Nashua South QB Karsten Lemire and back Alvin Pascual-Rosario don't know that danger is lurking from behind during Friday night's game at Concord. (Courtesy photo by Alyson Condict/CHS Quarterback Club)

CONCORD — Heading into Friday night’s game with a winless record and no points to their name in the previous two outings, it would’ve been easy to not expect much from the Purple Panthers.

But for long stretches, Nashua South held the upstart Concord Crimson Tide in check and broke its scoring drought in the first quarter.

But Nashua South (0-6) couldn’t get out of its own way, giving up two onside kicks in the first half and making some costly mistakes early, and Concord’s running game eventually wore the Panthers down in a 42-24 victory at Memorial Field.

Division I’s top rusher – junior Eli Bahuma (231 rush yards, three TD on 20 carries) – gave Concord (4-1) an early lead with a 34-yard score and the Tide perfectly executed an onside kick to set up quarterback Zack Doward (3-for-7, 49 passing yards) scored on a 6-yard keeper to make it 14-0.

Panther quarterback Karsen Lemire (12-for-28, 190 passing yards, 64 rush yards on 13 carries) punched it into the end zone from 1 yard out to get Nashua South on the board, 14-6, but Bahuma scored again on the next possession and the Panthers dropped the kickoff return giving the ball right back to Concord.

That error set up a 30 yard touchdown run from Divon Duncan on the next play to break the game open with a 28-6 halftime lead for the Tide.

Nashua South trailed 35-6 after three quarters, courtesy of Bahuma’s third TD run, but Kyle Emmons (82 yards on eight carries, 23 yards on two catches) scored on a 10 yard run, Alvin Pascual Rosario scored on a 1 yard run and Lemire connected with Jake O’Connor (99 yards on three receptions) on a 15 yard pass in the fourth quarter to close the gap.