Telegraph photo by TOM KING Nashua North's Curtis Harris-Lopez a year ago was limited to being an advisor on the sidelines during the playoffs, shown here talking to teammate Jayden Espinal during the quarterfinal loss to Merrimack. This year, though, t's full steam ahead for Harris-Lopez and the Titans to Saturday's title game.

NASHUA – Yes, a year or two can make a big difference.

Just ask Nashua High School North’s generational football talent Curtis Harris-Lopez.

A year ago, the standout quarterback was on the sidelines, watching his team lose without him to Merrimack for the second year in a row in the quarterfinals.

He was held out due to suffering a knee injury against those same Tomahawks two weeks earlier. Even if North had won that game, he wouldn’t have played in the finals.

The season before, the Titans lost in overtime, 6-0, in the mud and wet grass at Merrimack’s Student Memorial Field. Harris-Lopez’s explosiveness couldn’t be used because no one could get their footing on either side.

But now Harris-Lopez and North (6-0) have finally reached the Division I finals, taking on fellow unbeaten Goffstown Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bedford’s Bulldog Stadium.

“Obviously last year, we had a pretty good team to contend for the championship,” he said. “I believe we should’ve won it last year, if not played Londonderry in the championship.

“Obviously coming off last year to this year, this is pretty big and we want it all.”

One of the reasons Harris-Lopez was held out after the injury, thought to be a meniscus strain, but not tear – was to make sure he didn’t develop any further knee issues that would hurt his future. That future has now been solidified with his commitment earlier this week to attend and play football at Division I Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.

But over the last year, not being able to at least take his team to the finals ate at him.

“It did,” he said. “Obviously with my injury, it is what it is. You just move on to the next season and hope for the best.”

How tough was a sacrifice was it to not play last post season? Harris made sure he was on the sidelines, helping out any way he could.

“Obviously he was upset,” North coach Dante Laurendi said. “He got a shot this year, and has done everything we’ve asked, so have the other seniors. … To be playing at this time of the year is great.”

“It was tough,” he said. “But my guys needed me, so I just stepped up when I was supposed to, and led them on, through the loss, and made sure everyone’s head was up. Everyone. As a captain, I just had to make sure everyone was healthy and move on to next year (this season).”

And that was the deal. He used the frustration as fuel for a 900-yard, 16-TD season in six games, even while those two losses meant starting from scratch once again.

“That’s where competitors are made,” he said. “You just move on to the next play.”

That work he did on the sidelines a year ago was a preview of what he’d have to do this season as Laurendi asked a few things of his standout player.

“Take more of a leadership role, take guys on, talk to guys, be able to calm guys down, get guys up,” he said. “Keep our emotions in check as a team. And he’s done a good job of that.”

With the offseason, Harris-Lopez and a few of his teammates, including Jayden Espinal, Max Ackerman, etc. lifted heavily once the weight room was re-opened following the spring shutdown. There was work to do.

“Obviously with COVID and all the restrictions, we wanted to be healthy,” Harris-Lopez said, “and not get injured during the season.”

You can tell, this championship chance means everything.

“It’s not just me,” Harris-Lopez said, “it’s our whole team. It means everything to us.”

That’s why last week was so special to finally get over that hurdle. Harris-Lopez’s freshman season the Titans didn’t even make the playoffs, going 5-4. Last Saturday he rushed for over 200 yards and had four TDs.

“It was a big day,” he said, “but we’re not finished yet. We’ll move on to (Saturday) and hope for the best.”

This year has been the best for Harris-Lopez and the Titans, with one more step to take.

“It’s been great,” Harris-Lopez said. “That’s about all I can say, it’s been great.”

He’d love to make it even greater on Saturday.

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