RallyNorth.net

Pinkerton opened its season with an easy 51-15 win over Manchester West. The Astros had six pins, Ian Beck, a sophomore, pinned his man in 41 seconds at 160.

DERRY | A few changes made on the field worked wonders for the Pinkerton football team yesterday afternoon in the Division 1 semifinals against Manchester West.

But the biggest change took place earlier in the week in the wake of the Astros' shocking 30-7 loss to Nashua South in the final game of the regular season.

SALEM, N.H. | Salem was left feeling blue last night, as well as out of the Division 1 playoffs, after three long second-half drives into the red zone came up empty.

Leading Manchester West 14-10 at halftime, Salem held the ball for nearly 16 minutes in the final two quarters and advanced on potential scoring drives of 46, 57 and 55 yards without anything to show for it in a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to the Blue Knights.

Nikki Heffernan scored a pair of goals to lead Londonderry to a 2-1 win over perennial power Manchester West.

DERRY | Manchester West had Pinkerton on the ropes and was set to deliver the knockout blow.

The Astros had already seen the Blue Knights punch in two quick scores, and Manchester West had a first down from the Pinkerton 4-yard line early in the second quarter.

MANCHESTER, N.H. | Alex Theodosi ran in an early fourth-quarter touchdown from six yards out, but by then the game was already well in hand for Manchester West, which cruised to a 31-7 win over Londonderry.

LONDONDERRY, N.H. | With eye black smeared all over his face and his jersey covered with dirt, Londonderry's Chris Stringfellow smiled big.

How could he not bask in what had just transpired. The 265-pound senior center anchored an offensive line that produced 413 rushing yards on 54 carries last night. About 2,000 fans watched the Lancers pummel Manchester West 37-3 under the lights at Lancer Park and improve to 1-1 on the young season.