When fierce city rivals Central and West meet on the gridiron, you can, as the old saying goes, throw out the records. By postgame, that’s exactly what the Blue Knights’ mentor, Travis Cote, wanted to do.

Following Central’s 28-7 win during West’s homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 4, Cote’s group fell to 0-5, 0-4 in Division I. Central, meanwhile, improved to 2-1 in the division, 4-1 overall.

It’s not that West played poorly or Central dominated. The visiting Little Green simply made more game-breaking plays than their hosts. A 40-yard interception return by Justin Fleming; two Pat Tatro-to-Jake Tremblay passes, one for 38 yards and the other 26 yards; and a Khari Halliburton 19-yard run meant four Central TDs, more than enough against a determined West group.

“They’re probably the best 0-5 team in the history of 0-5 teams,” said Central’s head coach, Ryan Ray, of West. “But we’re fortunate to have so many Hooksett athletes – good athletes – who are capable players.”

Tatro, replacing injured starting quarterback Cole Warren, hit Tremblay with a quick screen pass in the second quarter; the senior, following a bruising downfield block by hustling left tackle Seamus O’Neill, then outran the defense for six points.

Central’s first possession of the third quarter effectively put the game away. It was capped by Tatro’s right-side toss to a diving Tremblay, who drew ooohs from the West faithful for the acrobatic catch.

Roland Lacroix broke up Central’s shutout bid on a 4-yard run to paydirt with 48 seconds left on the clock. Thomas Stephen’s extra point accounted for the final score.

Cote said he moved Beau Breton to quarterback prior to the Pinkerton contest on Sept. 19, giving one of the Blue Knights’ finest athletes as many touches of the ball as possible.

Breton played especially well on defense, and he often handed the ball on offense to Nicholas Florence, who keyed a West attack that was effective between 30-yard lines but couldn’t capitalize on most of its opportunities deep in Central territory.

“For the number (of players) we have, I think we’re doing pretty well,” said Cote, who added his team played competitively with PInkerton, then scared a strong Londonderry team on Sept. 26. “We’ve been moving the ball, but we’re having a tough time reaching the end zone right now.”

West faces another city foe, Memorial, on Friday, Oct. 10. Like the Blue Knights, the Crusaders are winless in D-I play. The victor of that game earns a second shot at Central – and the city championship – on Thanksgiving Day.

The Little Green, meanwhile, entertain another one-loss team, Londonderry, on Friday, Oct. 10, in a contest with postseason implications.

Notes
Ray said Warren “popped” his throwing shoulder in the first half.

Kevin Regan was successful on each of his four extra-point attempts for Central. Cote said roughly 16 players, most lining up for offense and defense, see the bulk of the on-field action among the 44 listed on West’s roster. Central suited up 62 players for the game.

Lacroix not only scored, he recovered a second-half fumble for the Blue Knights.

Penalties stalled a number of West’s first-half drives. Cote said his team had been averaging roughly two penalties for 15 yards per game, but the Blue Knights were hit with more than twice that in the first half alone.