RallyNorth.net

Pythons bow out

Friday, September, 25 By Conor Clancy
Staff writer

PELHAM N.H. — You can't win if you can't score, and Pelham learned that the hard way in the second half in a 17-14 heartbreaking loss to Bow. 

The Python offense ran just 12 plays in the second half netting only 31 yards compared to Bow's relentless running attack which kept the clock moving and Pelham's defense on the field. Bow ran 36 plays for 158 yards and controlled the ball for over 19 minutes of the 24 minute second half.

Despite the lopsided time of possession and yards Pelham still led by four with 30 seconds left before a 10-yard touchdown pass from Bow quarterback Austin Hill to tight end Tom Poitras gave the Falcons their only lead of the game and ultimatly the win. 

Miraculously enough Pelham still had one more chance on quarterback Joseph DeAngelo's last second heave to the endzone but the ball fell right through a receivers hands and DeAngelo was sacked on the next and final play of the game.

"Give Bow alot of credit," said Pelham coach Tom Babaian. "Their players capitolized on all of our mistakes and did everything needed to get a win. Bottom line was they ate up alot of clock and we just couldn't stop them."

On the first possession of the game Pelham looked every bit of the team that had scored 77 points in its previous two games as it methodically marched down the field behind DeAngelo's arms and leg. The drive culminated with the qb plunging into the endzone from a yard out. 

DeAngelo (148 passing yards, 81 rushing yards) looked extremely sharp throughout the first half, standing in the pocket and delivering sharp balls despite a heavy pass rush. His main target of night was freshman wideout Kevin Cheam, who finished with 4 catches for 66 yards and a 24-yard touchdown catch just before halftime that put Pelham up 14-7 at the break. 

Pelham's first possession in the third started with a DeAngelo pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted. 

From there linebackers Peter Chenelle (7 tackles) and Conor McColgan (8 tackles) lead a defense that could not seem to stop the tough running Falcons and only managed one significant stop on a fumble recovery midway through the fourth quarter but the resulting drive ending on a turnover on downs.

The loss is Pelhams second this season after going the previous two years undefeated and a combined 22-0. 

"We need to seperate this team to what we have done in years past," said Babaian. "It's still early and there is alot of season to play and there is no need to panic, but we cannot look ahead or back. Each practice and game we just need to build stones for our foundation. The players are trying to find each other and find leaders.