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SALEM, N.H. — When Mike Lorenz arrived at Salem High yesterday morning, he expected another day as a role player.

“I didn’t see this at all,” said Lorenz. “I expected my normal day of playing some defensive back and going in on offense a little bit.”

SALEM N.H. — New Hampshire football beware. Salem, which won the Division 1 state title yesterday over Nashua North, is only getting better.

“It’s crazy,” said Blue Devils running back Max Jacques. “We have everyone returning. We’ll be back. I have confidence.”

SALEM, N.H. ­— The Blue Devils of Salem earned their top billing on the state-playoff marquee with an explosive rushing attack.

So what do they do when the season is on the line?

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 Jerickson Fedrick 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.”

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.

MANCHESTER, N.H. — No matter how many more weeks the season lasts, Salem knows it has made it's final road trip of the year.

With one week remaining in the regular season, the undefeated Blue Devils clinched home-field advantage throughout the Division I playoffs with an easy 42-0 victory over Manchester West last night. While posting their second shutout of the year, Salem broke the 40-point mark for the fourth time.

SALEM N.H. — Giving quarterback Matt Cannone more chances to throw then in any other game so far this season, the Salem Blue Devils rolled to a 35-6 romp over Concord.

Cannone threw for a season-high 135 yards and a touchdown pass while the running game, led by junior standout Max Jacques, pounded out 349 rushing yards as Salem improved to 8-0 for only the third time in its history. In both 1983 and 1995 Salem started 8-0 before going undefeated both years and winning championships in Div I (83) and Div II ('95). 

NASHUA, N.H.  – Once a beast with only 20 points allowed through three Division 1 games, Salem High’s defense was crumbling.Nashua South put up 35 and Timberlane 34 the last two weeks, and yesterday Nashua North was well on its way to a 50-spot for the second straight game, leading 26-19 at halftime.“We started the season so well, with almost three shutouts in a row,” said linebacker Darren Brown, who had a dozen tackles including one de-cleater that drew “oohs” from the 200 or so Salem fans here at Stellos Stadium.“The last three games we allowed 35, 34 and 26 more in the first half today.”Brown and the boys took the recent woes a bit personally, regaining their physical mojo and slamming the door on the previously unbeaten Titans.Meanwhile, Max Jacques and Jerckson Fedrick kept churning and burning up the Stellos Stadium turf, powering the Blue Devils to the 54-33 win.Now 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Division 1, Salem stands alone at the top of the standings with a clear path to the top seed in the November playoffs.Jacques and Fedrick gave North fits from the opening handoff, piling up a combined 491 yards and seven TDs.Running their series of sweeps and counters, the Titans had a Devil of a time finding Jacques and Fedrick.When spotted, they spent much of the afternoon blasting through arm tackles or outrunning angles on defensive backs.The region’s leading rusher, Jacques now has 1,373 yards after his 22-rush, 267-yard day. With TDs of 45, 1 and 61 yards, the junior becomes the region’s first 100-point man of 2009 with 110 through seven games.Fedrick, just a sophomore, delivered 224 yards and TD runs of 43, 42, 81 and 2 yards. He nearly added a fifth the ultimate knockout blow, a mid-fourth quarter interception.But Fedrick’s weary legs only brought him back 72 yards to the North 14 where Alex Sobrado put it away with his TD untouched.The difference, though, was defense. “They didn’t do much at all after we adjusted,” added Brown of the Devils who pounced on a pair of interceptions and outgained North 313-183 in the second half and dominated on the scoreboard 35-7.On Jacques pick, it was rugged linebacker Joey DiPalma (13 tackles) charging hard on the blitz to force the errant throw.Salem’s second half effort was all about pride.“Our focus changed things in the second half,” said Fedrick. “We were awful sloppy in the first half defensively. We know what we can do. It’s just a matter that we have to master our assignments and do it. I think we showed that in the second half.”

NASHUA, N.H.  – Once a beast with only 20 points allowed through three Division 1 games, Salem High’s defense was crumbling.Nashua South put up 35 and Timberlane 34 the last two weeks, and yesterday Nashua North was well on its way to a 50-spot for the second straight game, leading 26-19 at halftime.“We started the season so well, with almost three shutouts in a row,” said linebacker Darren Brown, who had a dozen tackles including one de-cleater that drew “oohs” from the 200 or so Salem fans here at Stellos Stadium.“The last three games we allowed 35, 34 and 26 more in the first half today.”Brown and the boys took the recent woes a bit personally, regaining their physical mojo and slamming the door on the previously unbeaten Titans.Meanwhile, Max Jacques and Jerckson Fedrick kept churning and burning up the Stellos Stadium turf, powering the Blue Devils to the 54-33 win.Now 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Division 1, Salem stands alone at the top of the standings with a clear path to the top seed in the November playoffs.Jacques and Fedrick gave North fits from the opening handoff, piling up a combined 491 yards and seven TDs.Running their series of sweeps and counters, the Titans had a Devil of a time finding Jacques and Fedrick.When spotted, they spent much of the afternoon blasting through arm tackles or outrunning angles on defensive backs.The region’s leading rusher, Jacques now has 1,373 yards after his 22-rush, 267-yard day. With TDs of 45, 1 and 61 yards, the junior becomes the region’s first 100-point man of 2009 with 110 through seven games.Fedrick, just a sophomore, delivered 224 yards and TD runs of 43, 42, 81 and 2 yards. He nearly added a fifth the ultimate knockout blow, a mid-fourth quarter interception.But Fedrick’s weary legs only brought him back 72 yards to the North 14 where Alex Sobrado put it away with his TD untouched.The difference, though, was defense. “They didn’t do much at all after we adjusted,” added Brown of the Devils who pounced on a pair of interceptions and outgained North 313-183 in the second half and dominated on the scoreboard 35-7.On Jacques pick, it was rugged linebacker Joey DiPalma (13 tackles) charging hard on the blitz to force the errant throw.Salem’s second half effort was all about pride.“Our focus changed things in the second half,” said Fedrick. “We were awful sloppy in the first half defensively. We know what we can do. It’s just a matter that we have to master our assignments and do it. I think we showed that in the second half.”