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# Laconia football turned missed opportunity into a win against Gilford
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/laconia-football-turned-missed-opportunity-into-a-win-against-gilford/
- Published: 2025-09-15T15:14:08.000Z
- Updated: 2025-09-15T15:14:08.000Z
- Description: LACONIA - It was a series of unfortunate events last Thursday night that the Laconia High School football team was able to overcome in a 15-14 win against Gilford. But for three plays in the third quarter, it looked like the Sachems' chances of beating the rival Golden Eagles took a big hit.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division III-IV, Division III, football, Gilford, Laconia, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

LACONIA - It was a series of unfortunate events last Thursday night that the Laconia High School football team was able to overcome in a 15-14 win against Gilford.

But for three plays in the third quarter, it looked like the Sachems' chances of beating the rival Golden Eagles took a big hit.

On second-and-10 at the Golden Eagles' 30-yard line, on the Laconia possession after Gilford had gone ahead 14-8 midway through the third quarter, quarterback Carter Jones couldn't get the snap cleanly and had to fall on the ball.

Then on third down, Jones found Jacob Tryon for a short completion, and with no one around, Tryon had a clear path to a first down. But as he went to cut upfield, the senior running back lost his footing and fell for just a 7-yard gain.

Facing a fourth-and-3 at the Gilford 23, Tryon's run was a yard short of the first down, and the Sachems turned the ball over on downs. It was a moment where momentum felt like it was switching hands, too.

"Those little things in football matter more than any other sport," Jones said. "Momentum itself, it’s like no other sport. We try to control it as much as we can."

Laconia's defense took control of more than momentum. After Gilford went on a 10-play, 71-yard drive that took up 6 minutes and 38 seconds to start the second half, the Sachems' defense shut the Golden Eagles down the rest of the way.

On its final three possessions of the game, Gilford ran just eight plays for minus-5 yards and was 0 for 3 passing with an interception on the final play. The Golden Eagles had the ball for just 3:51 over the final 17 minutes of the game.

"Our defense finally stepped up, we started squeezing and making plays that we should," Laconia coach Nick Ford said. "It is a game of inches, it really is. The drive we got stopped on (in the third quarter), it was about six or eight inches right there. That’s what it comes down to. Plays go your way, they don’t go your way."

While that one fourth-down play didn't go Laconia's way, it did help set the Sachems up with field position. After forcing a three-and-out, they got the ball back on Gilford's 46, and despite not picking up a first down, pinned the Golden Eagles back on their 13 to start the next drive.

The defense forced another punt, and this one, Ryan Walsh was able to return to Gilford's 28\. An 11-yard run by Tryon on fourth-and-2 gave Laconia first-and-goal at the 9, but two plays later, the Sachems had only moved a yard and took a timeout with 3:09 left.

"Our coaches were drawing up the right plays and we found what was working," Jones said. "We were banking on the fact that we run the ball so much, we were going to catch them off-guard with a pass here and there. That’s what we kind of did."

On third-and-goal at the 8, Jones lofted a pass to tight end Sean O'Sullivan near the side of the end zone. It was a play similar to the one that had accounted for Laconia's only touchdown the week before, with a slight difference.

"He was a little more open last week," Jones said. "This one he had to work for it a little more. It was like a toe-tap catch and right out of bounds. It was a great catch by him. The defense made a great play on the ball, too, but he went up and got it."

The touchdown tied the game at 14 with three minutes left and gave Ford and the coaching staff a big decision to make. The Sachems went for two on their first touchdown, but this time, sent out sophomore Sam Hogg for the extra point.

Once Laconia was lined up, Ford liked what he saw and decided to let Hogg attempt the kick.

"He’s a sophomore and first-year football player," the coach said. "His brother (Ben) is a captain on the team. He used to play soccer but he wanted to join the football team full time this year. He’s been working his tail off. You could tell the nerves were there. For a sophomore to step up in that situation ... ."

Gilford still had a chance, getting the ball back at its 35 with 2:59 to play, but on second down, Tryon came up with a game-ending interception to give Laconia its first win of the season.

"It was massive," Jones said. "Going into this week, we knew what it was. We didn’t want to be 0-2, especially against a team like Gilford. They’re our rivals. I was going to bed last night thinking, after this game, what did I want to be like, and I wanted to be happy. I’m happy this is how it ended."