Manchester West football team impresses in game one.
MANCHESTER, NH – If its first game is any indication, the Manchester West High School football team appears poised to be a contender in 2024.
MANCHESTER, NH – With eight returning offensive starters and seven returning defensive starters, the Blue Knights exhibited the poise that accompanies experience when they opened their 2024 campaign with a 43-0 victory at Pembroke Academy Saturday.
Led by junior quarterback Gio Doira, who went 6-for-10 for 69 yards, while tossing two touchdowns, West didn’t need to pass much, having forged 163 yards on the ground, including three rushing scores.
Senior captain KeShawn Foster spearheaded the ground attack with 77 yards on five carries, while finding pay dirt twice. He added one reception for 10 yards.
Elias Abreau added six carries and one reception for 53 total yards and found the end zone, and Myles Whiter pulled down two catches for 18 yards, including a touchdown.
The defense exhibited a similarly impressive performance, with senior captain Logan Paradis setting the tone with five tackles and a fumble recovery.
Abreau had two tackles and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown, while Jerome Henert dominated with 10 tackles, a sack and a 46-yard pick-six.
Jayden Nartey added seven tackles, including one for a loss; senior captain Nono Omol also had seven tackles, including 3 for a loss; Terrance Bovill had two tackles and an interception; and Rayvon Nelson provided four tackles in the winning effort.
Second-year head coach Andrew Provencher said the standout effort began long before the team took the field Saturday.
“Participation in our offseason activities has been very strong and we have seen some great improvements in overall team strength,” he said. “Our team size has continued to grow and it is great to see nearly all players from last year’s team return.”
The veteran influence, particularly from Paradis, Foster and Omol, is also a significant contributing factor,” said Provencher.
“Senior leadership has been strong and we expect competitive position battles across the board,” he said. “Our team continues to be committed to being outstanding individuals on and off the field and putting the team in the position to be playing competitive games at competitive times in the season.”
Next up for West is a Friday night home contest against 0-1 Hollis-Brookline, coming off of the wrong side of a 40-0 result in its opener against Kingswood this past Friday.
“We are looking forward to competing in a very strong D-II West,” said Provencher.
Returning standouts this season: Logan Paradis, Senior Captain (RB/LB), KeShawn Foster, Senior Captain (WR/DB), Nono Omol, Senior Captain (TE/LB) Terrance Bovill, Senior (WR/DB), Rayvon Nelson, Junior (RB/DB), Gio Doria, Junior (QB/DB), Myles Whiter, Junior (WR/DB), Jacob Eli-Henry, Junior (OL/DL)
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