> ## 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. # Pinkerton football returns to D1 championship game with win over Salem - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/pinkerton-football-returns-d1-championship-game-win-salem/ - Published: 2017-11-12T13:00:34.000Z - Updated: 2017-11-12T13:00:34.000Z - Description: SALEM - All season, the Salem High School football team was at the top of the state’s power rankings while Pinkerton Academy was overlooked coming into the season. The Astros made it certain that they will not be overlooked again, advancing to the Division I title game with a 45-28 win over the Blue - Author: Joseph Conti - Tags: Division I, football, Pinkerton, playoffs, Salem, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 SALEM - All season, the Salem High School football team was at the top of the state’s power rankings while Pinkerton Academy was overlooked coming into the season. The Astros made it certain that they will not be overlooked again, advancing to the Division I title game with a 45-28 win over the Blue Devils Saturday. This game had two themes, first there were unsung heroes for Pinkerton leading the way and there were two huge momentum shifts. Pinkerton (10-1) had all of the momentum, scoring on its opening drive with a 3-yard TD run by Gannon Fast. After forcing Salem to go three-and-out, halfback Ty Hicks got the ball to the 1-yard line where he fumbled. However, offensive lineman Josh McCormack recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and the score stood at 14-0 after one quarter. McCormack was at the right place at the right time, while he was also interestingly playing a new position. "After getting beat by Salem here earlier this season, we moved (Robert) Fahey and (Cam) Macro to guard," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reily said. "They pretty much went one on one with Salem’s defensive tackles all game creating those big holes." Salem was able to counter in the second with a 38-yard touchdown run by Dom Paci, followed by an onside kick, which led to a 38-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Soldano to Aidan Holland to make it 14-13. On the Astros next offensive play, quarterback Aiden Goujon connected with Gennaro Mara for a 70-yard TD pass. After a made field goal, a few defensive stops, including a turnover, Goujon connected with Kayden Baillargeon from 14 yards out to make the game 31-13 at halftime. Salem (10-1) was able to dominate the second half during the regular season, and after receiving the opening kickoff, the Blue Devils marched down the field in 1:50, capped off by a 2-yard TD run by Adam Maroun, who finished with 115 yards on the ground. After trading turnovers, Salem got the ball back, scoring another touchdown on a Soldano sneak. He was also the big receiver during the drive on a double reverse pass from wide receiver Jacob Emerson. At the quarter break O’Reilly emphasized to his team they still had the lead. "I reminded them that they still had the lead and that seemed to resettle them," the coach said. In the fourth, seemingly having the momentum, Soldano fumbled the ball running into his own teammate. That ball was recovered by McCormack, who scored his second touchdown of the day. "We made too many mistakes and with too many turnovers against a really good team," Salem coach Rob Pike stated after the game. A last ditch effort was put together by the Blue Devils, but Joshua Ladipo in the Astros’ secondary had an interception, his second of the day to preserve the lead. Mara finished out the scoring with a 46-yard TD run, and finished the game with 161 yards from scrimmage. "This program has grown over the last three seasons, and it is a credit to these seniors who have made a huge difference," Pike said. Pinkerton will face Winnacunnet in the D1 final on Nov. 18 at the University of New Hampshire.