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PELHAM N.H. — Three-peat no more.

The two-time defending Div. V State Champion Pelham Pythons fell in the state semi-finals 32-18 to the Bishop Brady Giants. The dream of winning its third state championships in a row was erased by the Giants who used a nightmare of a first half for Pelham to its own advantage, capitolizing on almost all of Pelhams turnovers and turning them into points.

ANDOVER — With its epic matchup with archrival Phillips Exeter on the horizon, Phillips Academy warmed up in a big way yesterday.

Behind another stellar game by back Clay Cleveland, and Andover's Mike Bernieri turning in huge plays on defense, the Big Blue cruised to a 47-12 win over Worcester Academy.

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 — Whittier coach Kevin Bradley’s plan against Manchester Essex was simple.

Hold onto the ball.

“We wanted to keep the ball out of their hands,” Bradley said. “Everybody likes to talk about our passing game but we can run it too, I have a lot of confidence in the run game and it worked well today. We played smashmouth football on both sides of the ball.”

WEST NEWBURY — Thanks to its trademark grind-it-out running game, Pentucket was the aggressor for nearly 40 minutes.

But Masconomet had its home run hitter.

“Pentucket took it to us,” said Chieftains head coach Jim Pugh. “But a few big plays made by (Evan) Bunker and (Chris) Spliner were the difference in the game.”

BILLERICA — Despite a 2-6 record, Shawsheen has been rolling up over 20 points per game behind standout tailback Cory Foss. Greater Lawrence Tech is cooking due to tailback Joe Pizzuto’s 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns.

LAWRENCE — The effort and attitude was there. Lawrence just couldn’t back it up with points.

The Lancers stood toe-to-toe with defending Division 2 champion Dracut last night. But as the smoke from a factory fire in the area cleared Veterans Memorial Stadium in the second half, so did the obstacles blocking the Middies in an eventual 21-7 victory.

METHUEN - Emotion spurs greatness.

The Central Catholic-Methuen athletic rivalry has been forged on that premise.

Last night before a packed house of about 2,000 at Nicholson Stadium, Cal Carroll, Raudy Minaya and the Rangers chiseled out their own chapter in this history matchup, rally from nine points down in a frenzied final 12 minutes.

METHUEN - Emotion spurs greatness.

The Central Catholic-Methuen athletic rivalry has been forged on that premise.

Last night before a packed house of about 2,000 at Nicholson Stadium, Cal Carroll, Raudy Minaya and the Rangers chiseled out their own chapter in this history matchup, rally from nine points down in a frenzied final 12 minutes.

HAVERHILL — Haverhill played credible defense and moved the ball at times, but turnovers doomed the Hillies to their ninth straight loss last night, 24-8 to Tewksbury.

Haverhill rushed for 104 yards, led by Tito Morel (10-64), and passed for 112 yards, but three interceptions and two lost fumbles prevented any consistency on offense.

ANDOVER — It took just 14 seconds for Andover to fall behind, and the Golden Warriors were never able to recover.

Andover allowed a touchdown on the opening kickoff, and despite a rally were never able to tie the score and fell to Merrimack Valley Conference large foe Billerica 35-14 last night.

SALEM, N.H. — Fortunately, the Salem football team will begin its “second season” at home next Saturday in the Division 1 playoffs.

That will give the No. 1-seed Blue Devils something to focus on all week rather than dwelling on the end of their first season last night, which was nothing short of a disaster.

WILMINGTON — North Andover got its scoring from a familiar face, but it was an unlikely source that kept the Scarlet Knights conference-title hopes alive.

Playing on the road for only the third time this season, North Andover eked out a 14-12 victory over Cape Ann Conference rival Wilminton last night. Leading rusher Zac Iovanella scored both touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights (7-2 overall, 2-1 conference). Kicker Dylan Lurvey, however, was the difference maker, converting both conversions while consistently putting the Wildcats in bad field position with his booming punts.

HUDSON N.H. — As the Alvrine Bronco marching band played on as its players celebrated a playoff berth for the first time since 2000, the Timberlane Owls across the field huddled together for the final time this season as Timberlane fell to Alvrine 32-7.

CHELMSFORD — Haverhill knew that stopping junior tailback Joe Gennaro was the key to shutting down Chelmsford. And for nearly three quarters, things wre going as planned.
But Gennaro, who rushed for 216 yards and four touchdowns, put the Lions on his back in the final 13 minutes of a 25-13 win over Haverhill.
Gennaro had just 46 yards at the half on 10 carries before exploding midway through the third quarter. The Hillies held a 7-6 lead over the heavily-favored Lions with 13 seconds left in the third quarter before Gennaro’s second score, a 4-yard scamper, to put Chelmsford ahead for good.
“Depth had a lot to do with it, but we have to continue to play,” Haverhill coach Tim Briggs said. “For the first three quarters we were getting in their faces and making hits with our hats. We get into the fourth quarter, we don’t have much depth, and guys are getting tired so we start trying to make tackles with our arms and [Gennaro] is too good to do that.”
Briggs continued, “But what can I say? I have a team full of guys who gave me everything that they had and it still wasn’t enough. Chelmsford is a great program in a city that really loves and supports its athletics.”
After 13th-ranked Chelmsford made it 12-7, Haverhill threw interceptions on consecutive possessions and Chelmsford converted both to put the game out of reach.
“We have a lot of younger guys in our starting lineup,” Briggs said. “Our guys did a great job making players early in the game.”
Before the interceptions, Connor Tufts was an extremely efficient 5 of 6 for 75 yards.
Miles Miller made 12 tackles at linebacker, helping stifle Gennaro for the better part of three quarters. Mackenzie Milewski (middle linebacker) and Aaron Bard (outside linebacker) each made nine tackles.
In the fourth quarter, Tufts injured his left leg playing defensive back and his regular backup, receiver Timothy Nutter, was already on the sideline with a sling. Austin Campbell entered at quarterback and connected with Blaine Joia on a 30-yard score late in the fourth quarter for both players’ first varsity touchdowns.