Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Londonderry | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Pinkerton | 7 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
Saturday, November, 08 By Jeff Hamrick
DERRY — Jack Hanaway still has an ultimate goal that might surpass yesterday's excitement, but it's doubtful the Pinkerton senior will forget the day he turned into Robert Griffin III in the state quarterfinals.
Reading the run option at optimum first-half
efficiency, Hanaway powered the Astros into this weekend's Division I
state semis with a career-making performance, leading undefeated
Pinkerton past border rival Londonderry 31-14 for the South Conference's
state berth.
It was the Astros' 16th consecutive victory over
the Lancers, but it didn't come near as easily as past conquests.
Londonderry, which was outscored by Pinkerton by a combined 63-7 in the
first two quarters the past two contests between the two, actually
grabbed the early lead.
Hanaway, who has made a living handing
off the ball to a bevy of running backs, was forced to take matters into
his own hands. The three-year starter finished with a career-best 173
yards and two touchdowns. He added a 31-yard scoring pass to Peter Cyr
to help Pinkerton to a 21-14 halftime advantage.
"It was
definitely something we worked on this week," Hanaway of his slick ball
handling. "Actually it was what we've done up inside the whole season.
But everyone was paying attention to T.J. (Urbanik) and Peter (Cyr) and
all our other backs. It really opened things up outside for me, and our
line did a great job once again for the (10th) time this season."
Taking
advantage of fumbles by leading rusher T.J. Urbanik on each of his
first two carries, the Lancers (8-2) opened a 7-0 advantage on a 2-yard
Eric Fairweather run with 5:03 left in the first. It was the kind of
start that confused Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly
"You mean
fumbling the ball the first two times we had the ball," O'Reilly said
responding to the first postgame question. "Fumbles by best running
back, who hasn't fumbled all year long."
But Hanaway quickly
helped the Astros reclaim control. He first crossed the goal line with a
31-yard run on the first quarter's final play. On Pinkerton's ensuing
possession, he had a 54-yard blast that helped set up his 11-yard
scoring run for a 14-7 lead with 6:15 remaining the in the half.
The quarterback capped his strong beginning on the next drive with passes of 26 yards to Urbanik on a perfectly lofted down-field throw, and 31 yards to Cyr that provided a two-touchdown lead with 1:15 left before intermission.
"How
about Jack?" O'Reilly said of his veteran signal caller. "Jack's the
best hidden rusher out there that people don't know about. You better
account for him or he runs the field for us ... And while we don't throw
a lot, we throw effectively."
Of his 13 carries, seven went for
10 yards or more, including six in a row in the first half. He also had
98 yards on his 3-of-4 passing.
"It was definitely a personal
best, but it wasn't about me," said Hanaway, who. "It's all about the
guys up front in the trenches doing our offense ... time and room to
run."
Despite the deficit, Londonderry wasn't quite ready to close out arguably its best season since winning a 1998 title.
The
Lancers threatened often, including a first-quarter drive that ended
with a fumble recovered by the Pinkerton tandem of Bryson Pacocha and
Cyr. A quick 75-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard pass from
Fairweather to Nick McEachern to open the second half brought
Londonderry back to within seven.
The Lancers, who recorded 11 of their 22 first downs after intermission, moved the ball effectively, but nothing panned out.
"We
made mistakes at crucial times," Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said.
"It's so hard to simulate big moments ... That's what the nine
regular-season games are for. But we didn't lose. I know Pinkerton beat
us. And Pinkerton's the only team that beat us this season."
The
Astros wrapped up the scoring with a 36-yard Kyle Cantalupo field goal
and a 71-yard run by Michael Curley with 3:13 left. The victory leaves
the Astros one win shy of playing in their 10th title game -in 11 years.
Pinkerton last won a crown, however, since 2010.
"It's been
three years of losing the state championship, and trust me, that get's
old after awhile," Hanaway said. "All of our seniors especially have
seen too many other seniors go out losing. So this is a boost to a lot
of us and will help get through the tough games."
Division 1 South Finals
First Quarter
L — Eric Fairweather 2 run (Nick Donnelly kick) 5:03
P — Jack Hanaway 34 run (Kyle Cantalupo kick) 0:00Second Quarter
P — Hanaway 11 run (Cantalupo kick) 6:15
P — Peter Cyr 31 pass from Hanaway (Cantalupo kick) 1:15
Third Quarter
L — Nick McEachern 31 pass from Fairweather (Donnelly kick) 10:33
Fourth Quarter
P — FG Cantalupo 36 7:49
P — Michael Curley 71 run (Cantalupo kick) 3:13INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Londonderry (51-273) — Fairweather 20-127, Dennis Bishop 17-84, Kyle Byrd 5-32, Mike Ryan 5-22, McEachern 2-13, David Wiedenfeld 2-(-5); Pinkerton (37-341) — Hanaway 13-173, Curley 2-72, T.J. Urbanik 14-71, Cyr 6-17, Nico Buccieri 2-8
PASSING: Londonderry — Fairweather 5-14-1, 78 yards; Pinkerton — Hanaway 3-4-0, 98
RECEIVING: Londonderry — McEachern 2-36, Ryan 1-18, Wiedenfeld 1-15, Bishop 1-9; Pinkerton — Urbanik 2-67, Cyr 1-31
268C Mammoth Rd.
Londonderry, NH 03053
Website
Map & Directions
Team | League | Overall | PF-PA |
---|---|---|---|
Pinkerton | 5-0-0 | 12-0-0 | 472-97 |
Londonderry | 3-2-0 | 9-2-0 | 380-212 |
Salem | 2-2-0 | 7-3-0 | 251-135 |
Trinity | 0-0-0 | 1-1-0 | 39-62 |
Nashua South | 0-3-0 | 1-3-0 | 83-114 |
Nashua North | 0-3-0 | 1-3-0 | 44-112 |
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