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PLAISTOW — Was Timberlane a much tougher opponent than Bishop Guertin expected?

Just ask star quarterback Steve Cuipa, who was seen limping off the Plaistow gridiron last night after a hard-earned, deceptive 21-6 victory over the Owls.

SALEM — The Game of the Year seemed to be moving in Salem’s favor at halftime. After Jerickson Fedrick returned an interception for a touchdown, the Blue Devils’ Joey DiPalma ended the next drive as he burst through the line and blocked a field goal as time expired in the first half. That kept it just a 7-point Bishop Guertin lead and Salem would be receiving the ball to start the third. “We matched them in the first half,” said Blue Devils quarterback Matt Cannone. “We were having some success running and passing. But they just came out and beat us in the second half.” Two-time defending New Hampshire Division 2 state champion Bishop Guertin controlled the second half, posting three unanswered scores to down defending Division 1 champ Salem 48-21 yesterday afternoon in a game that was postponed a day due to rain. “We were beaten in every phase of the game,” said Salem coach Jack Gati. “We are at the bottom now. Everyone went into this game thinking we were at the top, but we are at the bottom now and need to work our way back up.” The Blue Devils had no answer for senior Mike Kelly, who gashed Salem for 192 yards on 16 carries and caught four passes for 169 more yards. He found the end zone five times, including scores of 65, 45 and 79 yards. In all, he had 361 of the Cardinals’ 488 yards in addition to a 30-yard kickoff return. BG did not have to punt once in the highly anticipated showdown between the two teams who were ranked 1-2 in the state last year and most consider the Granite State’s best again. After yesterday, though, there is no debate who is No. 1. “I have never had a team give up this many yards that I can remember,” said Gati, the 33rd-year head coach. “We gave up a lot of easy scores, and they were just opening up gaping holes. We have not had a performance like this in a long, long time.” Reigning Eagle-Tribune offensive Player of the Year Max Jacques managed a workman-like 83 yards on 18 carries, while Matthew Cannone completed 6 of 11 passes for 90 yards, with his favorite target Mike Lorenz (five catches, 88 yards). Returning Eagle-Tribune All-Star DiPalma was a bright spot for with 10 tackles, a sack and the blocked kick, while Lorenz added six tackles and Fedrick had five stops and the interception. “I can’t think of a positive,” said Jacques. “They ran the ball, played aggressive defense and wanted it more. We need to focus and improve the mental aspect of the game.”   BG, which seems a lock to win its sixth title in the last seven years, had repeatedly pointed out it had graduated 30 seniors. It hardly seemed to matter. Although, it looked early like Salem might be able to keep pace. After the Cardinals opened with a score, the Blue Devils answered two minutes later when Cannone and Lorenz connected on a 41-yard touchdown pass. BG struck for two more quick scores, but Salem again answered, this time with a 10-play, 65-yard drive that Fedrick finished off with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone. The Cardinals added another score, but Fedrick responded by picking off a tipped pass, and running it back 18 yards for a touchdown. BG then drove to the Salem 23, but DiPalma sacked QB Steve Cuipa for a six-yard loss, then two plays later blocked the 30-yard field goal attempt. But it was all Bishop Guertin in the second half. The Cardinals tallied 182 yards and the three scores, and Salem mustered just 54 yards of total offense and only one first down. The Blue Devils did not manage a stop until the BG backups entered midway through the fourth quarter. “This game has told us a lot,” said Gati. “We need to go back to the drawing board, and go back to basics on offense.”