Nashua South football leads Alvirne by three scores when game suspended

NASHUA - The Nashua High School South football team will have to wait until it gets a result from its game against Alvirne.

But in one half of football Thursday night at Stellos Stadium, the Panthers found a running back who can shoulder the load.

Andrew DeCarteret rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carriers in two-plus quarters, and South held a 21-0 lead over Alvirne when play was suspended because of lightning early in the third quarter. When play resumes at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, the Panthers will be facing a second and 8 from the Alvirne 18 with 8:51 left in the quarter.

South played Thursday - and will Friday - without quarterback Trevor Knight, who injured his right thumb in last week's 34-24 win over Spaulding. Against Alvirne, the Panthers needed someone to step up and DeCarteret did that.

"He's a bowling ball," South coach Scott Knight said of DeCarteret. "He's a physical kid and he's tough to tackle because he's so strong and low to the ground. The thing about him is that he plays better defense when he gets going on offense. We don't worry about spelling him. The more he plays the harder he plays."

Malik Langa, who was filling in for Trevor Knight, attempted just four passes, completing three for 21 yards.

"Take care of the ball, don't run backwards, and just make good decisions," Scott Knight said. "Most of what we're running out there is option, and you're never running to give. We had a couple of snapping issues, but we'll sure that up. All you have to do is manage the game. He wasn't going to have to win the game for us, and no one should. These guys, we have some talent, and when we put it all together, we'll be OK."

Alvirne received the opening kick and picked up five yards when South was called for encroachment before the first play. But the Broncos fumbled the ball and DeCarteret recovered the ball to give the Panthers a first down at the Alvirne 28. Three plays later, Robbie Smyth took a handoff from Langa and raced 16 yards to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

It was South's turn to lose a fumble on its next possession, setting Alvirne up at midfield and the Broncos drove down into the red zone. But on fourth down and 2, South dropped Alvirne's Ethan Rainville for a 2-yard loss. The Panthers then went 79 yards on seven plays, highlighted by a 45-yard run by DeCarteret, and the junior back scored from 2-yards out to make it 14-0 with 1:48 left in the first.

South forced an Alvirne punt and put together a 12-play, 55-yard drive, scoring on a 3-yard run by DeCarteret to go up 21-0 with 7:05 left until halftime.

That's where it stood at halftime, and the sky opened up when the teams came out to prepare for the second half. South got the opening kickoff and drove down inside the red zone when lightning was spotted. After repeated strikes in the area, the game was suspended by South officials.

"It's an even playing field, it's all just a matter of being able to pick it up," Scott Knight said of the delay. "We have to stay focused and not worry about scoreboards  and rain. I would imagine they're going to make some adjustments.

I told them (the Panthers) before the game that these guys (the Broncos) are trying to establish a program here. For them, this is a championship game. They're talking about how this is going to be the greatest comeback in the history of their program. We have to go out and avoid that and play our game."