Pelham News : football

Pelham-Windham close to regional crown

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:17:00 GMT

The Pelham-Windham Razorbacks fourth-grade football team remained unbeaten and closed within one win of the New England regional championship following a 31-7 regional semifinal-round victory against the Nipmuc Warriors of Central Massachusetts on Saturday, Nov. 14.

That triumph followed a 25-6 state championship defeat of the rival Salem Rams on Nov. 8 at Stellos Stadium in Nashua.

The defense dominated against Salem, allowing one third-quarter touchdown.

Tyler Mercier and Joe Micciche set the tone for the unit on the first play from scrimmage, a 3-yard loss for the Rams. Chris Rozzi then pounced on a fumble after the next snap.

Austin Wentzel, Case Foster, Freddy Stamatatos, Jack Moro, Justin O’Connor, Brian Schwab and Brian Murdza also played well for the stifling defensive unit.

Meanwhile, Brandon O’Grady scored twice in the first half, with Peter Lawson and Zach Debay finding the end zone after the break.

Ty Longo also ran well, adding a point-after touchdown for the Razorbacks.

Up front, Austin Chausse, Graham Diack, Liam O’Connell, Zach Shields, Chris Barsalou, Anthony Suppa, Michael Yeaton, Andrew Schuler, Nick Cunio, Robert Rya, Colin Peterson and Kameron Priestly supplied strong blocking.

“There are no egos on this team, there are no attitudes, there are no bullies, there are no superstars, or people who think they are superstars,” said head coach Lou Longo. “It’s 26 kids at age 9 and 10 years old, who looked at each other and looked at the coaches and said that we want to make a run at the state championship.”

With a win against the Monroe, Conn., Lions at Falcon Field in Meriden, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 21, the Razorbacks add a regional title. Kickoff is 9 a.m.

• • •

The Pelham-Windham eighth-graders beat Leominster, Mass., 26--6, on Saturday, Nov. 14. That team also plays for a New England championship against the Ridgefield, Conn., Raiders on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the same venue. Kickoff for that contest is 5 p.m.

The state champion Pelham- Windham fifth-graders fell in the regional semifinals to the Tyngsboro, Mass., Tigers, 26-0.

– Submitted by Bob Diack

Pelham handled in state semis by visiting Bishop Brady

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:47:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

There was another postseason celebration on Pelham’s home field. This time it took place on the opposite sideline.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the two-time defending Division V football champions were knocked out of the postseason by third-ranked Bishop Brady, 32-18.

The Pythons were well behind at halftime, 29-6, but trimmed the deficit to 11 points in the fourth quarter before falling short on fourth down and inches inside Bishop Brady’s 20-yard line.

“We have to get one inch, and we can’t,” said Pelham head coach Tom Babaian, who said his team was consistently overpowered. “That says a lot about us. We went behind our biggest kids, and they still couldn’t get it.”

Bishop Brady scored late in the first quarter and added another touchdown with 11:36 left before intermission to take a 13-0 lead, but Cam Robidoux grabbed some of the momentum back on the ensuing kickoff. The senior running back took the kick and scampered 86 yards for a touchdown to pull his team within seven points.

Peter Chenelle recovered a fumble at Pelham’s 4-yard line to momentarily slow Brady. In the shadow of his own goal post, quarterback Joseph DeAngelo dropped back to pass and was greeted with heavy pressure, throwing the ball out of bounds. He was flagged for an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone. The result was a safety and 15-6 deficit; then Bishop Brady scored another touchdown on the ensuing drive.

DeAngelo, a senior, rebounded with a 24-yard touchdown pass to freshman Kevin Cheam with 5:56 to go in the third quarter.

With 5:13 left in the game DeAngelo, who threw for 130 yards on the evening, hooked up with Josh Luciano for a 19-yard score to trim the margin to 29-18. The home team climbed no closer.

“The road (to the championship game) going through Pelham is how I would have wanted it,” said Brady’s head coach, Greg Roberts. “It’s been such a good program, and this is how it should have been.”

During the teams’ regularseason meeting, the Pythons handled the Green Giants, 25- 7.

Babaian said that despite consecutive titles, it’s been difficult to sustain success because of the small amount of players he has on his roster. Nearly every player on the Pythons plays in all aspects of the game.

“We need more kids. It’s not a football school, and it catches up to you,” said Babaian. “We got outsized, outplayed and out-thought today. We were exposed for what we truly were.”

Pelham falls to Bow, drops in standings, must rebound quickly

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:45:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

It’s a task Tom Babaian hasn’t faced in recent years, but the Pelham football head coach must now help his team find a way to bounce back.

After producing undefeated state championships the last two seasons, the Pythons are now 1-2 in Division V play following a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to visiting Bow High School on Friday, Sept. 25.

Pelham clung to a 14-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but the Falcons took control of the ball with 6:26 remaining in the contest and drove down to the Pythons’ 10-yard line with 30 seconds remaining.

Bow’s Austin Hill threw a corner end zone fade to a tightly covered Tom Poitras, but the 6-foot-6 receiver reached over the head of the defender and hauled in the go-ahead score.

“We had it covered perfectly. What else are you supposed to do?” said Pelham’s head coach, Tom Babaian.

The Pythons responded rapidly with a threat of their own as Tim Schaffer took the ensuing kickoff and returned it to the Bow 43-yard line with 17 seconds remaining.

Quarterback Joseph DeAngelo had one clean shot at the end zone, but the well-thrown ball fell through his receiver’s hands, and he was sacked while scrambling on the next and final play of the game.

DeAngelo gave his team a lead early on, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a quarterback keeper in the first quarter.

Bow struck back late in the second quarter to knot the score, but DeAngelo and the Pythons answered the call on a 41-second drive that culminated with a touchdown pass to freshman Kevin Cheam with 1:49 remaining until intermission. The second half, however, belonged completely to the Falcons, who possessed the ball for 19 of a possible 24 minutes while pounding into the teeth of the Pelham defense.

The Pythons missed an opportunity just prior to Bow’s game-winning drive. With 8:13 remaining in the contest, Conor McColgan leveled a Bow ball carrier, jarred the ball loose, and Josh Luciano scooped it up at the Falcons’ 31-yard line. But four plays later Pelham turned the ball over on downs, setting up the frantic finish.

Pelham went 22-0 combined in 2007 and 2008, but Babaian said it’s unfair to compare this year’s unit to those teams because of the skilled players and leaders who graduated.

“We are nowhere near the team we were in ’07 and ’08. You have to put that all behind,” said the Pelham mentor. “A lot of (the early struggles) are that they’re still trying to find each other, figure out what their teammates can do.”

Bow head coach Paul Cohen said his team knew coming it faced a difficult foe … and may have to again.

“Do I think they’re a team who can be one of the top contenders in the division? Absolutely,” said Cohen. “If we see them again, we’re going to have to prepare even harder.”

Babaian said his team wants that chance.

“We’re hoping,” he said. “That sure would be nice to get another shot at them.”

Pelham’s Helliwell uses football to help tackle classroom difficulties

Salem Editor — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:57:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bill Helliwell decided to give high school one more shot.

Now, he’s giving college a shot.

During his freshman year of high school, Helliwell decided school was not for him, and for the last month of the year he didn’t attend, instead getting a full-time job that he worked at throughout that summer.

Toward the end of the summer, Helliwell decided to give the classroom a final chance, and that year he found the football field.

Through his gridiron participation, Helliwell learned dedication that transcended his position as a defensive tackle.

“Football changed my life, which is why I have such a respect for the sport,” said Helliwell, who wound up on the honor roll and graduated with high honors. “It wasn’t just about playing a game. Football changed me as a person.”

Python head coach Tom Babaian instilled the work ethic that helped Helliwell on the football field, and the mentor also kept an eye on the tackle in the hallways of the school to make sure he was staying out of trouble.

“Coach rode us hard,” said Helliwell. “He would be on our case, and he’d tell us that when you’re tired, you don’t give up. You will not stop, because you’re going for that one goal. I applied that to everything, and that’s what made me realize that school wasn’t that difficult.”

One of Helliwell’s closest Python teammates was star running back Bruce Vieira, as the two developed a friendship while training together each summer.

“Coach was a big factor in (Helliwell’s progress),” said Vieira. “He always pushed Bill to his limits and a little bit past them. He could have given up on Bill from the get go, but he gave him a chance and it paid off with him becoming an allstate player.”

Helliwell’s high school career culminated with a berth in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, where he earned a starting spot.

Thanks to his hard work in the classroom and participation in night classes to make up for the time he missed, Helliwell will also be attending Husson University, where he will play football.

Though Vermont’s offensive line during the Shrine Bowl implemented a different strategy than Helliwell was accustomed to, he was still able to apply pressure during New Hampshire’s 40-6 victory on Saturday, August 1.

“For throwing a team together in two weeks, we did a great job of meshing together as a team,” said Helliwell, who also said he’s ready to take the field for Husson after his Shrine experience. “I’ve got the football fever now.”

Helliwell admitted he was tired in the first half, but got his legs underneath him and came out strong in the second half, getting penetration and recording several tackles. Seeing his friend named to the game had a big impact on Vieira.

“The path he took was quite a path, going from where he was to making the Shrine Bowl,” said Vieira. “Being a part of that and helping him in school and football really was something that meant a lot to me as well.”

The victory was secondary for Helliwell, who was excited to have been named to the team because it signified just how far he had come.

“A few years ago nobody would believe that I’d make it to the Shrine Bowl when nobody thought I was going to be anything,” said Helliwell. “It was the best day of my life.”

Facing D-III power, untested Pelham preps for postseason

Salem Editor — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:11:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The dominance of the Pelham High School football team continues, even in late spring.

For two consecutive years the Pythons have gone undefeated on the gridiron en route to state championships, and boys lacrosse head coach Matt Regan said his team can reap the postseason benefits.

PHS concluded the regular season with an 11-3 mark and has more wins this year than the previous four years combined, but the coach enters the tournament without a single playoff-tested player.

“It’ll be tough. I’ve got a group of guys who have never been there,” he said. “I have a few football players who know what it’s like to go all the way, so I’m relying on them to share what it takes with their teammates.”

The regular season closed for the Pythons with a 10-7 home loss to undefeated Monadnock on Friday, May 22, in a game that may go a long way in preparing Pelham for the playoffs.

After the Huskies struck first in the opening quarter, Justin Mansfield evened the score, then Tom O’Brien gave the Pythons a 2-1 advantage.

It appeared the game would be tied entering the intermission, but Josh Fisette took a pass from Sean Paradis on a breakaway and found the back of the net as the buzzer rang for a 4-3 Pelham lead.

Monadnock showed how it dominated Division III play with a 13-0 record when it scored five consecutive goals to grab an 8-4 edge.

Pelham bounced back with three straight scores to trim the lead to 8-7, but the locals couldn’t claw any closer.

“When we fell behind by four, things could have gone south very quickly,” said Regan. “They didn’t let that happen. That just shows that we’re ready for the playoffs.”

Last year the Pythons were 2-12, but Regan said he believed entering the 2009 campaign that his team had improved thanks to an offseason of indoor play.

Despite higher expectations, the mentor admitted even he has been surprised at his team’s marked improvement.

Even though Pelham was unable to hand the Huskies their first loss of the year, Regan believes his team sent a message entering D-III postseason play, which is scheduled to begin Monday, June 1.

“We know we can play with anyone,” he said. “I think the moment got us a little, but we made the statement that we needed to make.”

Pelham Pythons cap second straight unbeaten season with state title

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:56:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Deuces are wild in Pelham. On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Pythons defeated St. Thomas Aquinas, 22-0, for a second consecutive Division V title. The Pythons posted a 22- 0 mark in the perfect two-year stretch.

Senior running back Bruce Vieira pounded the ball into and through the Saints’ defense all day, rushing for 135 yards, three touchdowns and two twopoint conversions in producing every PHS point.

“All week, coach said he was going to give me the ball as much as he could …,” said Vieira. “Coach is a man of his word.”

The Pythons took the opening drive 80 yards and scored on the senior’s 9-yard jaunt with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter.

“We were going to pound the rock all day, and we did,” said Pelham’s head coach, Tom Babaian. “The key this year was understanding a common goal. Anything less than a championship this year was unacceptable.”

St. Thomas was poised to score on multiple occasions, but each time the Pythons responded by forcing a turnover.

With 3:42 remaining in the first half, Josh Luciano came up with an interception at the Pelham 1-yard line, and early in the second half he made another red zone interception to preserve the lead.

Pelham’s Corey Peterson recovered a fumble in the end zone, thwarting an opportunity for the Saints to at least tie the game with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. The Pythons also recovered a fumble in the third quarter that led to Vieira’s second score of the day, a 3-yard touchdown with 1:45 remaining in the stanza.

“That’s been the story all year,” said Babaian. “They’ve been faced with adversity, and they’ve come back from it all year. Getting the shutout was extra sweet, because this defense has played so well.”

Vieira’s final score of the game came with 6:16 remaining in the contest on a 5-yard dash that capped an 11-play drive. The senior back ran on 10 of those plays.

Babaian said having a running back he could trust to hold the ball was key throughout the season.

“If he isn’t the best player in the state, I don’t know who is,” said Babaian. “There aren’t too many backs that you can rely on like that.”

After the final seconds ran off the clock, Babaian experienced first-hand what has also made Vieira a solid defensive player as well; the coach was tackled to the ground by his standout player.

“He’s my best friend,” said Vieira. “We’ve shared a lot over the last few years, and not a lot of people have relationships with their coach like I do.”

After earning a second consecutive Division V title, Babaian had only one question.

“Where’s the damn plaque?” said Babaian as he walked among his exuberant players. “Let’s do some celebrating!”

Another victory gives Pelham football team second straight unbeaten season

Salem Editor — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:44:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Good field position in a scoreless football game wasn’t good enough for Bruce Vieira. He wanted more.

When Kearsarge’s special teams unit relaxed, thinking a punt had settled to a stop in the muddy grass, Pelham’s star running back scooped up the ball and returned it for a 37-yard touchdown, helping propel the Pythons closer to a second consecutive perfect season.

“We just wanted to get away from (the ball), but he saw an opening and took it,” said Pelham’s head coach, Tom Babaian. “It’s hard to coach things like that. He has the ability to make a coach look smart.”

Vieira’s score came with 10:47 left in the second quarter of the Division V semifinal, which Pelham eventually won, 28-6, on Saturday, Nov. 15.

“It was a short punt, and they backed off. You have to be able to expect anything,” said Vieira. “They weren’t really hustling, and we’re a team that hustles all the time, so I just took advantage.”

The score was the only one in the first half, but it didn’t take long for the Pythons to strike after intermission.

Cameron Robidoux took the opening kickoff of the second half up the middle and broke free for a touchdown, extending Pelham’s lead.

Quarterback Joseph DeAngelo hooked up with Josh Luciano on a 44-yard strike with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter, and after the Cougars cut the Pelham lead to 21-6, Vieira added a 2-yard touchdown with 4:15 remaining to seal the Pythons’ spot in the title game against St. Thomas Aquinas.

Babaian said last year’s experience in the title game has helped his players throughout the season.

“Any time you can get that experience, the confidence just mounts week after week,” said Babaian. “This is why you coach, and this is why the kids come out for the team.”

Vieira believes having played in and won a championship game provides his team an edge.

“We know what it takes to win,” said Vieira. “We know how big the stage is. When you let the pressure get to you, you’re going to fold. We know how to make sure that doesn’t happen to us.”

In addition to his touchdown pass, DeAngelo added an interception with 9:48 remaining in the contest to help set up the final Python score.

Pelham battles the Saints on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Pelham High School. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

Pelham and Bow stumble around gridiron, but Pythons take win

Salem Editor — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:18:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Tom Babaian wasn’t impressed with his team’s performance. Paul Cohen wasn’t pleased with how his squad played either. But someone had to come out with a win.

Babaian’s Pelham football team defeated Cohen’s Bow Falcons, 35-20, on Saturday, Oct. 4, in a turnover-plagued contest that helped the Pythons improve to 3-0 on the season.

“We were very sloppy, we didn’t execute well, we didn’t hold the ball well, and playoff teams can’t do that,” Babaian said. “Any time you can come out with a win is good, but we’re going to need to work on things if we want to go deep in the playoffs.”

The two teams combined for 11 turnovers, and while his team’s execution was poor, Cohen liked his team’s attitude.

“We made a lot of mistakes, and obviously they capitalized on those,” Cohen said. “We were undermanned coming in and then lost a few more guys during the game. I was happy to see them battling, and happy to see they refused to quit.”

Pelham recovered a fumble at the Bow 23-yard line with 9:17 remaining in the first quarter and cashed in when quarterback Joseph DeAngelo lobbed a pass to a diving Tim Schaffer in the end zone, giving the Pythons a 7-0 lead.

It looked as if the Pythons might be in position to cruise to the easy victory after Josh Luciano broke free on a 43-yard touchdown scamper with little more than five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

But the Falcons struck back with a big play of their own, as quarterback Austin Hill threw a short pass to wideout Tom Poitras, who did the rest of the work, breaking free and running down the sideline for an 85-yard score.

Although Hill and Poitras did connect for another touchdown with 11 seconds remaining in the contest, Bow never challenged again.

Luciano contributed in nearly every aspect for the Pythons, running for a score, catching another, taking snaps at quarterback, and also intercepting two passes.

Hoping to defend its undefeated state championship, Babaian is fully aware his squad is going to face top efforts from every team it plays the rest of the way.

“We know we’re marked, and everyone wants a piece of us,” he said. “We have got to get better. We aren’t where we want to be right now, but hopefully we can get there.”

Pelham football, behind strong ground game, seeks another crown

Salem Editor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:42:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Tom Babaian isn’t looking for his team to replicate what it accomplished last season, but he does hope it ends with his football team holding a championship plaque for a second consecutive year.

Babaian’s Pelham Pythons completed their undefeated 2007 campaign with a state title, and the team returns some of the main cogs from last year.

“Obviously you try to duplicate what you did last year. You don’t settle for anything less,” said the head coach. “We’re looking to be just as good, if not better. That doesn’t mean that’ll happen, but that’s what you strive for.”

One returning player to this year’s team is Bruce Vieira, who proved to be one of the best backs in the state last season. Babaian said Vieira has been successful on the field due to his preparation off it.

“He’s without a doubt one of the top players in the entire state, if not in New England. He’s an outstanding player, outstanding kid,” said Babaian. “He does it all on his own. He’ll push himself, and that’s the difference between him and everybody else. He just does it, and that’s rare for a high school kid. You can’t teach that.”

Leading the offense will be Josh Luciano, who Babaian said brings a combination of leadership and athleticism to the quarterback position.

“He has a lot of that (athleticism), but he just needs to learn to use it,” said Babaian. “I think he’ll have a big year.”

With the success of Vieira last year, defenses will look to slow the senior, making Tim Schaffer vital to the Pelham backfield.

“If they key on Bruce, then (Schaffer) could have a big year. That’s huge because you can’t have an average guy be the opposite of a Bruce,” said Babaian. “You need somebody who can pound the ball and take it the distance. It makes a big difference (in) play calling.”

Babaian said he expects junior linebacker Connor McColgan and senior nose tackle Bill Helliwell to anchor the defense for Pelham, which faces new Division-V opponents thanks to an expansion and reshuffling of divisions.

“It’ll be much more competitive … It makes it a lot more difficult. You’re adding in some good quality teams,” he said. “We’re not going to have the teams that roll over like we had last year. There were times we walked on the field and it was over.”

Although Babaian is excited for the season to begin, he knows his team still needs to improve before its regular-season opener on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Campbell.

“Honestly, we have a lot of work before our first game. We’re nowhere near game ready yet,” he said. “It’s getting the kids prepared for what’s coming at them and the speed it’s coming at them.”

Yes, it fell short, but team showed remarkable resiliency

Salem Editor — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:48:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Trailing by 16 points in a playoff football game makes a ready excuse for a group of 12- year-olds to become rattled.

The Pelham/Windham Razorbacks decided to forego that option and came storming back to take a second-half lead in the New England semifinals of the Pee Wee division before falling to the eventual American Youth Football regional champions, 28- 24.

After falling behind 22-6 to the Meriden, Conn., Raiders during the game on Nov. 18, the Razorbacks took the lead with about seven minutes remaining.

The Raiders struck back, taking the lead for good with roughly four minutes left on the clock. The Razorbacks’ final drive stalled at the Meriden 37- yard line.

Pelham-Windham’s comeback, however, remains clear in head coach Dave Masiello’s mind.

“They easily could have folded,” he said, “but they decided to make the adjustments and just go for it. They showed great composure, and for kids that age to just keep making plays, it was just impressive.”

Quarterback Jake Vaiknoras paced the Razorbacks’ offense, throwing for two touchdowns and notching one score on the ground.

According to Masiello, the biggest key of youth football is instilling the basic skills of the game in children to help them succeed down the road.

“Physically, it’s about teaching them about proper techniques because everything will come after that,” said Masiello.

“Then it’s about commitment, not wanting to give up, leadership and putting the team first.” The on-field lessons not only help players in future games, but also in other venues.

“They learn to accept their role, and how to be punctual,” said Masiello. “Everything they are learning on the football field is going to help them later. The lessons in work and life that they’ll learn are taking place on the football field right now.”

For the last 10 years, the Pelham/Windham Razorbacks have accumulated the most wins of any youth football program in New England, said Masiello.

“It’s always about the kids,” he said. “We get good quality kids every year. They want to work hard and sacrifice for their teammates. We also have a lot of hardworking coaches who love to do that job.”

In the semifinal loss, Muhanned Bagegni caught seven passes, Kevin Cooney reeled in a hook and ladder for a key third-quarter first down, and Kevin Deangelo contributed a 65-yard catch-and-run for a score.

Middle linebacker Mike Bernabei had a solid game on defense, while David Crichton played well at both offensive and defensive tackle.

Pythons finish 11-0 while collecting state title

Salem Editor — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:03:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

As the final seconds ticked down on the Harris Field scoreboard in Pelham, two Python players snuck around the outskirts of a celebrating group in blue uniforms. They had one target in mind.

With one swift tip of the Gatorade cooler, the players connected with head coach Tom Babaian, who received the drenching after leading the Pelham High School football team to its first state championship in his 14th year with the program.

The top-ranked Pythons completed their undefeated season with a 21-7 victory over second-seeded Gilford in the Division V title game on Saturday, Nov. 17, finishing the year 11-0.

“We made history this year,” said running back Bruce Vieira, who put the Pythons on top 7-0 with a 31-yard run with 10:17 remaining in the first quarter.

“To go 11-0, undefeated and win a state championship at home, you really just can’t describe it.”

Gilford tied the game in the second quarter thanks in part to some accidental offense on special teams. On fourth-and-2 near midfield, the Golden Eagles lined up to punt, but a high snap and Pelham pressure at the line forced Justin Breton to move, and he ran for a first down. The Golden Eagles eventually scored with 7:50 remaining in the quarter to tie the game.

But the Pythons grabbed the lead back roughly two minutes later when Joshua Luciano scampered down the left side for a 31-yard score, giving the locals a 14-7 lead.

Luciano intercepted a Gilford pass in the end zone with nine seconds remaining before halftime to protect the lead, giving the Pythons momentum at intermission.

“That was a game-changer,” said Babaian. “(Gilford) just kept plugging away and didn’t give up. That was certainly the biggest play of the game right there.”

In the second half, each team turned over the ball four times before Pelham extended its lead to 21-7 with 7:11 remaining in the contest on Vieira’s second score of the game.

The Pythons fought off the Golden Eagles’ offensive attack, and with 2:13 remaining in the final quarter, Conor McColgan came up with a thunderous sack on fourth down, giving his team the ball and a chance to run out the clock on the 2007 season. “This is unbelievable,” said Babaian. “It’s perfect, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

This is a result of the determination of the kids from day one.

Each day of practice last week was so focused. They knew what they wanted, and they got it done.”

Babaian wasn’t fazed by the Gatorade dump, despite temperatures in the 30s.

“It’s just so amazing (winning the championship) and an amazing feeling,” said Babaian, smiling for one of the first times since kickoff. “I don’t even feel (the Gatorade). I have so much adrenaline flowing right now.”

Pelham roughs up Bow, prepares (again) for Gilford

Salem Editor — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:41:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Pelham High School football team won’t have to dig too far into the archives to find game film for the Division V title game.

After overcoming a sloppy first half, the Pythons rolled past Bow High School 42-7 at home to set up a rematch with Gilford in next week’s D-V final.

Pelham edged Gilford on Nov. 2, 13-12.

Pelham’s offense struggled early on Saturday, Nov. 10, and the top-seeded Pythons clung to a 7-0 halftime lead vs. the fourth-ranked Falcons. However, Tyler Gant took the second-half kickoff to the Bow 10-yard line to grab momentum for Pelham.

Three plays later, Bruce Vieira rushed five yards into the end zone with 11:11 remaining in the third for one of his four touchdowns on the day. The 10-yard scoring drive was one of eight straight times the Pythons started in Bow territory.

“(Good field position) makes a huge difference in our offensive attack,” said Pelham head coach Tom Babaian, whose team fumbled multiple times in the first half. “They came out nervous. Being at home in a playoff atmosphere can be tough. They are only high school kids after all.”

Bow head coach Paul Cohen said the now 10-0 Pythons were simply stronger on both sides of the ball.

“They have a very powerful offense, and they were able to mix it up pretty nicely against us, and they stymied our offensive attack pretty effectively,” he said. “I told the team before the game we had to prevent major momentum shifts. We were knocking on the door early and didn’t score, and you can’t have that in a playoff game.”

The Falcons recovered a Python fumble at the Pelham 20- yard line with 10:27 remaining in the first quarter. The Falcons gave the ball back, fumbling at the 3-yard line.

Babaian said his half-time speech was simple.

“We talked about what had worked for us, and that we couldn’t play tense. We really had to get our act together and play more disciplined,” he said.

After Bow slowed Pelham offensively in the first half, the Pythons exploded for 35 second- half points. Pelham retains its home-field advantage, and the Pythons host Gilford in the championship game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Game notes
Quarterback Joseph DeAngelo had 15 carries for 87 yards, two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown, in addition to an interception on defense to help lead the way for the Pythons.

Close encounter – Pelham, Gilford separated by slimmest of margins

Salem Editor — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:08:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

With two undefeated teams going head to head, there was plenty of electricity in the crowd Friday, Nov. 2, as Gilford and Pelham squared off at Pelham High School to close out the regular season.

Strangely, in the first quarter, the only thing missing from the game was electricity.

The Pythons worked around a 19-minute power outage and secured the No. 1 seed heading into the Division V postseason with a 13-12 victory. The contest could prove to be a preview of the Division V championship game.

With 6:10 remaining in the first quarter and Pelham facing 4th-and-11, all of the lights at the field shut down. When power was restored, neither team mustered much offense.

In the second quarter, however, the Pythons struck first. Quarterback Joseph DeAngelo completed a short pass to Tyler Gantt, who found the end zone for a 58-yard score.

After Gilford responded 30 seconds later, DeAngelo put his team on top again, this time with his legs. The sophomore quarterback scampered 66 yards on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, giving his team a 13-6 lead.

Pelham head coach Tom Babaian’s decision to spread out his receivers paid off as the game progressed.

“We needed a spark, and that spread offense was it,” he said. “We had to switch it around, throw the ball, and I think it tired (Gilford) out a little bit. We still have a lot of room for improvement, though.”

Late in the game, it wasn’t DeAngelo’s throwing or running that sealed the victory, but his defense.

With Pelham clinging to a one-point lead, DeAngelo picked off a Gilford pass, the first of three Pelham interceptions in the final five minutes.

“I feel the same about (Gilford) as I did heading in,” said Babaian. “They’re a good team, and they gave us everything they could and more. Those three fourth-quarter picks were obviously really important for us.”

With the victory, the Pythons finished the regular season 9-0 , dropping Gilford to 8-1 and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Pelham entertains Bow High School in the D-V semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 10, while Gilford hosts Bishop Brady. Kickoffs for both are 1 p.m.

Athletics director says fields not ready

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:05:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

Concerned that athletic fields at Pelham High School won’t be ready in time for fall teams to practice, the school’s athletics director has urged its landscaping company to take immediate action.

“As it stands right now, the conditions of the fields is unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately,” Tim

Powers wrote in a July 2 letter to Santastic Landscaping.

“With the start of fall sports just around the corner, getting the fields in the best playing condition is of the utmost importance,” he wrote.

According to his letter, football practice starts on Aug. 8, and other fall teams begin practice five days later.

But the fields are in no condition to handle the athletic season, Powers wrote. Most of the field hockey field is burned and has divots in it that make it dangerous to play on, and soccer and football areas are not in the shape they should be in, according to his letter.

“With the addition of the portable classrooms, there will be changes in practice and game spaces,” Powers wrote, referring to the modular unit that opened on school grounds earlier this year. “We will need to be flexible with the limited space that we have.”

Last spring, Santastic was awarded a three-year contract by the Pelham School Board and the town’s selectmen to provide landscaping at town and school grounds.

At their July 11 meeting, School Board members were told by Superintendent Frank Bass that he believes the problems will be addressed.

“We anticipate that things will move appropriately and we look forward to a smooth opening of our athletic fields and programs,” he told the board.

Play flag-football this spring

Salem Editor — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:31:00 GMT

This spring, the NFL-affiliated New Hampshire Flag Football League (NHFFL) offers an organized, competitive and fun atmosphere to youngsters who want to experience football without the commitment and the contact. Games are played on Sundays in Pelham throughout the day. Practices start the week of April 9; the season begins April 29.

Registration is available at nhffl.com. All players must sign up online. Registration closes when all player slots are filled. The $55 sign-up fee includes an NFL reversible game-logo jersey and set of flags.

Each team has a one-hour practice during the week and a one-hour game on Sunday. There are six regular-season games and playoffs for athletes in three age groups: 6- to 8-year-olds, 9- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 14-year-olds. All divisions are co-ed.

The NHFFL needs volunteer coaches. The league has a coaches’ meeting before the season to answer any questions. If interested, e-mail Brian at nhfflyouth@comcast.net or call 765-7617.