A familiar sight for Bishop Guertin football fans, Matt Santosuozzo running in the open field toward the end zone,this time with Keene's Trey Jewett the closest defender to him during Saturday night's 49-19 Cardinals win at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — Sometimes the schedule just works out.

The Bishop Guertin High School football team may have needed a pick-me-up after losing a tough one to Nashua North a week ago, and that’s where the Keene Blackbirds came in as BG cruised, 49-19, to finish the regular season at 7-2.

“Definitely a feel good, just making sure we take care of business,” Guertin QB Matt Santosuosso, who had four rushing TDs and one throwing, said. “Rest up some of our guys so we don’t get too banged up for the playoffs.”

Guertin will likely host Dover in the first round of the playoffs at Stellos Stadium next Saturday, time to be determined.

“Obviously coming off the way the last week ended, to just have a week of practice, come out here, check another box,” Guertin coach John Trisciani said. “Finish the regular season, have Senior Night, a ton of kids got in the game, and obviously winning is important. …

“It’s a great night for a lot of people involved, and now it’s playoff week, which is used. For us to have back to back seasons with seven wins is nice, now we’ve got to get to eight.”

Seven was a breeze, as expected, as the Blackbirds were hit hard by graduation in June and struggled through a 1-8 season and likely have an extra game for the non-playoff teams next week.

As expected, this one was never in doubt. Guertin never punted; in the first half the Cards scored on every possession except their last when Keene

s xxxx picked off Santosuosso at midfield.

The BG senior quarterback had TD runs of 42, 15, and 5 yards plus a 5-yard TD pass to Gavin Bombara in the 27-7 first half. A minute into the second half he ran it in from 34 yards out for a 35-7 Cardinals lead.

Santosuosso has had a huge load on his shoulders this season, but it hasn’t bothered him a bit.

“What I like about him is he’s willing to help in any way,” Trisciani said. “If we go into a game where he comes out early, because we have other goals as a team, he may not carry as much – and then there’s games like last week when he has more carries than he’s ever had. So it’s week to week. … What I’m happy with him is his consistency, and he’s much more than just a quarterback.”

BG’s backup QB Mike MacDonough and Cody Szymansky got things to running time with a 33-yard TD pass combo. Keene, meanwhile, had a 19-yard TD run late in the first half by Sawyer Lepple, and got two more rushing TDs from Emery Ray (4 yards) and Elijah Hansen (1-yard). BG’s Hudson Schmitt had a 4-yard score.

And that’s the regular season wrapped in a green and gold bow.

“I think the biggest thing is to try to get healthy here,” Trisciani said. “We’ve got a couple of guys back, and I’m hoping to get a couple more back next week. That’s going to be a big part of it. … Got to be able to play whoever it is week to week.”