Nashua North football grinds out win over Manchester Central

MANCHESTER - The Nashua High School North football team came into Gill Stadium looking to continue its momentum Friday, while Manchester Central looked to continue its undefeated season.

These two team seem to have opposite offensive styles, with Central striking on big plays through its strong-armed quarterback Alex Hawkom, while North grinds for its yardage with a trio of backs and quarterback Mike Loveless.

In the end, it was North's physical style that won out, as the Titans were able to grind out a 34-27 win over the Little Green in Division I action.

"Nashua North might be the most physical team we see all season," Central coach Ryan Ray said.

The Little Green (3-1) won the toss and elected to defer, and after they forced a three-and-out on their first defensive possession, they responded with three-play, 50-yard drive, ending with a TD pass from Hawkom to Miguel Gensee. After a failed extra point Central led 6-0.

On the ensuing drive, North (3-1) took the ball for 14 plays and 60 yards, but sophomore Curtis Harris fumbled giving the back to Central. Harris would later make up for his turnover.

After a series of defensive stands, punts, and pooch punts, the next scoring opportunity came on a 19-yard touchdown run by Harris halfway through the second quarter. North also failed to convert the kick tying the game up at 6.

Central bounced back on its possession with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Hawkom to Cameron Sweezy who finished the game with three catches for 80 yards and the TD catch that gave Central a 13-6 lead.

But, North was not done scoring before half, getting its longest play from scrimmage on a 48-yard TD pass from Loveless to Austin Ouellette - the lone catch of the night for the Titans' top receiver, who was wearing a cast on his right hand. North failed again to convert on the point after and went into the half trailing 13-12.

On the first possession of the second half, Central went three-and-out and North took the ball and marched down the field, aided by a series of 15-yard penalties on the Little Green and capped by a 1-yard TD run by Harris. Harris then also ran in the two-point conversion, giving North a seven-point lead.

Central responded when Hawkom completed is final TD pass of the night, this time to Nick Olibrice. Hawkom finished with three touchdown passes and over two hundred all-purpose yards.

With the game tied at 20, North’s hard-hitting back Brian Montminy took over pounding the ball between the tackles and picking up key first downs. Montminy scored on a 10-yard run giving North a 27-20 lead, and on the ensuing Little Green possession, he intercepted Hawkom on the next play. Off the turnover, the Titans got their final score on a 23-yard pass from Loveless to Harris with 9:56 left giving them a 34-20 lead.

"Against a team with such a high-powered offense it is nice to get a two-score lead," North coach Dante Laurendi said. "However, I wish we could have run out the clock better and not had so many turnovers."

Central had one final push in it, when Cooper Varrano scored from the goal line, however the Little Green were unable to recover the onside kick and after North ran some time off of the clock, Central was unable to score of its final drive.

The North defense was successful in getting to Hawkom, finishing the game with five sacks.