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Bumpy high school football season hits home stretch

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Oct 19, 2020

Telegraph photo by TOM KING Hollis Brookline's Blake Bergerson was a tough receiver to bring down during Saturday's win over Timberlane, during which he had two TD receptions.

The local high school football regular season enters its final week, and it’s been interesting to say the least.

Unfortunately, the main story lines have been whether this or that game will be played. There’s been one major casualty, with Pinkerton Academy shelved for the season due to pandemic concerns.

Nashua North (2-0) has missed two games, against Merrimack and Alvirne, due to opponent virus issues or concerns. Nashua South (1-2) had its scheduled game with Merrimack last week on hold, and the Tomahawks, after having played just one game, couldn’t wait and filled Salem’s void left by Pinkerton’s exodus.

So the count: North is hoping to host defending champion Londonderry (3-1) this Friday at Stellos Stadium, a game that will no doubt draw a ton of interest. The Lancers lone loss was to Bedford and they blew out Windham 41-0 this past Friday.

South is ready to face Bishop Guertin (1-3) on Saturday night, the Cardinals having gotten their first win of the year at Trinity on Friday as the only Nashua team to play this past weekend.

And Merrimack (1-1) unfortunately showed a lot of rust after not playing two straight weekends in its loss to Salem and hopes Alvirne can resume play and visit Student Memorial Field on Friday night.

CAVALIERS ARE COMING ON

In Division II, the story locally and perhaps statewide is clearly Souhegan (4-0), which has outscored opponents 134-13, but watch out for up-and-coming Hollis Brookline. The Cavaliers looked impressive in their 34-8 win over Timberlane – this Friday’s Souhegan opponent in Plaistow – but have found an added component to their offense.

Remember they threw a lot last year with the now graduated Wimmer Brothers connection, and were still wondering about the quarterback spot going into this season.

They aren’t wondering any longer, not after senior Drew Gryniewicz took control of the job and tossed four touchdown passes on Saturday – three to completely wide open receivers. Overall he was 12 of 16 for 238 yards and those four TDs, two to dynamic receiver Blake Bergerson. But the Cavs, who had enjoyed the spectacular running of Marc-Andre Thermitus up to this point, were more pass oriented on Saturday than they had been earlier this season.

Needless to say, they’ve found their quarterback for the season going forward, which is a game either Friday or Saturday vs. Milford (1-2) and then the postseason.

“Love what he did (Saturday),” Cavaliers coach Chris Lones said of his QB. “It’s poise. That’s really the thing we were missing out of the quarterback position before last week. He’s settling down, playing with poise. He’s a senior. He hadn’t played football in a while, but he’s played (other sports). He’s just under control.

“Even though he still makes mistakes here and there, that comes with the fact you haven’t played high school football before. He played middle school, so it’s not like he’s never been out here. He showed some toughness (Saturday). And he played his butt off.”

Meanwhile, Thermitus showed his flashy speed on the Cavs’ second series with a 95-yard end-around touchdown run, but was held to 10 yards on his eight other carries the rest of the day.

“The kid’s a good back for sure, and he broke one,” Timberlane coach Kevin Fitzgerald said. “Our run defense has been good all year.”

Which is why the Cavs threw the ball – with success. No doubt everyone will be keeping an eye on them going forward.

“That was the key, we were able to throw the ball and run the ball,” Lones said.

HB’S NEW DIGS

Other teams have played on the new turf field above the parking lot behind Hollis Brookline High School, but Saturday was football’s turn. And it may make a good team even better.

“How can you not love this,” Lones said. “It’d be nice to have a place to sit. But it doesn’t matter to me, but probably does to the people against the fence, though.”

The other thing is the Cavaliers look quicker on it.

“We’re definitely quick on this,” Lones said.

HB has had issues trying to get electricity up to the field, as the scoreboard was run by a generator. According to HB athletic director Rhon Rupp, some more electrical work may be done on Monday to see if the Milford game can be Friday night. If not, it’s slated for Saturday at 2 p.m.

Further work will be done in the future with bleachers to be added. A press box is sitting there empty, unused on flat ground but will be elevated above whatever stands eventually are put in place, Rupp said.

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