CHEERLEADING

Nashua PAL

Force cheerleaders
successful in debut

Multiple divisions of the Nashua PAL Force joined 92 teams and over 2,000 cheerleaders from New Hampshire and Massachusetts at the 6th annual Season Premiere Cheerleading Kickoff event at Bedford High School on Oct. 20.

The Tiny Mites got things started and shined performing their instructional routine for the crowd. Bringing home first-place trophies for the Force were the Division 8 and Division 12 teams, while Division 13 was second and Division 10 finished third.

FOOTBALL

Nashua PAL

3rd Grade: Man. East 26, Force 6

Nashua finishes with a fantastic winning record of 4-3 but loses to Manchester East in the season finale.

Brian Melendez, Matt Oliver and Zaeden Crocker played strong defense. Christian Mosteiro, Jacob Moore and Bryson Borromeo opened up big holes for Andy Barry and Dylan Homsy. Charlie Bellavance ran for tough yards up the middle behind Jessy Allen, Ariyan Cora, Drew Sheehan and Riley Bean but had a TD called back on penalties. Jessy Allen and Bobby Canaway pushed the Cobras back as Patrick Keegan scooted into the end zone. Xavier Francis played strong on the edge with Dylan McDermott, Ethan Paquin, David Simpson and Devyn Lavoie stuffing the middle. The Corbas managed to bounce outside on a few broken plays for long TD runs.

6th Grade: Hudson 40, Force 21

Nate Nugent, Nevan Roy, Harley Ciardi, Vinny Priore and James MacKenzie (interception, fumble recovery) were strong defensively for the Force. Austin Ouellette, Nugent, Kevin Maldanado, Aiden Gillis and Andre Laplante led Nashua’s offense.

Laplante also stood out on special teams, picking up good yardage returning kickoffs, including an 81-yard return for a touchdown.

Varsity: Hudson 22, Force 12

Nashua PAL gave up all the points they were going to give up in the first half. Justin Anderson opened up the first half at QB, leading his team for many rushing yards.

Hudson held strong until Nashua’s Max Fay opened up the third quarter with a 52-yard TD run attained by many great offensive blocks by Mason Dane, Trey Legraw, Joey Allen, Matt Esquavel, Finn Littlefield, A.J. Vitali and Joshua Roy. Nashua’s defense was in full swing in the second half, led by Fay and Vitali. Dane, Sammy Mena, Damon Alexander, Legraw, Enrique Alvarez, Jose Melendez, Pat Barromeo, Roy, Littlefield, Paul Murtaugh, Alex White, Nevan Brazil, Esquavel and Dakeeme Campbell all had tackles. Hudson almost had a second-half TD but the Force caused a fumble at the 1-yard line and Max Fay recovered in the end zone for a touchback. With under a minute left in the fourth quarter Hudson came out with a trick offensive lineup and Dane spoiled their trickery with a fumble recovery and a 47-yard run for defensive TD. Allen, Legraw and Dane all had their turn at fullback in the fourth quarter as well. Nashua PAL Force has been selected to nominate four players to participate on the NH All-Star North-South team. Force selections are running backs Fay and Roy, as well as linemen LeGraw and Dane.

Nashua Elks

6th Grade: Crusaders 33,
Goffstown Screaming Eagles 0

The Crusaders returned to their winning ways with a 33-0 victory over the Goffstown Screaming Eagles.

The first score came on a pass from quarterback Andrew Penkala to Gabe Perrault.

The second and fourth touchdowns were scored on the ground by Jaylan Pacheco, who ran effectively all game and registered four first downs and two extra points.

The third touchdown was scored by Casey McNally, who also collected four first downs and hauled in three passes.

The final TD was scored by Braden McDonnell, his first of the season.

This final game of the regular season served as a milestone for Penkala, who accumulated over 1,000 yards passing for the season. The offensive line continues to be a strength of the team.

The Crusaders received great blocking from Zach O’Neil, Brandon Martin, Justin Arnesen, Quincy Cotto, Jeffrey Allen and Tanner Plourde.

Nashua’s defense returned to form this week and once again earned a shutout.

The team received big defensive plays from Alex Fortier (interception), Brendon Frost (fumble recovery) and Perrault (pass defense). The Crusaders received multiple tackles from Cole Desmond, Mark Lagasse, Nathanael Tejeda, Jake Robbins, Jacob Babb, Pacheco, Penkala, McNally, Plourde and McDonnell.

Nashua’s special team unit received contribution from Pacheco (kicker), Perrault (punt returns and tackle), Frost (kick return) and Penkala (tackles).

5th Grade: Goffstown 13,
Crusaders 0

Mike Robbins rushed for over 100 yards behind the blocking of Brad Deitrich, Adam Akel, Nate Zalzal, Colin Keavey, Ryan Rutstein, Yassine Jakib, Colby Martel and Joey Buturla – unfortunately the Nashua Elks Crusaders came out on the short end of a 13-0 final to the Goffstown Screaming Eagles.

The Crusaders’ defense forced three Goffstown turnovers behind the defensive play of Jordan Bodwell, Zach Hureau, Ben Levine, Zach Gauthier and Charlie McKelvey.

The Crusaders qualified for the playoffs and face the Londonderry Wildcats in the state quarterfinals.

HOCKEY

Valley League

Squirts: Reading (Mass.) AA 8, So. NH Cavaliers 3

The Cavaliers were down 2-0 in during the first period.

The defensive line of Nik Derenzo, Dylan LaLiberte, Collin McDonald played strong but Reading was moving the puck well. Jackson Gates scored a hat trick, with help on two of his goals by Cole Girsh.

BASKETBALL

Tryouts

MSBL: Merrimack Hawks tryouts in November

The Merrimack Hawks sixth grade boys travel basketball team is holding tryouts on Nov. 4.

The Hawks play in the Manchester Suburban Basketball League. Contact Jim Noon at jpjnoon@comcast.net for more information.