> ## 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.

# Nashua North football hangs on to beat Bishop Guertin (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/nashua-north-football-hangs-on-to-beat-bishop-guertin-video/
- Published: 2023-09-18T16:35:31.000Z
- Updated: 2023-09-18T16:35:31.000Z
- Description: NASHUA - It would be understandable if, whenever members of the Bishop Guertin High School football team closed their eyes, the Cardinals saw Luke Peters. Every time it seemed Nashua North needed a big play Saturday night, the junior was there to make it. None were bigger than an interception by Pet
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bishop Guertin, football, Nashua North, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

NASHUA - It would be understandable if, whenever members of the Bishop Guertin High School football team closed their eyes, the Cardinals saw Luke Peters.

Every time it seemed Nashua North needed a big play Saturday night, the junior was there to make it.

None were bigger than an interception by Peters in the corner of the end zone on Bishop Guertin's final offensive play, that preserved a 21-17 victory for North in a Division I West Conference game at Stellos Stadium.

It was one of two interceptions by Peters, who also had a 65-yard kickoff return that set up a Titans touchdown and a 35-yard scoring reception that gave North the lead for good with 6:25 remaining in the game.

The final interception came right after the Cardinals had run a similar play on the snap before, with quarterback Mike MacDonough looking for Connor Lennon for the go-ahead score. On that third-down play, Lennon beat Peters, but juggled the ball as he was going out of bounds and it was ruled incomplete.

"He was getting open, but I read it," Peters said. "The pressure was on and I knew what to do. A little (underthrown). I got high and I got to his level. I’m not going to say he’s double my size, but he is a big guy. I got up there."

It was a wild finish to a game that saw the lead change hands four times in the second half after the teams were tied 7-7 at the break.

"It’s a huge win because all week, we talked about responding to adversity," North coach Chad Zibolis said. "There was a boat load of adversity, dealing with them coming back and us not getting the ball moving. The kids responded and I was proud of them."

Bishop Guertin (0-2) held an edge in yards, 334-198, and first downs, 20-10, but the Cardinals also turned the ball over five times, four of them in the first half and two of them inside the North 10-yard line.

"They did a good job, once we got into the red zone, to tighten up on the run game," Bishop Guertin coach Anthony Nalen said. "We really depended on the run game to get down there, but when they tightened up, we had to pass the ball."

MacDonough finished the game 20 of 34 for 197 yards, but with four interceptions, and added a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. AJ Holmes finished with 100 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Lennon had six catches for 67 yards and also kicked a 27-yard field goal in the third that put the Cardinals up 10-7\. Cody Szymansky also had six catches for 60 yards and Sam Franco had four catches for 31 yards.

"We left points on the board with the turnovers and you can’t do that," Nalen said of the feeling at halftime. "You can’t do that against a bad team, never mind a well-coached team like Nashua North. We were excited we were still in the game, but at the same time, you know you left points on the board."

Jonathan Torres also had two interceptions on defense for North while Steven Rosario led the offense with 58 yards rushing and two touchdowns. John Canaway added 22 yards on the ground and was 7 of 15 passing for 74 yards with a touchdown and interception.

The Titans went three-and-out to open the second half and the Cardinals went to work, moving down to the North 6-yard line. But on third down, Rosario dropped MacDonough for a loss and Bishop Guertin settled for Lennon's field goal.

Peters returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the Cardinals' 25-yard line, and four plays later, Rosario ran in from 12 yards out to give the Titans a 14-10 lead with 3:40 left in the third.

After the teams traded punts, Bishop Guertin wasted little time going back in front. MacDonough connected with Franco for a 14-yard gain and Ronan Balistreri for another 20 yards, setting up a 4-yard scoring run by Holmes and a 17-14 lead with 8:55 left.

Torres got a nice return on the kickoff to give North the ball at its own 41, and on third-and-5, Canaway found Joshua Bozek for a 23-yard gain. Two plays later, the junior quarterback found a wide-open Peters for a 35-yard score, making it 21-17 Titans with 6:25 to go.

"It’s a jailbreak screen," Zibolis said. "(Peters) comes off and blocks for the screen, but instead of blocking, it’s a go. He flew by them. It caught them by surprise. It’s a play that’s been our book, but we didn’t put it in until the third quarter. They’re up so tight. They’re man-to-man, they’re up tight, so that works out perfect."

North had run the screen play a few times previously, so Peters felt confident it would work.

"We ran that play three times, but I’d be blocking that guy," he said. "He gave me a little bump, thought I was blocking him and I ran right by him."

The Titans looked like they might have a chance to end the Cardinals' following drive early, but on third-and-6, MacDonough connected with Szymansky right at the first-down marker.

North's defense came up with another big play, when Brayden Lebrec sacked MacDonough for an 8-yard loss, but on the next play, the senior found Lennon for a 25-yard gain to the Titans' 17\. Holmes picked up 12 yards on first down to get to the North 5, but two plays later, Torres dropped Holmes for a loss of 2, setting up Bishop Guertin's final two pass plays.

"We thought one of our best opportunities was to go to our 6-foot-5 guy," Nalen said. "We took two chances with him and it ended up not paying off. Regardless of the outcome, we grew (Saturday) from the last two weeks. We’re heading in the right direction for sure."