Souhegan's Jonathan Bausha (66) celebrates after the Sabers stuffed Plymouth on fourth down to begin the fourth quarter of the Sabers' 19-9 win on Saturday. (Photo by Dan Doyon)

PLYMOUTH – After missing the past three games with an injury, Souhegan High School quarterback Michael Fiengo still wasn’t sure he’d be able to return as of Saturday morning ahead of the afternoon’s unbeaten showdown with Plymouth.

Fiengo finally texted Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett to let him know he’d dress up and be ready to go, and he certainly was needed and delivered in his comeback game.

The senior took full control of the offense in the third quarter and completed eight of 13 passes on the day for 98 yards with two touchdowns. His defense complimented him by pitching a shutout in the second half en route to a 19-9 victory for defending Division II champion Souhegan (7-0) on George C. Zoulias Field. Souhegan is now the division’s only unbeaten team.

“I actually wasn’t supposed to play, I just wanted to dress,” Fiengo said. “But I felt like my team needed me. I wanted to be there for my guys because they’ve always been there for me. I didn’t want to miss a big game as a senior and a captain.”

Cole Brandt filled in admirably after Fiengo separated the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder against Manchester West. Brandt started again on Saturday but left the game following an injury on the first play of the third quarter, He completed three of four passes for 69 yards.

Fiengo’s first throw was a 9-yard touchdown pass to Ryland Raudelunas to give Souhegan a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter. He was given the short field after Souhegan recovered a Logan Marsh fumble.

“(Fiengo) hasn’t practiced in three weeks and he messaged saying he wants to dress and he feels awesome,” Bowkett. “He’s just an ultimate competitor. We put him out there for one pass play and he threw a touchdown. Then Cole went down and he said ‘Let’s roll’.”

Plymouth (6-1) took a 9-7 lead into halftime following a 7-yard touchdown run by Ben Valenti (19 carries, 88 yards).

Souhegan opened the second half with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that was jumpstarted with a pair of 10-yard completions to Kobe Morin and Chase Knuckles. Fiengo finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass in the corner to Morin to give Souhegan a 13-9 lead with 9:30 left in the game.

Morin finished with seven catches for 132 yards.

“I hadn’t played in three weeks and I had been dying to get back out there. There is nothing I like better than being out there with those 10 other kids” Fiengo said. “Our offense started clicking and I saw Kobe run a great route. He made clutch catches all day long.”

Souhegan’s defense held Plymouth to 34 yards in the second half and made the ultimate statement after Raudelunas muffed a punt return and Plymouth recovered on Souhegan’s 25-yard line. The Sabers then stuffed Valenti for a 2-yard gain on 4th-and-3 at the 18.

“The guys just got after it and made them earn it a ton; that’s what you’ve got to do against that team,” Bowkett said. “I’m just so proud of them. They did an awesome job and exceeded our expectations.”

Souhegan quarterback Michael Fiengo takes off for a 10-yard run ahead of Plymouth’s Hussein Osserian in the fourth quarter of the Sabers’ 19-9 win on Saturday in Plymouth (Photo by Dan Doyon)

Souhegan wrapped up the victory with a 14-play, 84-yard drive that was highlighted by a 25-yard completion to Morin on third-and-6. Fiengo added a 10-yard run to help set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Raudelunas to give Souhegan a 19-9 lead with 5:20 remaining.

Souhegan’s Aidan Reardon then intercepted Plymouth quarterback Cavan Sanborn on the ensuing drive.

“It was gutty, gritty and one of the greatest wins we’ve ever had,” Bowkett said. “I’m so proud of our group.”