FOOTBALL

Nashua Elks

6th grade semifinal:
Crusaders 21, Laconia 9

The sixth grade Crusaders punched their ticket into Sunday’s state championship game with a 21-9 victory over Laconia.

Nashua’s offense scored itsfirst touchdown on a pass from Andrew Penkala to Jake Robbins. Penkala scored the extra point on a quarterback keeper. The second TD came on the ground from Brendon Frost, who ran effectively all game and collected several first downs. The extra point was scored on a pass from Penkala to Casey McNally out of the backfield. The final touchdown came on the opening drive of the second half, as Jaylan Pacheco ran the ball every play until he found the end zone. Penkala once again called his own number and scored the extra point. The offense also received a big game from Gabe Perrault, who ran the ball well and pulled in a pass. The Crusaders’ offensive line continues to be a major strength of the team. Once again the Elks received impressive blocking from center Brandon Martin, Tanner Plourde, Braden McDonnell, Justin Arnesen, Zach O’Neil, Pacheco and Jeffrey Allen (from his receiver position).

Nashua’s defense was once again stellar, and only allowed an early score in the first quarter. The Crusaders received big plays from Robbins (fumble recovery), Martin, Plourde and Pacheco. The team also received multiple tackle games from Nathanael Tejeda, Perrault, McNally, Penkala, Frost and McDonnell. Also having an impact on defense were Cole Desmond, Mark Lagasse, Jacob Babb, Alex Fortier, Quincy Cotto and Allen.

The win puts Nashua in Sunday’s noon final at Stellos Stadium against Pelham.

Nashua PAL

3rd Grade: Force face Hudson in exhibition

It was youth football’s edition of Friday Night Lights, with the thirs grade Nashua PAL Force taking on their cross-river rivals the Hudson Bears in front of a near capacity crowd in a halftime exhibition game under the bright lights at Saint Anselm College’s stadium.

The Force started out on defense and Xavier Francis, Devyn Lavoie and Bobby Canaway stuffed the Bears on the first four plays of the game giving up a measly 7 yards. The stalwart crew of Ethan Paquin, Matt Oliver and David Simpson tightened up and shut the door on Hudson. The Bears tried to run through the teeth of the Force defense but got bit by Charley Mewkill and Brian Melendez. Finally on the Bears’ final play they were able to break through for their lone score.

The Force offense took to the field and went with their up-tempo, no-huddle offense and Andy Barry shredded the Bears’ defense on the opening play behind the blocking of Riley Bean and Jessy Allen. On the next play Dylan Homsy ripped off big yards for a first down while Bryson Borromeo and Jacob Moore punished the Bears. The high-octane, up-tempo offense kept it rolling when Patrick Keegan scooted around right end for a 15-yard romp. Charlie Bellavance ran for positive yards right through the heart of the Bears’ defense. Homsy gashed the Bears on a reverse for another Force first down while Ariyan Cora blew his Bear defender up. The Force struck paydirt when Keegan scooted around left end on a quarterback keeper and as the Bear defender dialed-him-in, he optioned to his tailback, Barry, for the Force’s game-winning TD.

5th Grade: Keene 29, Force 0

Robby Long, Andy Deutschlander, Adam Little and Logan Mathewson earned game captain honors for the week. All players were active but Little and Mathewson were injured and not able to play. Offensive standouts for Nashua PAL this week were Long, who connected with Gavin Belesca and Deutschlander on several nice passes. Long Robby, Deutschlander, Belesca and Donovan Labante all ran the ball hard as well. Max Ackerman, Aiden Bashor, Tyler Desrochers, Kyle Krulikowski, Dom Gentry, Jacob Sansoucie and Matt Hallahan did a nice job opening up holes on the line of scrimmage and giving Long time to pass. Defensive standouts in the game included Neo Helin, Sam McElliot, Chris Acevedo, Deutschlander, Labante and Long.

6th Grade: Force 19,
NorRock 0

Nashua’s defense started the game off strong – led by Kevin Maldonado (two tackles, interception), Ryan Sheehan (tackle) and Justin Cardullo (tackle) – and never looked back in a 19-0 victory over the NorRock Vikings.

Cardullo was also an offensive force for PAL, grabbing a much needed short gain, while Austin Ouellette kept the drive moving forward with a short carry of his own for a first down. Nate Nugent had one tackle, and on the offense contributed a short gain. Tyler Gagnon contributed a tackle, as well, while Logan Boucher stopped a Viking in his tracks from gaining ground.

With the ball on NorRock’s 35-yard line, the Force handed to Ouellette, who broke off a 35-yard run for the first touchdown of the game.

Nashua’s defense kept NorRock from gaining ground with tackles by Nick Scalera, Nevan Roy, Cardullo and Andre Laplante. James Mackenzie blocked a pass that would have otherwise landed in the hands of the receiver. Tyler Gagnon contributed a tackle and a short gain. Griffin Dane took down a Viking, and Kevin Maldonado had two tackles leaving Nashua on the Force 48. Ouellette received the ball for the carry and ran for all 52 yards into the end zone for Nashua’s second touchdown. Nate Nugent contributed a tackle and a short ball carry.

Ouellette then broke through NorRock’s defense again and was able to run 54 yards into the end zone. Laplante, Dane and Gagnon all took down some Vikings defensively as Nashua kept NorRock from gaining ground in the fourth quarter.

Hollis

Varsity: Jr. Cavaliers 46, Pembroke 0

The Hollis Brookline Junior Cavaliers varsity team travelled to Pembroke and put on an impressive show, shutting out the Junior Spartans 46-0 in their regular-season finale.

The Cavs were led on offense by Jack Byrne, who scored two rushing touchdowns from 15 and 33 yards out, as well as adding a third score on the receiving end of a 50-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Carr.

Brian Delaney also added two touchdowns of 6 and 73 yards. Evan Sutton scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Carr and Paul Menard closed the Cavs scoring with a 15-yard rushing score. Jason Mansinon chipped in with two 2-point conversions.

The entire Jr. Cavs defense played inspired football, with Clement Sherwood, Stephen Giaconia, Daniel Smith and Mansinon each recovering a Spartans fumble. Mansinon and Jack Spaulding also intercepted Pembroke pass attempts, returning them deep into Spartans territory.

The offensive line got into the Cavaliers rushing attack with Sutton, Kevin Glover, Sherwood, Kevin Bergeron and Alex McElvery lugging the pigskin for 200 tough yards by game’s end.

The Jr. Cavs varsity closed out their season with a 6-3 record and qualified for the Granite State Football League playoffs.

CHEERLEADING

Nashua PAL

Force sending four
teams to regionals

The Nashua PAL Force spirit program did extremely well having placed in all of its divisions (8, 10, 12 and 13) and will represent NHYFSC at the Regional Championships on Nov. 24 in Providence, R.I.

The Force Tiny Mites – Meah Gouveia, Isabella Signoretti, Ashley Clegg, Kaylee Moore, Allison Long, Ashley Oliver and Madison Schuman – did another outstanding instructional performance for a large crowd attending the NHYFSC State Cheerleading Competition held at Southern New Hampshire University on Oct. 27. The coaching staff is made up of Megan Knox, Jason McNulty and Kassandra McNulty.

Force Division 8 placed second. Members of the team include: Hannah Thompson, Kaylee Miller, Kelcey Acevedo, Erika Long, Alize Santiago, Ava Rodriguez, Julianna Silva, Paige Jolicoeur, Janessa Morales, Emily Wall, Grace Brooks, Alyssa Stanton, McKenzie Cummings, Alivia Espinal, Elizebeth Poitras, Nevaeh Spence and Garbriella McNulty. Coaching staff: Kaitlynn Charest, Robyn Jolicoeur, Donna Brooks, Nicole Jarry, Maddie Brooks, Taylor McNeil, and Kassandra McNulty.

Force Division 10 placed first. Members of the team include: Madeline Simpson, Allison Anderson, Anna Woznia kowski, Kalynn Allen, Paige Brooks, Amanda Kime, Nichole Valencia, Julianna Moreno, Aliesha Clegg, Kaylie Keegan, Kaylene Silva, Alyssa Gonzalez, Alessandra Deutschlander, Madison Winnett, Halee Mele, Ariana Virella, Jaiden Ackerman, Angelina Beninati, Emily Wynne, Ella O’Neill-Pitarys, Lillian Langlois, Lauren Grondin, Emily Geraghty and Laura Valencia. Coaching staff: Sara Minshull, Deb Wynne, Catherine Morales, Erin Driscoll, Danielle Lauginger and Holly Burns.

Force Division 12 also placed first. Members of the team include: Meredith Kime, Sierah Miles, Abigail Colebrook, Gabrielle Belanger, Caitlyn McNamara, Destiny Velasquez, Alexis Tyler, Vanessa Ault, Karen MacWilliams, Thayna Vargas, Jasmine Gagnon, Samantha DiGesse, Grace Trabucchi, Haley Stanton, Tiana Graves, Nina Ocasio, Summer Gagnon, Danielle Collins, Lauren Oliver, Nova Helin, Aailyah Forman, Alexandria Griffin, Olivia Paulsen and Paige Borremo. Coaching staff: Maureen MacKay, Courtney MacKay, Katie O’Leary, Sherri Miles, Danielle Hamel, Moriah Keeley, Morganne MacKay and Brianna Griffin.

Force Division 13 placed second. Members of the team include: Gina Buzzetta, Sarah Roscoe, Jasmine Lord, Kayla Boucher, Emily Guilbeault, Sara Hynson, Samantha O’Loughlin, Alexis DeRosa, Ashley Jolicoeur, Kirci Cedeno, Olivia Cole, Kelsi Cora, Natalie Cook, Maya Durant, Abigail Trulock, Lexi LaFontaine, Isabelle Sheeler, Madison Wynne, Emily Hamilton, Kiara Francis, Samantha Hovey, Marissa Trombly, Brooke O’Neill, Miguel Morales, Mary Michaud and Lauren Grabeau. Coaching staff: Kalin Hamilton, Janice Winnett, Catherine Morales, Felicia Cummings and Kylee Winnett.

Teams placing first, second or third at the regional competition will move on to compete for a national title in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 8.

HOCKEY

Valley League

PeeWee: A-B (Mass.) 8,
SNH Cavaliers 6

The Cavaliers Pee Wee I team lost early momentum then came up short in a late rally to drop a 8-6 decision to Massachusetts-based Acton-Boxborough.

The Cavs jumped out in the first period to a 5-1 lead with goals by Max Sears (two), T.J. Vitullo, Isaac Rogers (two) and Max Porter; strong support from forwards Maddy Pitre, Nic Miller and Joe Roth; and defensive stability from Max Porter, Alec MacEachen, Noah Mills, Ben Goolsby and goalie Austin Ciszek.

The Cavs fell apart in the second period and A-B lit up the scoreboard with four goals to tie things up as the period closed. A-B then took a two-goal lead at 7-5 early in the third period.

The Cavs were not done, battling back within one at 7-6 on Max Sears’ second goal of the game off a nice feed from Vitullo, however, they could not capitalize on several late opportunities and A-B netted the clincher with 36 seconds remaining.

BASKETBALL

Merrimack

Hawks tryouts on Sunday

The Merrimack Hawks sixth grade boys travel basketball team is holding tryouts Sunday.

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

SOCCER

MYA board elections

The MYA soccer program board of director elections will be held Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

All Merrimack residents are invited to attend the meeting at the MYA building. Interested in joining the board? Email secretary@myasoccer.org for more information.