MANCHESTER, NH – While soccer and volleyball teams from Manchester’s public and private high schools went down battling over the last week, two football teams battle on heading deep into the postseason. Here’s a glance at the most recent action:
Football
Division I
Having finished second in the Division-I football standings, behind undefeated Bedford, the Manchester Memorial High School football team (7-1) topped the East region of D-I and earned a first-round bye.
Now, the rested Crusaders host No. 7 Salem (6-3) in the state quarterfinals Friday at 6:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to face the victor of No. 3 Pinkerton (7-3) – who Memorial defeated, 28-25, at home on Oct. 24 – or No. 6 Windham (7-3), who Memorial has yet to face this season.
Division II
Manchester West finished the regular season with a 7-2 record after traveling to Hanover (5-4) and earning a 6-3 victory to secure the fifth seed in the D-II tourney. The Blue Knights traveled to No. 4 Pelham to open the playoffs on Saturday and led, 6-0, late in the third quarter before falling, 7-6.
“We are really proud of our team for the way they competed,” he said West head Coach Andrew Provencher. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but our players were tough, gritty, mentally tough and played with class.”
The Blue Knights had 189 yards rushing, including 85 yards on 15 attempts by sophomore Kingston Green and 50 yards on five rushes from Rayvon Nelson. Jarome Henert added 24 yards on seven touches.
The West defensive effort truly stood out, with the Blue Knights holding the potent Pelham offense to one score while forcing four turnovers, including an interception from Nelson, who also produced double-digit tackles in the contest.
Back in Manchester, the second-ranked Trinity High School football, after falling behind early in its Friday night contest against No. 7 Hanover, took a one-score lead in the third quarter, then extended that lead in the fourth to secure a 42-28 victory and advance to the D-III semis.
Boys soccer
Division III
The Trinity High School boys soccer team battled right to the final whistle against top-ranked Saint Thomas Aquinas in the D-III semifinals on Nov. 5 at Bedford High School, but ultimately fell to the eventual champs, 2-1. The loss marked the Pioneers first setback in 13. They reached the semis
Volleyball
Division III
Third-ranked Trinity, which earned a first-round bye in the Division-III tournament following a 14-2 regular season, earned a 3-0 win over No. 6 Raymond in the tournament quarterfinals on Oct. 31 but fell to second-ranked Farmington (16-2, 3-1, in the semifinals at Pinkerton Academy on Nov. 5.