RallyNorth.net

DERRY, N.H. — A hallmark of good coaching is to accurately assess the talent on your team as well as the opposition.

Veteran Pinkerton mentor Brian O’Reilly pegged Nashua South’s David Zocco as his biggest threat to victory, terming the senior "one of the toughest running backs we’ve seen in the last two years." He also realized a deficit in speed for his own offense with Eric Guinto (shoulder) in street clothes for the contest.

Considering everything, O’Reilly put the onus on his offensive line to produce quality possessions Wing-T style and the defense to shadow Zocco. It all worked as the Astros won the battle of Division 1 unbeatens, 10-0 before about 500 fans at Memorial Field.

Offensively, Zocco (46 yards on 15 carries) was rendered a non-factor for the second straight week. This strained the attack of the Panthers (now 5-1 in Division 1, 5-3 overall) as they were held to four three-and-outs and punts on its first six possessions.

Defensive ends Chris George (eight tackles) and Mike Mazzola (five tackles) shined in shutting South down.

"It’s a simple thing in games with anyone we play," O’Reilly said. "Take away what they do best and make them beat you with something else."

Sophomore quarterback Keith Farkas almost provided a second scoring option, hitting on 8 of 15 passes for 107 yards. A trio of fourth-quarter completions got South within the Astro 5 on its best scoring drive, but safety Colby Verge stripped the ball from a receiver with 4:49 left. Teammate Dennis Stevens recovered in the end zone and rambled to the 10 to squash the threat.

Pounding the ball behind center Thor Johnson, guards Matt Crow and Ali Bahremand, tackles Chris Trieb and Ryan Raymond, and tight ends Ben Proulx, Zach Tulley and Colton Desmarais got Pinkerton going. Seniors George (16 carries, 100 yards) and Matt Mangano (17 carries, 97 yards) were the workhorses although O’Reilly used six different ball-carriers. The Astros ground out 62 offensive plays and held possession for 33½ of the 48-minute game.

"We needed to show we could go between the tackles," O’Reilly said. "Hardly any passes, double tight ends and slap it up (inside)."

Pinkerton (6-0 in league play, 6-2 overall) moved the ball all day but didn’t roll over possessions consistently until the second half. Mangano’s 10-yard third quarter run on fourth-down got the Astros into field goal range, with Shawn Clukey drilling a 36-yard boot four plays later with two minutes left in the period.

After stopping South on downs, QB Ryan Simpson shook off an 0 for 4 start and drilled tight end G.J. Walker with a 19-yard strike on third-and-7 to get the Astros into Panther territory. George added 27 yards after including a six-yard carry up the middle for the game’s lone touchdown with 8:11 left.

Of his tough start, Simpson said, "I needed to take more time, look downfield, set my feet and throw. Sometimes being wound up is a problem but you’ve got to take control of your game and just do your thing."

And of the victory, Simpson said, "(Our coaches) know everything about everyone we play — every scheme, every hole they’re going to blitz, everything. We’re the most well-prepared team when it comes to playing a game."