BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Division II foes take note: Goffstown football is on the rise. That’s according to Tony Johnson, head coach of the three-time defending champion Bishop Guertin Cardinals.

Though Johnson’s squad thumped the Grizzlies, 48-10, at Stellos Stadium in Nashua on Saturday, Sept. 8, he said the score was not indicative of the on-field competition.

“I’ll tell you one thing. Goffstown is a much improved team,” said Johnson following the contest. “(Head coach) Rob Cathcart is doing all the right things. He doesn’t have the biggest team, but he’s got a really good freshman program that really throttled our freshman program. And he’s got some really tough kids, and they play physical.”

Goffstown, in its second year in Division II after making the D-III playoffs in 2005, cut a 21-0 Cardinal lead to 21-10 at one point.

The locals fumbled twice in the first quarter, allowing Guertin to take an early 14-0 lead. After a lightning storm delayed play, Goffstown gave up another quick score.

But late in the second quarter, the Grizzlies recovered a Cardinal fumble, and senior Ryan Allen powered into the end zone to cap the drive and bring his team within two scores.

Goffstown’s defense then stopped the opposition three consecutive plays from the Grizzlies’ 11-yard line as the half ended.

On Bishop Guertin’s first second-half drive, Goffstown recovered yet another Cardinal fumble and pushed inside the 10, settling for a Stephen Case field goal.

“We got that gift from God (the lightning delay), went out and played them the rest of the half 7-7, which was good. After we scored that field goal, in my mind, it was 10-7 for us (after the delay), so we were all feeling pretty good about that,” said Cathcart. “But you can’t give up 14 points that early and expect to win a football game.”

Guertin’s size, speed and experience ultimately proved too much. The defense stiffened. The offense dazzled the home fans – and many of the young Grizzlies defenders – by scoring two touchdowns in one minute, 30 seconds late in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 35-10.

Still, Goffstown, after winning its home opener against Keene, a team which steamrollered the Grizzlies in 2006, looks poised to be competitive all season, said Cathcart.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that have been working hard and doing what it takes to win football games,” said Cathcart. “We need to stop turnovers and make some key plays. It’s as simple as that.”