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Football Playoffs Notebook: Tomahawks show resiliency

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Nov 4, 2020

Telegraph photo by TOM KING Merrimack's Shea Goodwin reaches up to haul in a pass against Nashua South's Chris Keefe during Sunday's 27-26 Tomahawks comeback playoff win in Merrimack.

MERRIMACK – In this unusual season, the unexpected can often be more of a pleasant surprise.

For example, take the Merrimack High School football team. The Tomahawks had to be quarantined for nearly two weeks, missing scheduled games against Nashua North and South.

A couple of weeks ago they ended up on two days notice playing at Salem, and were blown out. Ironically, the team the Tomahawks were preparing for before having to switch to facing Salem was the one they faced on Sunday in the playoffs – Nashua South.

Who would have thought that two weeks after a 48-13 lopsided loss to the Blue Devils, and down 20-0 in the first quarter against the Panthers, the Tomahawks would be celebrating a 27-26 playoff win?

“The kids worked really, really hard,” Merrimack assistant coach Branden Lilley said. “This is a group that’s battled adversity all year long, and they did the same thing (on Sunday). They did a phenomenal job.”

“We got smoked by Salem, but we didn’t play well, Salem played well, that’s usually a bad combination,” Merrimack head coach Kip Jackson said. “But this is, I think we finally had two weeks of practice in a row, that helps in trying to get a rhythm. I’m just really happy for the kids that they get to play another week after losing a couple of weeks earlier in the season.”

Remember, this is a team that played just three games before the playoffs. Of course, other teams have had the same issues; the Tomahawks’ opponents this Friday night at Stellos Stadium in the quarterfinals, Nashua North, also played just three before they beat Bishop Guertin the other night in their playoff game.

And Nashua South played in just four.

But it goes with the territory, a season in which teams have just had to roll with the punches.

And thus the ‘Hawks and the Titans will meet again in the quarterfinals for the third year in a row, and North has to hope the third time can be the charm. Merrimack won a mud bowl game at Student Memorial Field two years ago in overtime, 6-0, and then beat the Titans at Stellos last year with North’s standout QB Curtis Harris-Lopez on the shelf with a knee injury.

“They’re really freakin’ good,” Jackson said of the Titans. “We’re going to have our hands full, especially since their strength is their athleticism on the perimeter. That’s not our strength.

And defensively they’re really good. It’ll be a challenge, but I’m just happy we get another week together, and get to play again.”

“Dangerous team,” North coach Dante Laurendi said of the Tomahawks. “Spread the ball around on offense, very good, composed QB (Kyle Crampton), several kids that can make big catches. (Back Jake) Trahan does everything well.

“And defensively, they are very sound and make you earn everything.”

Just ask the Panthers, who were held to 62 yards in the second half.

GOODWIN SHINES

Junior Shea Goodwin caught the winning touchdown.

“I felt the momentum the whole game,” Goodwin said. “I had (the catch). The team trusts me to go out and make the plays.”

“He’s the heir apparent to Devin Wood,” Jackson said. “He’s a special kid, really works his butt off, and I’m happy for him.”

REMATCH FOR HB-SOUHEGAN

One would have to think it’s a different Hollis Brookline team that returns to Amherst to face Souhegan in the Division II quarterfinals than the one that got shut out 20-0 on opening night. In that game, Riley Lawhorn rushed for over 200 yards.

The Sabers have been staunch defensively this season, allowing just 21 points all season.

This time around, the Cavs have an established quarterback now in Drew Gryniewicz, and running back Marc-Andre Thermitus has become a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He’s had a 300-yard game, and in Saturday’s 33-14 win over Milford he scored from 53 and 57 yards out.

“He’s gifted,” Cavs coach Chris Lones said. “He makes Drew’s job that much easier.”

Lawhorn vs. Thermitus could be a great show. But the biggest difference in the Cavs these days may also be their defense. They’ve obviously made some changes/adjustments; Milford was able to move up and down the field on them in a 26-24 win in early October, but that wasn’t happening much in Saturday’s 33-14 loss.

“It was more of rules,” Lones said. “Stay within your rules. Don’t worry about somebody else’s, just worry about your own. Be disciplined, and be where you’re supposed to be. Don’t try to do more than you’re asked to do. You try to do too much and more often than not you miss something.”

This may be a game not to miss.

TOUGH ENDING FOR SOUTH

The season came to a crashing end for the Panthers, but this year there’s a difference.

In the past, if they lost in the playoffs, they would have one more game to look forward to – Thanksgiving Day or Eve, the Turkey Bowl vs. Nashua North.

But because of the coronavirus, there won’t be a Turkey Eve Bowl this year. The attendance limitations take away the main reason for the game. It will be the first time in well over 40 years there won’t be a holiday game in Nashua.

“That’s the heartbreaker,” South coach Scott Knight said. “We’re usually getting ready for Thanksgiving, you know? And say at least we can end on a good note.

“And now this is the first time ever. It’s like, ‘Hey, there’s no tomorrow.’ Which stinks because that’s five games (total).

We’d normally have three scrimmages and be on our second game.”

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