Souhegan football knocks off Bow to clinch D2 playoff spot

AMHERST - The Souhegan High School football team used a balanced attack on offense to snap Bow's seven-game winning streak with a 39-21 win over the Falcons that clinched a playoff spot for the Sabers.

Souhegan quarterback John Lohnes was strong in the running game, and extremely accurate in the passing game as well. The scoring opened up for the Sabers when Lohnes was able to connect with receiver Luke Manning for a 30-yard touchdown. A failed point-after try gave the Sabers the 6-0 lead.

Bow answered back with an impressive drive of its own but the Sabers defense was ready for the attack and got the ball back on a fumble recovery by Souhegan's Vincent Bowman.

On the next play, Lohnes was able to connect again with Manning for a 35-yard reception. The play set the Souhegan offense on the 5-yard line and receiver Trey Johnson was able to take the jet sweep into the end zone for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion would give the Sabers the 14-0 lead.

The first quarter was dominated entirely by the Saber offensive attack. The second quarter however, was just the opposite. Bow began with a drive fueled by its power-run scheme.

Running back Steve Guerrette gashed the Sabers defense for a gain of 20 yards, moving the ball all the way down to the Souhegan 10-yard line. On the next play, Guerrette finished off the drive with an impressive run for a touchdown. After a strong defensive hold by the Falcons, the offense stepped up once again.

The second scoring drive for Bow started with a 50-yard run by senior Jack Wixson, setting up the offense on the Souhegan 20-yard line. A few plays later, Guerrette was able to take a quick screen pass into the end zone for another touchdown. The Falcons were successful on their two-point attempt, and took the 15-14 lead into the half.

Souhegan opened up the second half with the ball, and Johnson carried for a shifty 30-yard run on another jet sweep. Also on the drive, running back Tyler Hall ripped the Bow defense for a 20-yard carry of his own. Unfortunately for the Sabers, a few sacks from the Falcons defense, including one from corner Sebastian Beaulieu on fourth down, turned the ball back over on downs.

The Sabers were able to secure the only scoring drive of the quarter when Lohnes was able to connect with Johnson in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The Sabers failed again on their two-point conversion attempt, but ultimately regained the lead at 20-15.

Beaulieu was able to pound his was in for a 15-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 21-20 lead, but the Sabers special teams and defensive units would be the difference in this one.

Lohnes led the Sabers down the field and into the end zone again on a 2-yard fade for the touchdown to Manning, giving the Sabers a 26-21 lead with just six minutes remaining in the game.

Bow tried to rally and get an offensive drive going, but were snuffed out on a fourth-down attempt by the Saber defense. Lohnes extended the Souhegan lead to 32-21 with a rushing touchdown, and on the following Bow possession, the Souhegan defense sniffed out a would be screen play and intercepted and returned the ball for a touchdown. The score pushed the margin even further to 39-21.

On the following kickoff, the Saber special teams unit forced and recovered the fumble on the kickoff to end all hopes for a Falcons comeback.