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# Tomahawks, Broncos meet in Merrimack
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/tomahawks-broncos-meet-in-merrimack/
- Published: 2010-09-17T18:34:42.000Z
- Updated: 2010-09-17T18:34:42.000Z
- Description: Joe Batista remembers the first time his Merrimack High School football team face Alvirne. During his first year leading the Tomahawks, the Broncos came to Merrimack and pulled off a 27-0 victory. On Friday, Alvirne returns desperately in need of something positive after two big losses to start the
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, Fall Sports, Alvirne, football, Merrimack, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Joe Batista remembers the first time his Merrimack High School football team face Alvirne.

During his first year leading the Tomahawks, the Broncos came to Merrimack and pulled off a 27-0 victory. On Friday, Alvirne returns desperately in need of something positive after two big losses to start the season.

“Two years ago, they came in here on homecoming and kicked our behinds pretty good,” Batista said. “We know we have to be ready to go Friday night. The biggest thing though, it’s another one of those teams that’s clumped right in there with us. Division II is a battle every week, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”

After starting the season with two road games, the Tomahawks are eager to play on their home turf.

But that doesn’t mean that last week’s trip to Dover wasn’t worth it. Merrimack had a 14-7 lead after one quarter, but Dover tied it going into halftime. Both teams scored twice in the third quarter to make it a 28-28 game with a quarter play.

Merrimack’s Ty Costain made a 27-yard field goal with five minutes to play to give the Tomahawks the win. For the second straight week, Brody Williams ran for over 100 yards, and Chris Smith also eclipsed the century mark on the ground.

“It was a good, early-season win against a division foe who we’re lumped in there with,” Batista said. “It’s a small step in the right direction.”

Merrimack made its biggest strides on defense, forcing Dover into third-down situations and holding. But there were still too many big plays for Batista’s liking.

“I was very happy with the fact that we were able to take away what we worked on all week,” he said. “I was disappointed that we were giving up big plays. We can’t give up big plays. There were a couple of mental breakdowns on those plays. I was disappointed in that. As far as the physicality, that was one hard-hitting Merrimack team on Friday night and we’ve got to keep that up.”

Alvirne is coming off a 42-18 loss to Keene in which not a lot went right. The Broncos trailed just 14-12 after one quarter, and were down 28-18 at halftime, the Blackbirds rolled in the second half.

Before the second half, the Broncos were able to manufacture some big plays, notably Sean Sipsey’s 63-yard touchdown run and Antonio Beaulieu’s 75-yard kickoff return.

Batista knows that more than anything else, Alvirne will be physical.

“They like to play power football,” he said. “They like to line up and try to overload you at the point of attack. They will hit you in the mouth. They’re tough kids over there in Hudson. We’ll have to match them physically. We have to keep working, day in and day out.”

The Tomahawks and Broncos will kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday.