> ## 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 South football handles rough conditions to shut out Winnacunnet - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/nashua-south-football-handles-rough-conditions-to-shut-out-winnacunnet/ - Published: 2019-10-12T13:23:55.000Z - Updated: 2019-10-12T13:23:55.000Z - Description: HAMPTON - The chaotic combination of rain and winds whipping off Hampton Beach threw many curve balls into the equation for Nashua High School South in its crucial football game against Winnacunnet on Friday night. The Panthers embraced the turmoil, and their Division I playoff hopes remained on pac - Author: Dan Doyon - Tags: Division I, football, Nashua South, Winnacunnet, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 HAMPTON - The chaotic combination of rain and winds whipping off Hampton Beach threw many curve balls into the equation for Nashua High School South in its crucial football game against Winnacunnet on Friday night. The Panthers embraced the turmoil, and their Division I playoff hopes remained on pace in the process. South forced four turnovers and limited Winnacunnet to 93 offensive yards on the night, and junior Chris Keefe did enough in his first start this year at quarterback to lead the Panthers to a 19-0 victory. South (4-2) currently rests as the third seed in the East/West Cluster, with three games left in the regular season to secure a spot. “Overall, I was really proud of how we got through this thing in adverse conditions,” South coach Scott Knight said. “We weren’t going to be able to throw the ball and they did a good job of stacking the box. Our kids gutted out a tough one.” Keefe switched from wide receiver to quarterback after sophomore starter Michael Rutstein suffered a hip injury in last week’s 21-6 loss to Nashua North. Keefe led South’s 212-yard rushing attack with 78 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. “We just had to tough it out and be more tough than the other team,” Keefe said. “We had a tough loss to North last week, but we had a great week of practice and this weather was nothing for us.” Both teams struggled to gain yardage in five total possessions through the first quarter, but a bad snap over Winnacunnet punter Owen Bateman’s head left South with the ball at Winnacunnet’s 25-yard line. After Winnacunnet (1-5) was called for pass interference, Jason Compoh (15 carries, 43 yards) gained nine yards to set up a 4-yard touchdown keeper by Keefe to give South a 7-0 lead with 10:44 left in the second quarter. Winnacunnet took over the ball at its own 46 after forcing a punt late in the second quarter, and Ryan Eaton ripped off a 20-yard run down to South’s 36\. On third-and-6 from the 30, Winnacunnet quarterback Ryan Britton slipped and fell down out of the snap. Britton recovered a bit and tried to throw the ball, but Joe Buturla intercepted the pass and rambled for 65 untouched yards into the end zone to give South a 13-0 lead with 1:30 left in the first half. Buturla added 58 rushing yards in the first half. “I had the outside man, I saw (Britton) struggling, he pitched it, so I went and got it,” Buturla said. “I just saw daylight.” South was nursing a 13-0 lead late in the third quarter when Whittaker Sanborn intercepted Keefe at South’s 41\. On the next play, Eaton fumbled the ball away back to the Panthers. “I thought the kids really played hard (Friday). They gave up two scores on defense and they kept us in it,” Winnacunnet coach Ryan Francoeur said. “I told the kids it was on me. I had four quarters to get us into the end zone and I couldn’t do it. The kids kept us in it. I put this one on me.” The Panthers opened the fourth quarter with a nine-play, 56-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Joshua Compoh to give South a 19-0 lead with 7:59 left in regulation. “Going into the second half we were confident; we’re always confident,” Keefe said. “We have really good unity and toughness that comes together.” South’s playoff fate rests on its final three games, beginning with next Friday’s home contest against Spaulding (2-4), followed by games against Dover (2-4) and Exeter (5-1). Winnacunnet travels to Bishop Guertin (3-3) next Saturday. “We had some chances against North last week, played pretty good defense, but left some points off the board,” Knight said. “We’re looking to be playing in November.”