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SALEM -- Even fullback Darren Brown admitted he was a touch surprised by his team’s aerial attack yesterday.

“We’ve had trouble with different things in the passing game all season,” said the senior. “But it sure worked today.”

SALEM — The moment Salem’s Jerrickson Federick entered the end zone with 2:01 left to play in the game, the running back simply could not contain his excitement any longer.

“I gave a high-5 to a few kids on the sidelines I felt so good,” said the sophomore. “I don’t know how I would have reacted if we had lost, but we are back on top, just like we wanted to be.”

DERRY N.H. — This is not the way Pinkerton Academy wanted to go into the playoffs.

For the third time in four weeks, the Astros were unable to score more than two touchdowns as Nashua North dominated the second half and ran away with a 23-14 victory in the final game of the regular season. Pinkerton (5-5 overall, 5-3 Division I) will travel to top-seeded Salem in the semifinals next week. Nashua North (8-1, 7-1) qualified for the postseason for the first time in the school's six-year history and will play host to Manchester Central in the other semifinal.

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Penalties at crucial times in the second half destroyed Pinkerton’s chances for a comeback victory against Manchester Central yesterday. The plethora of penalties included a 15-yard facemask and a roughing the kicker call that greatly aided a late scoring drive by the Little Green, who beat Pinkerton 21-10.   “Penalties killed us,” Pinkerton quarterback Ryan Simpson said. “That’s what lost us the game today. We stopped them and stopped them and then gave them chances right back to score.” The Astros trailed 14-10 late in the fourth quarter when the hosts went for a fourth-and-nine play from the Astros’ 29. Pinkerton wrapped up running back Mike Cavanaugh four yards short of the first down marker. But wait one second. A facemask penalty gave Manchester Central a first down at the 11. The Astros held tough and forced Manchester Central to kick a field goal four plays later. But the running-into-the kicker penalty gave Manchester Central yet another first down and it scored after the Astros got called for another penalty for having 12 men on the field. Cavanaugh said, “We watched film all week. We took three days of practice just to watch film on them so we really knew what they were doing.” Pinkerton also got flagged early in the fourth quarter with an illegal procedure and a holding penalty after driving to the 10-yard for a first-and-goal play. Those penalties forced the Astros to kick a field goal, which it missed.   Pinkerton was without running backs Eric Guinto and Kevin Davies who were out with concussions. “We came in and we thought we were going to win,” Simpson said. “We thought we were going to come back in the second half and just shut them out but we didn’t.”

BEDFORD, N.H. — Timberlane's Emily Cannon was a little frustrated with herself for failing to produce any offense in regulation of the Class L title game against Pinkerton.

BEDFORD, N.H. — Timberlane's Emily Cannon was a little frustrated with herself for failing to produce any offense in regulation of the Class L title game against Pinkerton.

BEDFORD, N.H. — Timberlane's Emily Cannon was a little frustrated with herself for failing to produce any offense in regulation of the Class L title game against Pinkerton.

BEDFORD, N.H. — Timberlane's Emily Cannon was a little frustrated with herself for failing to produce any offense in regulation of the Class L title game against Pinkerton.

It was just one month ago that Pinkerton dealt Salem a 3-0 sweep. But the Blue Devils took their revenge in the tournament.

Melissa Ouellet had a team-best eight blocks and nine kills as No. 4 Salem downed No. 5 Pinkerton 25-21, 25-13, 25-27, 25-17 in the Division 1 quarterfinals. Courtney Wright added 12 kills for the winners, while McKayla Floyd led the way with 36 assists for the Astros.

Behind 13 saves by Peter Siragusa, No. 5 Pinkerton pushed No. 4 Manchester Central to double overtime before falling 1-0 in the Class L quarterfinals. Ethan Berceli and Zach Wheeler each stood out for the Astros (13-5).