MANCHESTER, N.H. – A 35-point lead in most football games usually means a blowout, but if a few moments swung differently, Manchester Memorial easily could have had a different outcome than their 35-7 defeat to Goffstown on Friday.
Although Memorial had difficulty finding breakout plays on offense, a diverse rushing attack that featured ten different ball carriers in the first half alone kept the Crusaders grinding away, particularly on a 16-play opening drive that petered out in the Goffstown red zone.
Memorial’s gutsy, “reach-for-the-extra-yard” mentality wasn’t as evident when the Grizzlies took possession, but in the end, it didn’t need to be. Although Goffstown’s first drive didn’t materialize into points, Jarret Henault needed just two plays to find Peyton Strickland for what turned into a 57-yard passing score.
Henault needed just one play on the Grizzlies’ next drive, this time a 75-yard play through the air completed by Caden Perry.
A Memorial interception just seconds before halftime provided Goffstown with enough time for their third score, a five-yard run into the end zone by Zachary Picard.
Henault found Josh Lopez on a 21-yard pass for the Grizzlies’ fourth score and Picard took in a 37-yard run for what ultimately became the visitors’ final tally of the night.
Jeremy Henault did reach the end zone for Goffstown on the Grizzlies’ next drive, but that score was called back on a holding penalty that set off a rash of sloppy play for both sides that contrasted with the relatively penalty-free play of the first half.
Dale Stratton’s run provided Memorial with their only touchdown, coming in from one yard out with just under six minutes left in the contest.
For Memorial Head Coach Rob Sturgis, the game was a moral victory if not a victory in the standings.
“I hate saying it, but we actually took strides in the right direction,” he said. “We stressed all week the zero-to-zero mentality and playing for 48 minutes, which I think our kids did. We executed our game plan offensively, we dominated time-of-possession. Defensively, we just have to get rid of those big plays.”
Goffstown Head Coach Justin Hufft also saw areas for improvement for his squad despite the comfortable win.
“I think they certainly ran hard,” he said. “We need to do a better job of making tackles and making blocks and that type of thing. Hats off to them for what they did and we need to get better at what we need to do.”
Memorial had 220 yards on the ground spread across its roster with Jeffrey Josefik completing 13 of his 17 passes on the night for 104 yards along with the pick.
Goffstown had 225 yards rushing, with Henault going 5-for-11 through the air for 129 yards.
Memorial (1-4) will face Concord next week.
Across town, Manchester Central fell to Bedford, 31-14 while Manchester West dominated ConVal in Peterborough, 31-0.