October 2007 Archives
Varsity Insider: One game remains
Editor's Note: Reed Spiller is a senior at Portsmouth High School and a fullback/defensive lineman on the PHS varsity football team. He helped the Clippers reach the Division III championship game in 2006, the program's first season in Division III. Reed's Varsity Insider column will appear each week throughout the season.
As I walked off the football field Saturday night, there was a constant drizzle and an irritating glow of the scoreboard. It read Milford 267, Portsmouth 20 with zeros on the clock. The Clippers entered the game with a 3-5 record, having lost three straight, while Milford was 6-2 and had already clinched a playoff spot. Despite being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, Portsmouth came out harder than it had all season. In a fight for pride, the Clippers played like Japanese warriors defending their emperor.
As a team on a three-game losing streak, there is always the need for a spark to turn the tides of fate. Our spark came on the very first play from scrimmage on a 67-yard touchdown pass from a sophomore quarterback to a sophomore receiver. An interception on Milford's ensuing drive led to another Portsmouth touchdown and a 14-0 lead. But with a junior captain quarterback at the helm, Milford chewed up the remainder of the first quarter with two long drives to tie the score, 14-14.
Milford then took the second-half kickoff and marched down the field on a nine-minute drive. Quarterback Jeff Agnew scored from the 1-yard line to make the score 20-14. Finally Portsmouth caught another break, intercepting a pass at our own 40 with four minutes to play. In a season-defining drive, the Clippers converted on crucial several third- and fourth-down plays, the equalizer coming with 34 seconds to play. In overtime, Milford scored in three plays, when it recovered a fumble in the end zone. After a sack, Portsmouth faced a fourth-and- 15 situation. In hopes for some Boise State magic, we threw a hook-and-ladder that was stopped at the 7-yard line. Game Over. Season Over. Career Over.
To be honest, that last sentence was a bit over dramatic. Our season isn't over and neither is my career.
Thankfully, the age-old Seacoast Rivalry returns on Thanksgiving Day, as Portsmouth faces the Division II Dover Green Wave. After a thrilling victory in last year's Turkey Bowl, Portsmouth will have the bull's-eye on its back, and a revenge factor should motivate the Green Wave. Personally, I am just excited over the fact that our season lasts almost a month longer than it would otherwise. I feel like a Division I football player, with the regular season over, but a month to prepare for our Bowl Game. That is how the team is approaching this matchup, since we have three more weeks of just PRACTICE. The coaches from Portsmouth and Dover realize that this is like the gift of spring football -- a chance to get back to the basics and an opportunity for the younger players to get more reps and improve their skills. For the seniors, it could make or break our year, for there is no better feeling than sitting down to a turkey dinner after a hard-earned victory.
And yes, even with the Turkey Bowl to look forward to, I am constantly brought back to reality. This loss was not as tough to swallow as some in the past, but it was still heartbreaking. I am NEVER satisfied with losing, but I was incredibly proud of our effort as a team. We outhit Milford from the beginning and never let up. The chance to win the game was there, but the bounces didn't go our way. Had we played with that intensity and effort all year long, our record might be in the positive. Instead, we finished 3-6, but with our pride certainly at our sides.
But there was still that irritating glow of the scoreboard: 27-20 ...so close, but so far. On the bus ride home, I really did not know how to react. I was miserably disappointed, but so very proud at the same time. The only consolation I could find as I walked away was in the lights. Those enormous bright white lights that had, for so many years, watched player after player, game after game, pass by. I knew those enemies of darkness had just witnessed a great one. I'll never for get those lights.
Dartmouth looks to play keep away
Turnovers plagued Dartmouth in Saturday's 28-21 setback against Harvard. The Big Green had four passes intercepted in the loss.
"We didn't protect the football," Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens said. "The two turnovers at the end of the game were costly because we were still in the ballgame in the fourth quarter."
This weekend's challenge will be attempting to contain Cornell quarterback Nathan Ford, who is averaging 28.6 completions per game and is on pace to break the school record for completions in a season. Cornell has 13 receivers who have made at least five catches this season.
The teams will meet for the 91st time Saturday at Dartmouth's Memorial Field (noon). Cornell leads the series 50-39-1.
Officially Speaking: Earning their stripes
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Question: If you are allowed to, can you tell me how officials are selected for playoff games? Is it seniority, or is there some type of rating system in place? Thanks.
T.B., Nashua
Under the NHFOA (New Hampshire Football Officials Association) bylaws, eligibility for a playoff game requires that an official must have officiated a minimum of 25 varsity games in his/her career, and must officiate at least six varsity games in the current season. Playoff games are assigned by the commissioner based on field ratings. (The Commissioner is the individual who assigns officials to each game and is the de facto head of the NHFOA.) Following each varsity game, each official provides a rating for the other four officials in the game. We work in five-man crews for varsity games, and the crews vary every game. The rating criteria include items such as proper mechanics, rules knowledge, judgment, play coverage, teamwork and professionalism. The ratings are done anonymously, and comments can be provided anonymously to assist officials in improving aspects of their games. The Commissioner compiles all of the field ratings and assigns playoff crews based on those ratings. Each crew receives one or two playoff games. An official cannot work more than one championship game in a season.
UNH Rewind: 'Cats remain on a roll
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
'CAT TALE: Despite allowing 430 yards on the ground, the University of New Hampshire overcame a 24-21 halftime deficit and extended its winning streak to four games by beating Rhode Island, 49-36, in Durham on Saturday.
The victory improved UNH's record to 6-2 overall, 3-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association and 4-0 at home. URI dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the league. Rhode Island quarterback Derek Cassidy aggravated an ankle injury late in the first half and did not return to the game.
"Derek Cassidy was having a great game," UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. "They were firing on all cylinders and we were really off-balance on the defensive side of the ball, We were very fortunate to get out of there with a win against a good Rhode Island team."
NUMBERS GAME: UNH quarterback Ricky Santos (above) completed 24 of 30 passes for 419 yards against URI and moved into sixth place on the FCS career passing list with 12,189 yards. The top five: Steve McNair (Alcorn State/14,956), Bruce Eugene (Grambling/13,513), Willie Totten (Mississippi Valley State/12,711), Marcus Brady (Cal State Northridge/12,479) and Jamie Martin ((Weber State/12,207).
Safety Jeff Pammer made 14 tackles against the Rams to raise his career total to 305. Only three players in the program's history have more career tackles: Steve Doig (434), Aaron Thomas (343) and Chris McGrath (322).
WORD PLAY: "We very rarely talk about any of these record with (Santos)," McDonnell said. "He's so concerned about the team. So concerned about what he can do to make us better. I'm sure when this is all said and done and he looks back on it he's gonna look at some of the things with some great pride and a great sense of accomplishment for what he's done for himself and, more importantly knowing him, for what he's done for our football program."
LOOKING AHEAD: UNH will play Northeastern at home on Saturday (noon). The Huskies dropped to 1-7 overall (0-5 CAA) following Saturday's 20-14 loss to Maine (2-6, 1-4).
Northeastern senior running back Maurice Murray rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He's tied with Tim Gale (1999-03) for most career rushing touchdowns by a Northeastern player with 36.
Murray has rushed for 886 yards on 192 carries this season. He needs 421 yards to break the program's all-time rushing record, which is held by L.J. McKanas (1998-2001).
Northeastern beat UNH 36-35 last season.
"They've been in every game they've played," McDonnell said. "They're very physical up front on the offensive side of the ball. A great running back in Maurice Murray. A good defense. Everybody keeps telling me about (our) early schedule being tough, this and that. There's not one week that looks easy to me. We went down there last year and they took it to us."
NOTEWORTHY: Plymouth's Mike Boyle caught seven passes for 116 yards and one touchdown against URI, but also lost two fumbles. UNH turned the ball over three times and committed 12 penalties for 107 yards in the game. Keith LeVan also caught seven passes (93 yards, 1 TD). ... URI held UNH to 110 yards on 28 rushing attempts. Chad Kackert led the Wildcat ground attack with 52 yards on 12 carries. ... UNH linebacker Husain Karim was credited with a game-high 21 tackles (three solo). He was one of five UNH players with at least 13 tackles in the game.
"Husain Karim ran to the football very, very well," McDonnell said. "He's a good football player. He has a great motor. I do appreciate the way the kid plays. He's a hard-nosed kid who did what we needed him to do on Saturday.
UNH extends streak; PSU rebounds
Senior quarterback Ricky Santos threw for five touchdowns to help the University of New Hampshire extend its winning streak to four games by beating Rhode Island, 49-36, on Saturday.
Santos threw for 419 yards as the Wildcats remained unbeaten (4-0) at home this season.
Elsehwhere Saturday, senior tailback Jeff Mack rushed for a career-high 190 yards and two touchdowns to help Plymouth State University defeat MIT, 27-0; Harvard intercepted four passes in its 28-21 triumph over Dartmouth; and St. Anselm dropped to 0-8 overall following a 52-6 loss to Bentley.
There's room for one more
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
The Division II playoff picture became clear Friday night.
Exeter (8-1) secured the No. 1 seed with its 34-21 triumph over Merrimack. The Blue Hawks will have home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Exeter's victory left Bishop Guertin (8-1) as the No. 2 seed. BG, which loses the first tiebreaker against Exeter (head-to-head result), will be at home for the semifinals.
Dover (6-3) clinched the No. 3 seed by beating Timberlane 34-13. The Green Wave has won five in a row and will face BG in the semifinals, which will be played Nov. 10. Dover will complete the regular season with a non-league game against Londonderry on Friday.
Either Winnacunnet or Goffstown will be the fourth seed. Goffstown (5-3) will make the playoffs if it beats Timberlane at home next Saturday. A Timberlane victory in that game would open the door for Winnacunnet (6-3). The Warriors completed the Division II portion of their regular season with a 24-20 loss to Goffstown on Friday.
A Timberlane victory over Goffstown would hand Winnacunnet the No. 4 seed and a set up another game against rival Exeter. Winnacunnet, which will play a non-league game against Whittier Tech next Saturday, is the only team that has beaten Exeter this season.
Dover's victory over Timberlane eliminated Keene (4-4) from the playoff hunt.
UNH seeks balancing act
Although the University of New Hampshire's pass-heavy offense leads the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring (40.9 points per game), the Wildcats haven't done much on the ground this season. UNH coach Sean McDonnell will be looking for an improved rushing attack when his Wildats face Rhode Island this weekend.
UNH will be trying to extend its winning streak to four games and improve its chances of qualifying for the Division I playoffs. Saturday's game is scheduled to start at noon and can be seen on NESN.
The State of Football: Week 9
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
New Hampshire high school football is expanding faster than a lazy man's waistline.
At this time next year there will be 55 NHIAA schools playing varsity football, and those schools will likely be divided into six divisions. A recommendation to add a sixth division will be made by the NHIAA football committee, which came to that decision during a meeting in Concord on Thursday.
Winnacunnet High School athletic director Carol Dozibrin, assistant chair of the NHIAA football committee, said a recommendation calling for six divisions based on enrollment will be forwarded to the NHIAA classification committee.
"Basically we'll try to make the divisions as even as possible," Dozibrin said. "We'll probably have five divisions with nine teams and one with 10. At this point we don't know which one will have 10."
Dartmouth looks to maintain momentum
Tailbacks Nate Servis (130 yards) and Rob Mitchelson (105 yards) became the first Dartmouth players to each rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since 1962 in last weekend's 37-28 victory over Columbia. Dartmouth (2-4 overall, 2-1 Ivy League) may need a similar performance from its offensive line to beat Harvard (4-2, 3-0) Saturday.
Officially Speaking: Defense rules in OT
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Question: What determines where the ball is placed for a two-point conversion? Does the offensive team have the option to put the ball on either hash?
T.T., Dover
placement in any of the following situations: for a try, for a kickoff (including a kickoff following a safety), after a fair catch or an awarded fair catch, after a touchback, and at the start of a series using an overtime procedure. Officials usually spot the ball at the center of the field in any of these situations, but a team could request that the ball be moved prior to the ready-for-play signal. For kickoffs, the kicker will usually come on the field with the tee and place it at the spot from which he wants to kick. If there's a touchback, before I mark the ball ready for play I always ask the quarterback if he wants the ball in thecenter of the field. For a try, officials attempt to determine whether the team is bringing a kicking tee onto the field. If the team has a tee, then I don't ask if they want the ball spotted in the center of the field because the answer will almost certainly be that they do. However, if
there's no tee brought in, I ask the quarterback where he wants the ball spotted.
UNH Rewind: 'Cats extend streak
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
'CAT TALE: The University of New Hampshire defense came up with four turnovers (three interceptions) and didn't allow a touchdown in a 40-3 triumph over Hofstra on Saturday. The victory, the team's third in a row, improved UNH's record to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Colonial Athletic Conference.
"We're getting better (defensively)," UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. "Some of the kids are getting better. They're buying into the system.
"We had four turnovers in the game and that really helped. I thought we played pretty hard on the road."
NUMBERS GAME: UNH quarterback Ricky Santos returned to action after missing a non-league game against Iona with a shoulder injury. Santos was named the CAA's Offensive Player of the Week after he completed 19 of 23 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns against Hofstra. He also added a 1-yard TD run.
"Obviously it was good to have Ricky back," McDonnell said.
LOOKING AHEAD: UNH will face Rhode Island at Cowell Stadium on Saturday. URI dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the CAA following Saturday's38-6 loss to Richmond. Junior running back Joe Casey moved into fifth place on URI's all-time rushing list during the Hofstra game, but injured his shoulder in the loss.
"He's still being evaluated," Rhode Island coach Tim Stowers said. "He is injured."
WORD PLAY: "New Hampshire's got a good football team. I've been coaching 27 years, 20 at this level, and I've only seen one player that's as exciting to watch as (Santos) is and that was Tracy Ham, a quarterback we had at Georgia Southern (1983-86). (Santos) makes everyone play harder because they know something good is going to happen. When he was being recruited he wasn't at the top of anyone's list. He's at the top of everyone's list now."
-- Stowers
NOTEWORTHY: UNH is averaging 40.9 points per game and ranks first among CAA teams in scoring offense. URI is allowing an average of 34.3 points per contest. ... UNH has converted on 10 of 13 fourth-down attempts this season. ... UNH wide receiver Keith LeVan caught seven passes for 121 yards against Hofstra. ... Despite the lopsided loss, Hofstra had a 474-377 edge in net offense. ... Rhode Island's Greg Wicks, a freshman quarterback, lives in Bedford and played at Tabor Academy. ... UNH is ranked ninth in the latest Coaches Football Championship Subdivision poll. ... UNH will play three of its four remaining games at home. ... Saturday's game is scheduled to start at noon.
Division IV playoff pairings set
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
The semifinal matchups for the Division IV playoffs were finalized Saturday, when Hanover beat St. Thomas 7-6 in overtime; and Kearsarge got a touchdown pass from quarterback Bobby Williams to Ryan Jenkins with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter to beat Somersworth 14-10.
Laconia, which beat Stevens 35-0 on Friday, will be the No. 1 seed and will face fourth-seeded St. Thomas in the semifinals. St. Thomas was also the fourth seed last year, when it beat Laconia to win the Division IV state championship.
Laconia beat St. Thomas 28-7 in Dover during the regular season.
Second-seeded Hanover will meet third-seeded Kearsarge in the other semfinal. Hanover beat Kearsarge 44-14 in Hanover during the regular season.
Both semifinal games will be played at the home of the higher-seeded team.
The field for the Division III playoffs is also set. Plymouth, Souhegan, Milford and Con-Val have all secured playoff berths.
Con-Val will play Plymouth this weekend and will likely face the Bobcats in the Division III semifinals as well. Plymouth will be the top seed and Con-Val (6-2) will likely be seeded fourth. A Con-Val victory over Plymouth on Saturday coupled with a Portsmouth victory over Milford would make Con-Val the No. 3 seed.
Milford (6-2) can secure the No. 3 seed by beating Portsmouth. In that scenario, Milford would face second-seeded Souhegan in the semifinals. Souhegan beat Milford 29-7 during the regular season.
Milford holds the tiebreaker edge over Con-Val because the Spartans beat the Cougars 6-2 during the regular season.
UNH getting good reception
Freshman J.T. Wright is one of many players who has helped University of New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos remain productive despite the loss of wide receiver David Ball, his favorite target from a year ago.
Wright caught two touchdown passes in Saturday's 40-3 triumph over Hofstra. Santos threw for 262 yards in the victory.
UNH (5-2 overall, 2-2 Colonial Athletic Association) will attempt to stretch its winning streak to four games when it meets Rhode Island in Durham this weekend.
Santos shines in return
Quarterback Ricky Santos returned from a shoulder injury and threw four touchdown passes and ran for a TD to help the University of New Hampshire beat 10th-ranked Hofstra, 40-3, Saturday.
It was the first time Santos had played since falling on his shoulder during the second quarter of UNH's victory over Delaware on Oct. 6.
The UNH defense forced four turnovers (three interceptions).
Elsewhere Saturday, tailbacks Nate Servis and Rob Mitchelson each rushed for more than a 100 yards to lead Dartmouth to a 37-28 victory over Columbia; Plymouth State had its eight-game winning streak end following a 42-14 loss to Curry; and St. Anselm remained winless after dropping a 49-21 decision to Bryant.
Hanover wins with extra effort
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
For the second time in as many weeks the outcome of a St. Thomas Aquinas High School football game was decided by a failed two-point-conversion attempt.
St. Thomas trailed Hanover by a point when holder Chris Melanson was stopped short of the goal line on a fake extra-point attempt in overtime Saturday. Melanson was tackled just inside the 1-yard line, which gave Hanover a 7-6 victory.
"One play to win? I'd do it any time," St. Thomas coach Rod Wotton said. "Always do it. Always have done it.
"There was no guarantee we were going to make one. We wanted to surprise them."
After four quarters of scoreless play, each team took possession on the opposing team's 10-yard line in overtime. Hanover had the ball first and scored on third down when freshman quarterback Sam Carney completed a 3-yard pass to Syracuse-bound Carl Cutler for a touchdown. Will Curry made the point-after kick, which gave the Marauders a 7-0 lead.
St. Thomas scored on second down, when Melanson, the team's quarterback, connected with senior Sam Foster for a 7-yard TD pass. Then Melanson tried to give St. Thomas the win when he took the snap and swept around left end.
"They're known for their fakes," Hanover coach Mike Ivanoski said. "No one can question Rod. He's won more games than he's lost in those situations."
Last weekend St. Thomas beat Stevens, 7-6, when Stevens failed to convert a two-point conversion attempt with less than a minute to play.
The loss left Wotton with 322 career victories. If St. Thomas beats Fall Mountain next weekend Wottom will pass Armond Columbo for most career victories by a New England high school football coach. Columbo coached at Archbishop Williams in Braintree, Mass., and at Brockton (Mass.) High School.
Wotton's career record is 322-68-3. He earned most of those wins while he was the head coach at Marshwood High School in Eliot, Maine, where his teams were 220-33-1 from 1966 to 1992.
"Hanover didn't do anything were weren't prepared for," Wotton said. "They just played tough."
The victory raised Hanover's Division IV record to 7-1. The Marauders will be the No. 2 seed for the Division IV playoffs and will be at home for the semifinals.
St. Thomas dropped to 5-3.
"We wanted to go to overtime and take our chances there," Ivanoski said. "We had more chance of winning this game going 10 yards than we did going 80."
Souza thinks safety first
The University of New Hampshire will be looking for a strong effort from its defense when it plays at 10th-ranked Hofstra on Saturday.
One player who has been impressive on that side of the ball is strong safety Hugo Souza, a redshirt freshman who began his collegiate career as a cornerback. Souza is third among UNH players in tackles this season (43), trailing free safety Jeff Pammer and linebacker Husain Karim.
UNH, which is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association, may have to play without starting quarterback Ricky Santos, who is still nursing a shoulder injury. Hofstra is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in league play.
The State of Football: Week 8
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
Stevens coach Ralph Silva knew what he wanted to do, but the decision was not his to make.
Stevens trailed by a point when it scored a touchdown with 42 seconds to play in Saturday's game against St. Thomas. Kick the extra point or go for two?
"I left it up to the seniors," Silva explained. "I called a time out and asked them, 'Did we come up here to tie and go to OT or do we want to go for it?'"
Stevens elected to go for two, but the conversion attempt failed when quarterback Nate Duford's pass fell incomplete. St. Thomas ran out the clock and then celebrated its one-point victory.
Varsity Insider: The game I won't forget
Editor's Note: Reed Spiller is a senior at Portsmouth High School and a fullback/defensive lineman on the PHS varsity football team. He helped the Clippers reach the Division III championship game in 2006, the program's first season in Division III. Reed's Varsity Insider column will appear each week throughout the season.
It was warm for Veteran's Day. The bright sun shone down on an immaculate setting. For the last game of the year, the field looked like a pristine golf course. The crowd was three rows deep behind the bench and fans covered the hill on the opposite side. The electricity made it feel like Seabrook Station rather than a football stadium.
This was it, the one goal our team had been training, waiting, and playing for for 12 months. Almost an entire year later, I still remember every minute detail, and probably will for the rest of my life. November 11th, 2006 - the #1 Plymouth Bobcats versus #3 Portsmouth Clippers for the Division III state championship. It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times - the excitement and anticipation was unlike anything I had ever felt, but the tragic loss hit deep inside the heart.
Santos may have sideline view
University of New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell said Wednesday that he's still not sure if quarterback Ricky Santos will be able to play when UNH faces 10th-ranked Hofstra on Saturday.
Santos suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter of a victory over Delaware two weeks ago, and did not dress for last weekend's victory over Iona.
Dartmouth may be on the run
Dartmouth College will return to Ivy League play when it faces Columbia on Saturday (12:30) in Hanover. It will be Dartmouth's Homecoming game.
Dartmouth (1-4 overall, 1-1 Ivy League) will be trying to take advantage of a Columbia defense that ranks last among Ivy League teams in run defense.
Officially Speaking: Kicking mad
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Let's first deal with enforcement of penalties for fouls by the kicking team. If the kicking team fouls during a punt and before possession changes, the basic spot for penalty enforcement is the previous spot (i.e., the spot of the snap). The enforcement spot differs if the foul occurs behind the previous spot (in the backfield), but generally it's the previous spot. Therefore, if the kicking team committed a foul during the kick and the penalty was accepted, the penalty would be enforced from the previous spot and the down would be replayed. If the kicking team fouls
following a change of possession, the enforcement spot is where the receiver's run ends, and the receiving team keeps the ball and is given a new series (1st and 10) following enforcement.
Enforcement of penalties for fouls by the receiving team are more tricky. The basic spot of enforcement for fouls by the receiving team before the kick ends is the spot where the kick ends (i.e., where the receiving team catches or recovers the kick) provided that: 1) the foul occurred more than 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, 2) the kick crosses the line of scrimmage, and 3) the kicking team would not be awarded a new series absent the foul. If these three conditions are met, the penalty is generally enforced from the end of the kick and the receiving team is awarded a new series after enforcement. This is known as post-scrimmage-kick enforcement, and the philosophy behind the rule is that the kicking team is giving up the ball by punting it, so they should not get a first down for a foul by the receiving team. If any of these three conditions are not met, then the basic spot for enforcement is the previous spot, and the down is replayed. For example, if the receiving team holds more than 2 yards downfield during a punt, the receiving team would be penalized ten yards from where the kick ended and would be given a new series. However, if the hold occurred at the line of scrimmage, that penalty would be enforced from the previous spot, and the down would be replayed (or the kicking team would be awarded a first down if the penalty enforcement brought the ball beyond the line to gain). Fouls by the receiving team after they gain possession are generally enforced from where the receiver's run ends, as in the case of fouls by the kicking team following a change of possession.
Going big-game hunting
At the end of the 2007 high school football season New Hampshire Football Report will present a list of the top games played this year. The list will feature at least five games, and probably 10.
A preliminary list has already been started, but if you have a game you think should be considered please forward the teams involved and any details you have to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. We're looking for entertaining games that had some drama near the end. Regular-season and postseason games will be considered.
Also, those with information regarding Thanksgiving Day games being played this year can forward that information to the email address listed above. Please include the teams participating, the time and location of the game. Thanks for your help.
UNH Rewind: Wildcats use backup plan
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
'CAT TALE: UNH sent the Homecoming crowd of 11,068 home satisfied by beating Iona, 49-21, in a non-league contest Saturday at Cowell Stadium. Starting quarterback Ricky Santos watched the game in street clothes while recovering from a separated shoulder he suffered in a win over Delaware the previous week. Backup QB R.J. Toman completed 15 of 19 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown in the victory. It was the first start of Toman's collegiate career.
"It was a good game for us," UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. "Played very well right out of the gate. Good overall game by a lot of kids. Liked the way the guys went about their business Saturday."
NUMBERS GAME: UNH rushed for 257 yards on 49 attempts (5.2 yards per carry) in the victory over Iona. Two New Hampshire products -- Mike Boyle (Plymouth) and Sean Jellison (Souhegan) -- led UNH in rushing. Boyle gained a team-high 69 yards and Jellison (above) finished with 65 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Boyle picked up all of his yardage when he scored on a 69-yard run on the third play from scrimmage. Jellison scored on a 6-yard TD run in the second quarter, and a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter.
WORD PLAY:
"He practiced (Sunday). Still not throwing the ball a lot. We were going to play him, start him, or not play him at all. Looks like we'll have a shot to play him this Saturday. We have a lot of confidence in R.J. We don't have to alter the game plan with R.J. at all."-- McDonnell, when asked how close he came to playing Santos last Saturday.
LOOKING AHEAD: UNH (4-2 overall, 1-2 Colonial Athletic Association) will play at Hofstra (6-0, 3-0 CAA) Saturday at 4 p.m. Hofstra running back Kareem Huggins gained a career-high 186 yards on 24 carries in last Saturday's 20-3 victory over Towson. Senior wide receiver Charles Sullivan caught 12 passes for 183 yards in that game. Sullivan had 203 career receptions and is four catches away from breaking Hofstra's career reception record, which is held by Steven Jackson (1997-2000).
"I don't know that there's a more exciting player in our level of football than Ricky Santos," Hofstra coach Dave Cohen said. "(UNH has) you grounded in that you can't cheat toward the run or the pass. I'd rather be watching them, not defending them."
NOTEWORTHY: Hofstra leads the CAA in overall defense (282.0 yards per game) and scoring defense (16.3), Five of six teams have failed to rush for 100 yards or more against the Pride this season. ... UNH's Justin Wright, a backup linebacker, made a team-high 12 tackels (10 solo) against Iona. ... UNH beat Hofstra 10-6 last season to even the all-time series between the schools at 5-5-0. ... Hofstra is one of six unbeaten FCS teams. ... UNH has three home games remaining: Rhode Island (Oct. 27), Northeastern (Nov. 3) and Maine (Nov. 17).
McAllister, Exeter take down BG
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
If we learned anything about New Hampshire high school football Saturday afternoon, perhaps it was this: Bishop Guertin isn't unbeatable.
BG, which has won the last three Division II championships, entered Saturday's matchup with Exeter undefeated, and exited with its first loss.
Senior halfback/defensive back Brett McAllister scored three touchdowns to lead the Blue Hawks to a 28-21 triumph.
Plymouth State remains unbeaten
Quarterback John DeMarco and tailback Jeff Mack each rushed for more than 100 yards to help Plymouth State raise its record to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the New England Football Conference by beating Nichols College, 30-0, Saturday.
DeMarco ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns, and Mack gained 106 yards on 17 carries. It was Mack's fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
It was Plymouth State's first shutout since 2001.
In Saturday's other college games involving teams from New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire rushed for 257 yards in its 49-21 victory over Iona; Dartmouth dropped to 1-4 overall following a 41-15 loss to Holy Cross; and Merrimack College scored 41 points in the second half en route to a 55-14 triumph over St. Anselm.
Varsity Insider: Looking forward, looking back
Editor's Note: Reed Spiller is a senior at Portsmouth High School and a fullback/defensive lineman on the PHS varsity football team. He helped the Clippers reach the Division III championship game in 2006, the program's first season in Division III. Reed's Varsity Insider column will appear each week throughout the season.
I remember it like it was yesterday, walking out onto the field for the first time, the sun slowly setting beyond the tree line. It was a warm September night and I had never been more excited in my life.
Across the field stood Division I powerhouse Concord High School, which had beaten Portsmouth the last five or so years. Nerves were not a concern - I had dressed on varsity as a freshman, so I was used to the bright lights - but euphoria captured every cell of my body. Hours of training throughout my life heightened the anticipation for this one moment, my turn to partake in the greatest game in the greatest arena in America: high school football. As a 15-year-old in a varsity battle, I was in over my head and a helmet-to-helmet blow on the opening kickoff return confirmed that statement. Despite the Clippers being blown out in the second half, I still maintained a sense of fulfillment for playing in my first high school football game -- so this was it, this was what they all talked about.
The State of Football: Week 7
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
How do you divide 55 by five? That's the question NHIAA football committee members will attempt to answer when they meet on Oct. 25.
Four new teams (Sanborn, Mascoma, Inter-Lakes and Bedford) are on schedule to join the varsity ranks next season, and that would give us 55 teams.
Forming five 11-team divisions looks like the obvious solution. Each team would play 10 games within its division and still have a bye week it could use to schedule a non-league game. That plan will meet some resistance, however.
Officially Speaking: Think safety first
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Thanks for the clarification, coach.
UNH Rewind: 'Cats pass test
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
'CAT TALE: The University of New Hampshire overcame the loss of starting quarterback Ricky Santos to defeat Delaware, 35-30, Saturday at Cowell Stadium. Santos suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return to the game. Backup quarterback R.J. Toman completed five of his nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 47 yards on seven carries.
Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco completed 40 passes and threw for 419 yards. Delware (5-1 overall, 3-1 Colonial Athletic Association) trailed 35-10 after three quarters, but made things interesting by scoring 20 points in the final quarter. UNH raised its record to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the CAA.
"They took control of the game early and put us in a hole," Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said. "Going into the game we wanted to make their quarterback a pocket passer and we let the quarterback out of the pocket seven times -- two for touchdowns and four for first downs."
WORD PLAY: "He's got an AC sprain. A third-degree sprain, whatever that is. He possibly could have played in the second half last week, but I thought R.J. handled himself pretty well. He's in a sling. We're gonna give him a shot (in practice) on Thursday. If he can put up with the pain he'll have an opportuntiy to go. He thinks he'll be ready to go by Saturday."
-- UNH coach Sean McDonnell, when asked when Santos would be ready to play.
NUMBERS GAME: Although he missed more than two quarters, Santos was UNH's leading rusher against Delaware. He gained 51 yards on eight carries.
LOOKING AHEAD: UNH will face Iona on Saturday in Durham (noon). Iona is 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Iona has earned victories against Delaware Valley (14-12), Wagner (17-14), Sacred Heart (34-10), Stonehill (30-10) and LaSalle (56-3). Its only loss came against Western Connecticut (41-37). UNH beat Iona 56-0 at Cowell Stadium in 2005.
"They're a much different team than we played a couple years ago," McDonnell said. "They're ranked in the top four in the country defensively. We gotta run the ball better, and we have to defend the run better."
NOTEWORTHY: Saturday's contest will be Iona's fourth consecutive road game. ... Former Plymouth High School quarterback Mike Boyle led UNH in receiving with four catches for 96 yards against Delaware. ... UNH defensive back Jeff Pammer had 11 tackles (seven solo) in Saturday's victory. ... Saturday will be Homecoming at UNH.
UNH wins without Santos
Although quarterback Ricky Santos watched most of the game from the sideline, the University of New Hampshire received touchdowns from Sean Jellison (Souhegan H.S.) and Mike Boyle (Plymouth H.S.) and defeated previously unbeaten Delaware, 35-30, Saturday at Cowell Stadium.
Backup quarterback R.J. Toman threw a pair of touchdown passes to Keith LeVan to help the Wildcats raise their record to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Delaware dropped to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the league.
Santos suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return to the game. He completed 9 of his 10 passes for 108 yards before suffering the injury. He also scored UNH's first touchdown on a 10-yard run.
Elsewhere Saturday, junior quarterback John DeMarco (Milford H.S.) threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to help Plymouth State raise its record to 5-0 by beating Endicott, 28-17; former Phillips Exeter Academy quarterback Matt Polhemus guided Yale to a 50-10 victory over Dartmouth (1-3, 1-1 Ivy League); and St. Anselm fell to 0-5 following a 56-7 loss to Stonehill.
UNH's Kackert ready to return
Running back Chad Kackert is expected to play when the University of New Hampshire (2-2 overall, 0-2 Colonial Athletic Association) meets 11th-ranked Delaware at Cowell Stadium on Saturday, but it's the other side of the ball that may need reinforcements.
The UNH defense has been anything but impressive during the team's first four contests.The Wildcats surrendered 45 points in a seven-point loss to Richmond last weekend.
Delaware has taken advantage of a soft schedule to build a 5-0 record (3-0 CAA) and tailback Omar Cuff leads the nation with 18 touchdowns.
So far, Plymouth State has been unbeatable
Plymouth State will attempt to raise its overall record to 5-0 when it meets Endicott College on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) at Currier Field.
The Panthers, who are ranked third in this week's New England Division III poll, are 2-0 in the New England Football Conference and are off to their best start since 1998. Endicott is 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the league.
Plymouth State is averaging 40.8 points per game.
The State of Football: Week 6
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
It's a sad fact, but the high school football season's first half is complete. Before long, your shorts will be in hibernation.
There's plenty to look forward to, however, because five of the best regular-season matchups (one in each division) are still ahead of us. It starts in Division IV tonight, when Kearsarge (5-0) will play at Laconia (5-0). Kearsarge has scored the most points of any team in the division (180) and Laconia has allowed the fewest (47).
Two marquee games will be played next weekend. Plymouth (5-0) will visit Souhegan (5-0) on Friday night, and Bishop Guertin (5-0) will travel to Exeter (4-1) on Saturday. Note that the BG/Exeter game was originally scheduled for Friday, but has been moved to reduce any threat of the EEE virus.
Varsity Insider: Focused on Souhegan
Editor's Note: Reed Spiller is a senior at Portsmouth High School and a fullback/defensive lineman on the PHS varsity football team. He helped the Clippers reach the Division III championship game in 2006, the program's first season in Division III. Reed's Varsity Insider column will appear each week throughout the season.
It was the battle of the titans ... two teams at the top of their division ... the top of their game ... going at it to see who would leave with a victory and who would suffer their first defeat. Both Souhegan and Portsmouth came into last year's matchup at Tom Daubney Field undefeated at 5-0. With great anticipation for the first meeting between the two teams, Portsmouth won a hard-fought game 42-21 in what turned out to be the turning point in the Clippers' season. Although we never met again in the playoffs, a sense of mutual dislike might start to brew this time around as the Souhegan Sabers and Portsmouth Clippers clash Friday night in "The Jungle" in Amherst.
Is it obvious that I am incredibly keyed up for this game? Unfortunately, it is still early in the week with days to wait before the ensuing battle, so before I get too excited, now might be a good time to switch gears and begin to explain the college football recruiting process from the perspective of the athlete. This, a totally different kind of jungle. College recruiting is heavily dependent upon a proactive approach from the athlete. People have always told me, "If you're good enough, they will find you," but when you live in New Hampshire, a state not considered a recruiting hotbed, you must advertise yourself.
I received my first piece of college mail during the winter of my sophomore year. Although inside the envelope was only a generic newsletter, my family and I were excited to be recognized. In the big picture, all this letter meant was that the college knew about me and knew I existed, which is the first step. I would occasionally open a letter or two the rest of my sophomore year, but at that point, I still did not know where I stood as far as skill level.
Can Dartmouth maintain momentum?
Dartmouth will look to improve its Ivy League record to 2-0 when it plays at Yale on Saturday.
Dartmouth (1-2 overall) is coming off last weekend's 21-13 triumph over Penn and will have to deal with Yale running back Mike McLeod, who rushed for a school-record 256 yards and five touchdowns in last Saturday's 38-17 victory over Holy Cross.
Former Phillips Exeter Academy quarterback Matt Polhemus (right) directs the Yale offense. Polhemus, a senior, has guided Yale (3-0, 1-0 Ivy League) to an 11-2 record in games he has started.
Saturday's game can be seen live on NESN (12:30 p.m.)
Losing that neutral feeling
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
The NHIAA football committee has voted against using neutral sites for the championship games in the state's five divisions this season. Instead, each title game will be played at the home of the higher-seeded team.
The decision was announced following an NHIAA football committee meeting held Wednesday.
Earlier this year the committee had approved a plan that would have allowed each of the five championship games to be played on a field with a turf playing surface. The Division I and Division V championship games were scheduled to be played at Nashua's Stellos Stadium; the Division II and Division III championship games were scheduled to be played at Exeter's William Ball Stadium; and the Division IV championship game was scheduled to be played at Hanover High School.
The revised schedule:
DIVISION I
Semifinals: Nov. 10 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 17 (higher-seeded team), 12:30 p.m.
DIVISION II
Semifinals: Nov. 10 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 17 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
DIVISION III
Semifinals: Nov. 3 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 10 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
DIVISION IV
Semifinals: Nov. 3 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 10 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
DIVISION V
Semifinals: Nov. 10 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
Championship: Nov. 17 (higher-seeded team), 1 p.m.
Note: The Division I championship game will be televised live on CN8.
Officially Speaking: a passing thought
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Question: If a quarterback throws a forward pass and it is batted or deflected back to him, is he allowed to throw another forward pass? Also, does it matter if the first pass crosses the line of scrimmage?
E.B., Rye
Answer: Only one forward pass is allowed during a down, even if that pass doesn't cross the line of scrimmage. If a forward pass was batted by a defender and caught by the quarterback, and he then threw a second forward pass, the second pass would be illegal. The penalty would be five yards from the spot of the pass, plus a loss of down.
Delaware remains unbeaten and untested
The University of Delaware football team will enter Saturday's matchup against the University of New Hampshire with a 5-0 record, but the Blue Hens have played a soft schedule that has included two Division II opponents.
Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said he'll know a lot more about his team (especially his defense) after Saturday's contest in Durham. It's another tough game for UNH, which played a brutal September schedule.
UNH Rewind: Help wanted (on defense)
By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
'CAT TALE: Senior running back Tim Hightower scored four touchdowns to help Richmond defeat the University of New Hampshire, 45-38, Saturday. The loss dropped UNH's record to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Richmond had a 193-51 edge in rushing yardage. Hightower's effort overshadowed the performance turned in by UNH quarterback Ricky Santos, who completed 30 of 46 passes for 319 yards. Santos ran for three touchdowns and passed for another. UNH could be involved in another high-scoring affair Saturday, when it meets Delaware at home. UNH (40.5 points per game) and Delaware (39.4) lead the CAA in scoring offense.
WORD PLAY: "I have no idea if we know how good we are. We keep getting better so we'll see how we match up down the road. Right now we have good chemistry and character, but we will be severly tested with a tough road trip this week."
-- Delaware coach K.C. Keeler
NUMBERS GAME: UNH has allowed 152 points in its four games, and has surrendered at least 31 points in each of those four contests.
LOOKING AHEAD: Delaware raised its record to 5-0 (3-0 CAA) by beating Monmouth, 42-7, Saturday. The Blue Hens did all of their scoring in the first half. Senior running back Omar Cuff (above) scored three touchdowns in that victory and became Delaware's all-time leading scorer with 314 points. Cuff has scored 18 touchdowns this season and leads the CAA in scoring with 108 points. He's averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 115 yards per game.
NOTEWORTHY: Delaware is 5-0 for the first time since 2003. The Blue Hens got off to a 9-0 start that season and went on to win the I-AA national championship. ... UNH wide receiver Keith LeVan had 11 catches for 99 yards in the loss to Richmond. ... Delaware has outscored its opponents 135-12 in the second half. ... UNH was 4 of 17 on third-down conversions in the Richmond game, but successfully converted 5 of 6 fourth-down opportunities. UNH is 7 for 9 on fourth-down conversions this season. ... While the Wildcats and Blue Hens are at the top of the league in scoring offense, they're at opposite ends in terms of scoring defense. Delaware is allowing an average of 13.6 points per game and is first in that category. UNH is allowing an average of 38.0 points per contest and is last.
