop the Division I North Conference at 6-1, that question has been answered.

Although junior Charlie Keith had played some at quarterback last season, he didn't make the full-time switch from receiver until the summer, and has improved every week for the Grizzlies. In last week's 29-12 win over Central, he rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown and threw for another 146 and another score.

"Charlie is seeing stuff very well," Hufft said. "When something is open in the passing game, he’s able to see it, even if it’s something that comes open late. That’s stuff you’re not going to have a good read on. He’s able to process stuff very quickly. He makes the right read almost every time."

While the change in positions was a tough move to make, Keith believes previous position has helped him be a better quarterback.

"Coming from learning both positions, it’s really aided me because I know both positions," he said. "I can see things from a receiver’s perspective as a quarterback, and vice versa. So I know what the quarterback is looking for if I’m the receiver and it just comes down to practicing both positions."

Against the Little Green, Keith came up with big plays on several occasions. Not only was he in on two of the Grizzlies' touchdowns, but he also ran or threw for a total of 13 first downs. Goffstown was also 8 of 14 on third- and fourth-down conversions.

And there's been the offense's ability to finish games over the last two weeks, after being unable to do so in the team's lone loss to Winnacunnet.

In the fourth quarter of a 21-7 win over Bedford on Oct. 7, the Grizzlies were able to eat up almost six minutes by running the ball, and against Central, they did the same. After the defense forced the ball over on downs with 6:56 remaining, Goffstown was able to run out the clock, picking up three first downs along the way.

"In the second half, we did a nice job controlling the ball and running for first downs," Hufft said. "(The defense was) able to bend, not break. When they got inside the 30-yard line, we were able to stops them. They’re explosive. They got first downs, and we knew that was going to happen. We were able to keep them out of the end zone for the most part."

With games remaining against Spaulding (1-6) and Manchester Memorial (0-7), Goffstown would appear to be in line to wrapup first place in the conference and get at least a home playoff game in the quarterfinals for the second time in three years.