FOOTBALL

Nashua Elks Crusaders

5th Grade State Final: Pelham 29, NEC 6

Nashua and Pelham met for the Fifth Grade State Championship at Stellos Stadium, with the Razorbacks coming out on top and advancing to New England Regional Semifinals.

The loss ended Nashua’s dream season and the team’s win streak of seven consecutive games. The Crusaders battled hard in the first quarter and threatened to score; however, Pelham capitalized on two untimely turnovers and took a 6-0 lead into the second quarter. The Elks received strong running from Jaylan Pacheco and solid tackling from Braden McDonnell, Andrew Penkala, Casey McNally and Gabe Perrault. The team also received solid line play from Tanner Plourde and Brandon Martin.

In the second quarter, Pelham scored a quick touchdown, but Nashua responded with a score of its own from Brendon Frost to shorten the deficit to 14-6. Both teams battled for the majority of the quarter, with the Elks receiving determined running from Jake Robbins, Penkala and Frost. Defensively, the Crusaders also received timely plays from Max Sheperd, Cole Desmond and Jeffrey Reza.

With time expiring in the half, the Razorbacks found the end zone two more times – once on a long run that was set up on a well designed reverse, and the second on a forced fumble with only seconds remaining. Pelham entered the half with a comfortable 29-6 lead.

Nashua opened the second half with the ball and threatened to score two different times, but the Pelham defense refused to break and held the Crusaders scoreless. The Elks moved the ball well with a steady diet of runs from Pacheco and Frost, as well as passes from Penkala to McNally and Robbins. The team also received strong games from their offensive line, including Nathanial Tejeda, Allan Godfrey, Martin and McDonnell, as well as key blocks on the edge from tight ends Alex Fortier and Tige McNulty. The Nashua defense played a determined second half and kept a potent Razorback offense out of the end zone.

The team received tremendous efforts from Jason Messier, Pacheco (forced fumble), Reza (pass deflection), Frost, Penkala, Robbins, Perrault and McDonnell.

Members of the 2011 Nashua Elks Crusaders were Brendon Frost, Gabe Perrault, Casey McNally, Andrew Penkala, Cole Desmond, Alex Fortier, Tige McNulty, Tanner Plourde, Jason Messier, Jaylan Pacheco, Jake Robbins, Brandon Martin, Braden McDonnell, Allan Godfrey, Jeffrey Reza, Nathanial Tejeda and Max Sheperd. The team was coached by Jim Summers, Tom McDonnell, Ron McNally and Travis Fowler.

CHEERLEADING

Nashua Elks Crusaders

D-10 squad heading to AYC Nationals

The Nashua Elks Crusaders Division 10 Spirit squad is heading south to compete against the top cheerleaders in their age group from around the country at the 2011 American Youth Cheerleading National Championships to be held at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla. on Dec. 10.

NEC Division 10 has already had a tremendous season, taking first place in every competition they have competed in this season – including the Bedford Season Premiere, the NHYFSC State Championships, and most recently the AYC New England Regional Championships where they competed against a tough line up consisting of 14 other squads from around New England.

Led by their head coach Andrea McQuinn, and her assistant coaches Mark Bolduc, Amanda Fredette and Kerry Pucillo, the squad is looking forward to a fun and exciting trip together and a shot at being No. 1 in the nation. The squad is age based and made up of 33 young ladies from Greater Nashua.

The team is made up of Brigitte Keavey, Heather Bridge, Pauline Hardiman, Rebecca Sampson, Emma Pucillo, Izabella Bolduc, Makayla Emmons, Emmaleigh Robinson, Alise Muschette, Helen Kham, Makenzie Raisanen, Bailey Morin, Sarah Signorello, Alayja Linton, Hailey Boisvert, Alyssa Pellegrino, Lexi Moore, Isabella Primeau, Jessimel Laureano-Cora, Megan Lynch, Erica Frothingham, Lexi Carter, Jaylin LaPointe, Hailey Rohan, Sarah Widtfeldt, Kylie Vermette, Alyssa-ann Johnson, Jaydn Grazioli, Amy Marison, Chasity Louis, Abigail Little, Jessica Gallego and Julia Gobbi.

BASKETBALL

Contests

Elks Hoop Shoot set for Saturday

The Nashua Elks 40th annual Hoop Shoot Free Throw Competition will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, at 8 a.m. at the Elm Street Middle School Gymnasium on Chestnut Street. All interested AREA boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13 are invited to participate. A contestant’s age on April 1, 2012, determines his or her age division.

There is no charge or fees to participate in the Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program. Boys and girls will compete separately in their respective age divisions of 8-9, 10-11 or 12-13.

Registration and drawing of shooting position will take place immediately before start of contest at which time each contestant will shoot 5 warm-ups before shooting 25 free throws for score. Sneakers or tennis shoes must be worn and basketball uniforms are preferred, but not required.

The contest usually lasts about two hours, but competing youngsters may leave as soon as their age division completes shooting, The top three boys and girls of each division will be presented with their respective trophies and awards.

The local level of competition is the first of five, followed by the District, the State, the Regional and the National Finals. Local winners will compete in the South Districts on January 8, 2012, in Nashua.

Over three million boys and girls competed in last year’s Elks Hoop Shoot, Nationally, with the top 72 going to the Finals in Springfield, Massachusetts. Over the years, Nashua has sent ten Regional Champions to the National Finals; Steve Piwowski, Missy Ayotte, Debra Killmon, Ellen Tipping, Ryan Robinson, Ryan Sullivan, Michael Panagoulias, Caleb Donnelly, Max Coleman and Tom O’Hearn. Caleb Donnelly of Hudson, won the Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Championship in 2006 in Springfield, Mass. Nashua Elks Hoop Shoot Chairman Al Savage will be assisted by members of the Elks Youth Committee and may be contacted for further information at 888-0064.

HOCKEY

Squirts

Cavaliers AA rallies to tie Watertown (Mass.)

In Valley Youth Hockey action the Cavaliers Squirt AA team came back from a 5-2 deficit to tie Watertown Squirt AA 6-6.

The Cavaliers trailed by three heading into the final period when they rallied behind the offensive production of Isaac Rogers and the defensive play of David Wang and Max Sears. Rogers netted three goals in the third period to lead the Cavs to the tie.

Goalie Chris Sullivan came up with some big saves in the final period to keep the Cavs in the game. Other goals were scored by TJ Vitullo (two) and Austin Ciszek. Brandon Hugh, Anil Rao and Ben Goolsby also turned in strong performances.