MANCHESTER, NH – The Manchester Memorial High School football team silenced all doubters during a three-game stretch to end the regular season.
Not only did the Crusaders quickly recover from their lone loss of the regular season – a 30-27 road setback at Winnacunnet on Oct. 10 – to earn a convincing 26-28 road victory on Oct. 17 at Nashua South, arguably among the top-three teams in the state.
They followed-up that effort with back-to-back home victories over two perennial D-I powers, including defending champ Pinkerton – 28-25 on Oct. 24 – and Exeter, 28-21 on Oct. 31.
In doing so, Memorial proved that the last three seasons, each of which has featured an improved record, were no fluke.
So despite the fact that the Crusaders were upset at home by upstart Salem, 24-17, in the Division-I quarterfinals Friday night, head coach Robert Sturgis, who has led the revival, said he’s proud of his players and excited about the direction of the program which put together its most successful season since winning back-to-back championships in 1972 and ’73.
“Our players and coaches put in a tremendous amount of work in the offseason,” said Sturgis following the playoff loss. “They have completely bought into our system of being a tough, hard-nosed football team. And although we weren’t able to win tonight, that does not change what our kids were able to accomplish and the legacy this senior class will leave behind.
“Most of them have been three- or four-year starters for us and have been through it all,” he said. “They bought in and committed to bringing this program out of the cellar and have helped lay the groundwork that will carry on for years to follow.”
Captains Jack Paradis, Januel Pena Ramirez and Jacob Schuff, specifically, have embodied what Sturgis and his staff preach everyday, he said.
“Being tough isn’t just words, it is actions,” he added. “And I believe they have led our program where we want it to be.”
That, of course, being an annual contender for the championship at the state’s top level.
Other seniors leaving big cleats to fill include quarterback Alex Sutherland and linebacker Landon Murphy – who had an interception return for a touchdown agaisnt Salem – as well as classmates Pharrell Therenciel, Lucas Brown, Johan Quintero Salazr, Laim Flewelling, Kaden Pelletier, Cameron Desroisiers, Andrew Leisure and Edwin Monge.
“I full expect our program to continue building off of these last two seasons,” said Sturgis. “We have a great group coming back that I know will put in the work this offseason required to compete at the top of Division I.”
Among those with standout performances in the playoff loss to Salem, junior tight end Joel Gomez had an 11-yard touchdown reception and junior Moses White made a 38-yard field goal.
“Unfortunately, tonight, we turned the ball over too many times,” said Sturgis. “Every time we would get momentum back we would shoot ourselves in the foot with penalties or turnovers and, against a great team like Salem, you can’t make that many mistakes. “
The Crusaders still have an opportunity to cap their season with a victory. They’ll compete against a strong West High School team that finished among the top-five in Division-II this season.
The Queen City Turkey Bowl, which represents the city championship, kicks off at 10 a.m. Thanksgiving day at Gill Stadium.
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