Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

EXETER -- Manchester Memorial improved its position in the Division I football standings Friday night. Memorial may have taken a step forward as a program as well.

Ivan Valcarcel's 1-yard run plus Devin Magglio's point-after kick in the second overtime session gave Memorial a 34-33 victory over Exeter at a wet Eustis Field.

Exeter scored on its possession in the second overtime, but faked the PAT and kicker Logan Laurent was stopped about a yard from the goal line. The TD gave the Blue Hawks a 33-27 lead.

"We're a program that's on the move," Memorial coach Peter Colcord said. "They're getting better."

With the score tied, Magglio missed a 22-yard field goal attempt with 2:51 left in regulation.

The Crusaders blocked two kicks in the game: one on the PAT the followed Exeter's fourth TD, and the other a field goal attempt in overtime that would have handed the Blue Hawks the victory.

The victory raised Memorial's record to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in Division I. Exeter dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-4 in Division I. The Blue Hawks have lost four games in a row since they opened the season with a 17-14 victory over Dover.

Memorial scored on its first three possessions and led 20-7 at halftime. Memorial received two TD passes from quarterback Cody Dalton and three TD runs by Valcarcel. In addition to his TD in overtime, Valcarcel scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and an 18-yard run in the second quarter.

Halfback John Abizaid scored three TDs for Exeter, including the TD in overtime that gave the Blue Hawks a 33-17 lead.

"This really encourages us because there were times in this game when past Memorial teams would have folded," Colcord said. "Are we going to fall into that trap of what we used to be? The kids didn't let that happen."

FRIDAY'S SCORES

Nashua South 41, Concord 7
Bow 41, Fall Mountain 0
Trinity 40, Monadnock 17
Memorial 34, Exeter 33