> ## 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.

# Late field goal lifts Exeter football to win over Bedford (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/late-field-goal-lifts-exeter-football-win-bedford-video/
- Published: 2017-10-01T20:27:18.000Z
- Updated: 2017-10-01T20:27:18.000Z
- Description: BEDFORD - After losing two games in a row for the first time , the Exeter High School football team needed to get back to what it does best. Against Bedford on Saturday, it was just enough for the Blue Hawks to get back in the win column. Exeter was able to move the ball in the first half and it's d
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bedford, Exeter, football, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

BEDFORD - After losing two games in a row for the first time in almost two years, the Exeter High School football team needed to get back to what it does best.

Against Bedford on Saturday, it was just enough for the Blue Hawks to get back in the win column.

Exeter was able to move the ball in the first half and it's defense did just enough in the second to set up Sam Wolff for a game-winning 20-yard field goal with 4.6 seconds left to give the Blue Hawks a 24-21 win over the Bulldogs in at Division I game.

The Blue Hawks had led 21-14 to start the second half, and their defense bent, but didn’t break throughout the final two quarters, until a 1-yard touchdown run by Bedford’s Thomas Norfleet tied the game with 5:10 to play. But Exeter responded as it often does, keeping the ball for over five minutes on a 12-play drive that left the Bulldogs with next to no time to try to come back.

"We really showed a lot of grit," Exeter coach Bill Ball said. "We put them through the paces at practice and they responded really well. To come in here on a Saturday night and beat that team, to the very last second, it was awesome.

"Proud of my guys. A lot of (people) saying Exeter isn’t playing as well, they’re not as physical as they have been. (Saturday) we answered the physical bell. Now we’ve just got to keep it going."

For Bedford, it may have been more than just a loss in the standings, as quarterback Connor Robert didn't play in the second half after what coach Derek Stank called an injury to the collarbone. The severity of the injury wasn't know after the game.

Exeter (3-2) rushed for 176 yards, with Brayden Lowery and Adam Gray leading the way with a combined 119, while Cody Morissette and Zachary Tucker each had a rushing touchdown. Morissette also connected with Ryan Johnson on a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first half, as the Blue Hawks scored on their first two possessions.

Bedford (3-2) was able to answer each of those scores, but was unable to cash in on two Exeter turnovers in the first half. After Ryan Toscano intercepted a pass by Morissette in the second quarter, the Bulldogs' Connor Robert was picked off by Johnson, and the Blue Hawks found the end zone after to take a seven-point lead into halftime.

"I think they played a great football game, they fought hard," Bedford coach Defensively, we were struggling in the first half and they were taking advantage of us. We weren’t executing very well. We came out in the second half and stood a little stronger on defense and had a little more success."

The Bulldogs' defense allowed just 72 yards in the second half, and for the game, the offense piled up 359 yards. But Bedford turned the ball over three times after halftime, including twice inside the Exeter 20.

With Thomas Morgan in at quarterback, Bedford took its second possession of the third quarter and marched down to the Exeter 6-yard line on 10 plays. But on second-and-goal Toscano tried to dive over the goal line and lost the ball on the way in, with the Blue Hawks recovering for a touchback.

Bedford's defense forced a three-and-out and the Bulldogs got the ball back at Exeter's 35, but on third-and-5, Morgan was picked off by Morissette at the 5-yard line.

"Bend but don’t break and I'm very happy," Ball said. "I thought we played really tough."

Norfleet finally broke through for Bedford midway through the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs took over at their own 25, and on the first play, the senior back went 50 yards to Exeter's 25\. Five plays later, Norfleet carried it in from a yard out to tie the game at 21 with 5:10 left.

But Bedford wouldn't see the ball again until just 3.1 seconds remained and the Bulldogs trailed by three. Exeter was able to stop a final desperation play by Bedford to hang on for the win.