Top Games From 2008: No. 9
(No. 9)
Exeter 21, Nashua South 20
September 6
It was a matchup much of the state wanted to see: One of the best teams from Division I taking on one of the top programs in Division II. The game didn't disappoint.
Division II Exeter trailed by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, but took the lead when halfback Jason Monroe hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andrew Kukesh and then James Holler added the point-after kick with 2:59 to play.
Kukesh rushed for 92 yards, and completed 7-of-12 passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the contest. His 10-yard pass to Ben Callahan opened the scoring with 6.7 seconds left in the first quarter.
Nashua South running back/defensive back David Zocco was bothered by leg cramps and was limited to one carry in the second half. Zocco, who was named New Hampshire's Mr. Football earlier this month, gained 46 yards on nine carries. He scored Nashua South's first touchdown on a 23-yard run in the second quarter.
It was a 7-7 game at halftime, but South scored twice in the third quarter. The Panthers took the lead on a 21-yard option pass from Nick Haskell to Nick Frederickson with 7:15 to play in the quarter, and then added another touchdown when Nilsson Basora returned a fumble 32 yards with 6:01 left in the third.
The momentum turned in Exeter's favor when the Blue Hawks gained 25 yards on a fake punt on a fourth-and-nine play from their own 30-yard line late in the third quarter. Exeter halfback Robbie Kisiel scored on a 2-yard run 10 plays later.
One of the key plays on Exeter's final scoring drive was Kelleher's 18-yard run on a fourth-and-six play from Exeter's 42-yard line with six minutes to play.
Each team ended up advancing to the championship game in their respective division.
(No. 10)
Nashua South 21, Manchester Central 20
September 26
This was an early showdown between two of the top teams in the state. It was also the night David Zocco began to state his case as the best two-way player in New Hampshire.
Zocco carried the ball 30 times for 234 yards and two touchdowns in soggy conditions to highlight Nashua South's victory. Central led 20-14 with 4:51 to play when it failed to get a punt off on the slippery Stellos Stadium turf. Nashua South took over on Central's 35-yard line and scored the game-winning touchdown when sophomore quarterback Keith Farkas hooked up with Nick Haskell for a 5-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds remaining.
Central running back Michael Cavanaugh rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on runs for 75 and 19 yards.
Two Zocco touchdowns handed Nashua South a 12-0 lead, but Central cut into its deficit when Jake Tremblay returned a kickoff 87 yards for a TD.
Cavanaugh's 75-yard TD run gave Central the lead, but Nashua South's Cam DiCecca put his team back in front by kicking a 35-yard field goal. Central regained the lead midway through the third quarter, when Cavanaugh scored his second touchdown one play after Nashua South fumbled the ball away on its own 19
Nashua South's final scoring drive lasted 10 plays. The key play was a fourth-and-1 run by Zocco with just over a minute to play.
Each team completed the regular season with a 7-1 record in Division I. This victory gave Nashua South the home-field advantage when the teams met again in the Division I semifinals. Nashua South won that contest, 24-9.
