| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelham | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Sanborn | 13 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
Saturday, October, 25
By Dan Hogan
Staff writer
KINGSTON, N.H. — For the second straight season, the Sanborn Indians are headed to the New Hampshire Division 2 playoffs, riding another tremendous effort by fullback Zach Matthews to a 19-7 victory over archrival Pelham on Saturday.
“These boys have been working hard since August 13th and their hard work is starting to pay off,” said Sanborn head coach John Welch.
No one worked harder than Matthews, a returning Eagle-Tribune All-Star linebacker, and that showed again against the Pythons.
Matthews rushed 37 times for a whopping 217 yards, edging his career-highs of 215 reached earlier this season against ConVal.
“We try to distribute the ball evenly,” Matthews said of his 37-carry day. “But this week we needed a little bit more power back. I just needed to smash the ball down their throats.”
Matthews added two touchdown runs from 3 and 18 yards out and came just a yard short of scoring another in the game’s waning seconds.
“Zach has been a huge part of this team for a few years now and we look to him,” said Welch. “He’s our senior leader. The guys up front blocked great for him — you don’t get it done by yourself.”
Matthews got the scoring started in the first quarter when he rumbled for an 18-yard score. Fellow tailback Mike D’Amelio scored on his own 18-yard run a few minutes later.
The time of possession was thoroughly dominated by Sanborn. The Indians ran the ball a total of 64 times to Pelham’s 19. Pelham was only able to throw the ball eight times for one completion, while Sanborn only attempted one pass.
Pelham looked like it was going to make a run at Sanborn as the first half wound down. The Pythons got their only score of the game after the defense stripped the ball from the Sanborn ballcarrier and Bradford Kamal returned it 41 yards for the touchdown.
It was a breath of life for Pelham, but it wasn’t enough. Sanborn’s defense kept the Pythons off the board the rest of the game.
“Our defense was great. We work hard during practice and that’s the result,” said Matthews. “We just got to come out playing hard on every down and we don’t stop until the whistle blows.”
Before Sanborn begins another playoff run, it will play host to John Stark Regional next Saturday. Pelham will host Souhegan on Friday night.
First Quarter
S — Zach Metthews 18 run (Micah Peterson kick blocked), 5:58
S — Mike D'Amelio 18 run (Peterson kick), 2:12
Second Quarter
P — Bradford Kamal 41 fumble return (Kyle Masson kick) 1:23
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
S — Matthews 3 run (Peterson kick no good), 9:43
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: S (64-386) — Zach Matthews 37-217, Justin Winsper 5-25, Nate King 6-46, Shawn Gowans 6-28, Christian Ehlers 4-32, Mike D'Amelio 5-33, Scott Jenkins 1-5; P (19-76) — Nick Johnson 6-22, Dylan Ragonese 9-32, Bradford Kamal 3-18, Trevor Gagnon 1-4
PASSING: S — Ehlers 0-1-0, 0; P — Gagnon 1-8-1, 29
RECEIVING: S (0-0); P (1-29) — Kamal 1-29
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