Salem Observer : football

Family business: football

Salem Editor — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Three generations of Campbells take the mike at SHS

BY DERRICK PERKINS

It’s not love of the game that’s drawn three generations of Campbell men to the high school football broadcast booth, but a bond to each other and their hometown.

Bernard Howard Campbell was still playing slide trombone in the Salem High School band when his father, Bernard Milton Campbell, went on air as a color commentator with Mike Tuccolo in the early ’70s for public access cable. Tuccolo, a teacher and coach at the school, did the play-by-play.

When the elder Campbell, a 30-year veteran of the School Board, died in 1996, Bernard took his father’s seat, both behind the microphone and on the board.

“We’ve covered the ground for 40-odd years between my dad and me,” he said. “It was really neat to be with my dad and Mike. I just enjoyed it.”

Campbell has spent countless hours compiling high school football stats, yet doesn’t consider himself an avid fan of the game. Rather, broadcasting gave him time with his father and now with his son. He also savors showcasing high school athletics.

“It’s more the connection with Salem and Salem High School,” Campbell said. “When they were doing senior superlatives, I was the guy who did the most for Salem High School ... This is my home.”

Campbell’s son Bernie, a drama teacher at Laconia High School, shares his father’s Blue Devil pride. The younger Campbell doesn’t get many opportunities to come home for games, but when he does, he joins his father in the broadcast booth.

“It’s a lot of fun to work with my dad. He’s so very knowledgeable about the game,” said Bernie. “I enjoy coming down and spending time with my dad. Before I even got into broadcasting, I went to just about every game with him growing up.”

Bernie can remember his father compiling team stats late into the night on the eve of a game, collecting three thick binders documenting the program’s history. At the flip of a page, Bernard can tell you Salem has a 5-22 record against Pinkerton Academy, their rival in the recent playoff game.

Campbell’s 30 years as the voice of Salem football was honored earlier this year with an induction into the high school’s hall of fame.

It’s a testament to his dedication, said Tuccolo, who called plays from the booth with all three Campbell men before retiring in 2002.

“(Bernard) doesn’t do it for the ego or anything. He enjoys football and Salem and started this little statistical book with everything in the world in it,” he said. “The big thing working with those guys is they had a tremendous history. You get in between plays in dead spots and you had things to talk about from way back ... That continuum is very, very important.”

The Campbells want to see their family tradition continue, but time will tell. Bernie enjoys broadcasting sports, but it’s not something he cares to envision doing without his father.

“If I had the opportunity to come back to Salem and do it, I would be thrilled to do it,” he said. “It’s something I’d do for Salem every year and I might very well, but I don’t see myself getting involved with it independent of dad.”

Blue Devils blow into state fi nal after navigating choppy second half of semis

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:12:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

For years, Salem has been an 18-wheeler chugging down the Division I football freeway. SHS, frequently a powerful force, often seemed poised to flatten the competition, only to watch speedy Pinkerton Academy blaze past, garnering title after title – nine total – in a 23-year span.

In fact, the Astros entered this season having won 18 of the last 20 contests with the Blue Devils. But on Sunday, Nov. 15, Salem left the past safely in the rearview mirror.

Despite Pinkerton’s best efforts to overcome a 24-7 halftime deficit, the locals threw up a roadblock in the last seven minutes of the D-I semifinal contest, and the Astros’ series dominance came to a screeching halt following a 44-28 Salem victory.

“We haven’t beaten Pinkerton twice in the same season once, and that’s what we just did,” said standout tailback Max Jacques, referring to a decisive 24-7 regular-season home win over the ’Stros on Sept. 26.

“Honestly, going into this season, I didn’t think this team had what it takes to be here, but you could tell right from the time we came together at training camp and at two-a-days this was going to be a special year.”

Pinkerton’s coach said it’s no surprise this SHS team is the one to finally dispatch his charges.

“I think one of the most deceptive things is, yes, we’ve won 18 out of 20, but very few of those games have been blowouts. We just always had them,” said Brian O’Reilly. “It was always this or always that. A couple times it was overtime, one time it was a fumble at the 1-yard line when they could have won and just didn’t. Yes, it was one-sided in the Ws and Ls, but its always been a great game.

“This is a typical Salem team. They are what they’ve always been,” added the PA mentor. “(Salem coach) Jack (Gati) has a great offense. He’s always had the power and the play-action pass, but now he’s got the speed, and that’s the one thing he’s always lacked, that ability to hit you outside. Now that he’s got it, that team is devastating, and they play great defense on top of that.”

Indeed, while the backfield trio of senior blocking back Alex Sobrado, junior speedster Jacques and sophomore force Jerickson Fedrick ran up and down the field on the visitors, amassing more than 300 years and six touchdowns combined, Salem’s defense stopped Pinkerton’s always-potent offense in the first half, then clamped down late to fend off a fourthquarter scare.

Fedrick put the hosts on the board on the first snap of the game with a 73-yard scamper to paydirt, but Salem’s offense sputtered on its second possession.

PA blocked a punt and recovered the ball at the Salem 4-yard line, setting up its only first-half score.

Junior quarterback Matt

Cannone put the Blue Devils back on top when he connected with Sobrado on a 41-yard touchdown nine minutes into the contest.

Jacques found the end zone on a 3-yard run midway through the second quarter, and Chris Saulnier added a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Pinkerton scored on the first possession out of the locker room, but it was the defenses that carried the game into the fourth quarter.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, the Astros pulled within four points when Zach Tulley snagged a 45-yard touchdown from PA signal caller Ryan Simpson.

Though the point-after attempt was denied, the touchdown was the first of four in the next two minutes.

Jacques returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a score. Pinkerton answered with a three-play touchdown drive that took less than 45 seconds. Yet Fedrick snatched momentum back for good when he broke loose on the outside and took off for 66 yards with 7:42 remaining in the duel.

Senior Darren Brown intercepted a desperation pass on third-and-long on the next PA possession, and Fedrick capped the victory by punching the ball into the end zone once more – this time from five yards out – with two minutes left.

“I told the kids this was the biggest game of the year, and it was,” said Gati. “We’re at the pinnacle, and now we have one game left.”

The program’s last football title came in 1995, when they were still competing in Division II. They fell in 2005 and 2006 to Pinkerton in the D-I title game.

On Saturday, Nov. 21, the locals look to end that drought and capture their first D-I crown when they kickoff against Nashua North, which they beat on the road, 54-33, on Oct. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

Game notes
Fedrick finished the contest with 191 yards on 18 carries, including three touchdowns. Jacques added one score and 73 yards on 17 carries, and Sobrado contributed eight carries for 37 yards and that 41-yard TD catch.

Cannone completed five of seven passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Brown compiled 87 yards on three reception.

Unbeaten Salem grinds down North with ground game

Salem Editor — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:11:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Nashua North’s defense had their hands on Max Jacques and Jerickson Fedrick all game. The Titans just couldn’t hold on.

The electrifying pair of Salem running backs dashed for a combined 496 yards and seven touchdowns. Much of the yardage came after initial contact.

On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Blue Devils improved to 7- 0, 5-0 in Division-I play, and grabbed the top spot in the standings following a 54-33 road victory over previously unbeaten North.

“Everyone was underestimating us, and we had to show them who’s the best team in Division I,” said the sophomore Fedrick, who bruised his way to 220 yards and four touchdowns. “I just kept my legs moving after the first hits and kept moving.”

Salem entered halftime trailing, 26-19, but scored 28 unanswered points to open up a 47-26 lead.

Nashua trimmed the deficit to 14 late in the fourth quarter and recovered an onside kick with 5:43 remaining in the contest, looking to cut its deficit to a single score.

The Titans drove within striking distance of the end zone, but Fedrick made an interception at the 15-yard line and returned it all the way to North’s 19, setting up an Alex Sobrado score that capped the Blue Devil victory.

Salem ran sweep plays to Jacques throughout the contest, and though he regularly appeared bottled up near the sidelines, he popped free time and time again … for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.

Big plays were the norm for the Blue Devils, who produced five touchdown runs of more than 40 yards on the game, including Fedrick’s run of 81 yards and Jacques’ scamper of 71.

“It was a great statement for us. We’re looking to go undefeated,” said Jacques, a junior, who takes particular pride in the runs he makes following contact. “I love those scores. It’s all the work you put in during the offseason in the weight room paying off.”

The Blue Devils have finished the difficult portion of their schedule – on paper, anyway. Winless Concord and West, along with two-win Central, remain.

Salem head coach Jack Gati down-played the win over undefeated North. “I’m not willing to say (we’re the top team in Division I) yet,” said Gati. “We’re 7-0, and that’s nice, but that isn’t going to mean anything in the postseason.”

Though blessed with two highly talented backs, Gati also knows those runners wouldn’t consistently spring free without the blocking of Darren Brown, Andrew Ivas, Greg Coleman, John Pascal, Craig Lawlor, Dillon Cohen, Kyle Henrick and Mike Lorenz.

In five division games Salem has piled up 197 points – nearly 40 per contest – thanks in large part to its ground game.

“They’ve done it to everyone that they’ve played,” said Nashua North head coach Jason Robie. “That doesn’t make me feel any better about it.”

Following decline in ’08, Salem ready to respond on gridiron

Salem Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:05:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Though Jack Gati’s Salem High School football squad entered summer practices with potential holes, the mentor said he has players ready to fill the voids of a Blue Devil team that finished below .500 in Division I last year.

“You have guys who start the season off, and you see question marks,” said Gati. “But then you start seeing progressions. There are surprises during the preseason.”

One of the returning starters who Gati has no questions about is Max Jacques, who amassed 800 yards during his sophomore season in 2008.

But the offensive line raises questions that the mentor expects to see answered in the affirmative – and soon. Ray Coleman, Craig Lawlor, John Pascal, Dillon Cohen and Andrew Ivas have the task of blocking for the Salem offense.

“It’s a work in progress,” said Gati. “They’re the leaders of the offense, although unfortunately they don’t always get the credit they deserve. They don’t have everything down yet, but I think they’re going to gel. I see them developing and getting a little smarter.”

Behind center is quarterback Matt Cannone, a junior who completed 50 percent of his passes last year.

Darren Brown may become one of Cannone’s favorite targets, as he switched from fullback to tight end this year. Gati said Brown’s clean routes and good hands make him a threat to catch passes.

The tight end position is one of the deepest spots for the Blue Devils, with Kyle Henrick, a senior with outstanding blocking abilities, joining juniors Mike Lorez and Jarred Matthews on the depth chart.

Two athletes who asserted themselves with impressive preseason performances are Joe DiPalma and Ricky LaRhette. Gati said DiPalma, a junior, is likely to see snaps at linebacker, while LaRhette was strong in the final days of preseason at cornerback.

Salem opens up with nonconference action in its first game, something that Gati believes will aid his team’s development.

“It’s a regular-season game, but it doesn’t count in the standings,” said Gati. “That’s an important game for us. We’re trying to find some depth. We’ll be able to get some game experience for some of the guys who are playing for the first time.”

Salem woman recognized as one of IWFL’s best players

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:28:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Five years ago, when Jamie Naylor heard about an all-women’s football league, she thought, “I could do that.”

She was right.

Naylor, a 2000 Salem High School graduate, recently finished her fifth year with the Manchester Freedom, where she has filled nearly every role in a sport she had never played until she tried out for the team.

In her most recent campaign, during which the Freedom finished with a 4-4 regular- season record and earned a playoff spot, Naylor was named to the Independent Women’s Football League all-star team and traveled to Austin, Texas, with other stars from the 51- team league.

Though Naylor is predominantly a wide receiver and safety, she has also returned kicks and served as a place kicker and backup quarterback.

And Naylor isn’t the only Salem resident on the squad; captain Lauri Izzi serves as a quarterback and running back in addition to her special teams work.

It’s Naylor’s versatility that her head coach, Dave Sarvis, said has made her a key member of the Freedom.

“It isn’t a case of what one thing makes her so important to the team,” said Sarvis. “Her ability to adapt to multiple positions on offense and defense and be utilized in complex systems has been impressive.”

Before she joined the Freedom, Naylor played soccer and softball growing up. Naylor said each prepared her for football in different ways.

The training for soccer helped Naylor’s endurance, while softball helped her focus on the importance of fundamentals.

“The sports really taught me the importance of being on a team as well,” said Naylor. “In soccer and softball, you can have one player who really carries the team. In football, everyone on the team has to participate, and you have to rely on everyone else.”

When Naylor first came into the league, the season included 10 regular-season games. Teams currently play eight contests leading up to the playoffs.

Freedom players practice two or three nights a week, and Sarvis said that makes Naylor’s progress even more impressive; it shows how much she works in her spare time.

“The fact that someone can come in without prior experience and learn from the Pop Warner level right up through college in the span of three months, and grow year after year, that’s outstanding,” he said.

Naylor said one of the most rewarding aspects of playing in the IWFL is the example she can set for young females who may not have known football was an option for them.

“The opportunity is there,” said Naylor. “If we can be the forerunners for the girls to have opportunities when they’re younger, it’ll be great for them to get chances to play at the next level.”

Salem High School alumni reaches bowl game for University of Buffalo

Salem Editor — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:43:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Most of the time when the University at Buffalo football team is on SportsCenter, Chris Scharon is part of the highlight. You just have to look closely and avoid following the ball.

The Salem resident recently concluded his college career on a national stage, as part of a program playing in the only bowl game in the school’s history.

As the fullback on a team with a successful running game – star back James Starks broke multiple rushing records for the Bulls – Scharon has a simple yet crucial job: block.

“It’s a hard-nosed, tough position,” said Buffalo running backs coach Lee Chambers. “Every time we had a big game rushing, I’d let Chris know that it was because of him too. He doesn’t care about the glory though.”

During his junior year at Salem High School, Scharon was scouted by some of the top Division I-AA teams in New England. Then Buffalo came calling.

Jack Gati, Salem’s head coach, sent film of Scharon the school, and Buffalo invited the then-linebacker to a camp at the university.

A week after its conclusion, Scharon received an offer for a full scholarship. He accepted it on National Signing Day his senior year.

“It was a thrill because even when I was a little kid I knew what I wanted to do,” said Scharon, who recently completed school as a fifth-year senior. “I wanted to play at the highest level. For me to get recruited by some of the great schools around here and have a (Division) I-A scholarship level, it meant a great deal.”

Gati said it wasn’t necessarily the physical aspect of the game that made Scharon an appealing recruit.

“He was one of the players who comes around once in a great while. He had everything,” said Gati. “Chris had the passion to play the game the right way, digested football all the time, and just showed up and played. He was dominating at his position.”

When Scharon began playing for the Bulls, they were an also-ran in the middling Mid- American Conference (MAC). Buffalo had been a I-AA team until 1999, and won only eight games through the 2004 season. Following a coaching change in December 2005, the team began to improve.

Under Turner Gill, third-year head coach and a national champion at the University of Nebraska, Buffalo appeared in the International Bowl against the University of Connecticut on Jan. 3 in Toronto.

The Bulls lost, 38-20, yet the game’s positive impact was felt beyond the field’s boundaries. The University at Buffalo had been selected to play in the Tangerine Bowl 50 years ago, but the team refused to play because its two black players were not allowed to compete.

“Being able to really be on the first team at the university to play in a bowl game makes it more special,” said Scharon. “Then to know there was a team that stood up for something more important than a football game – it makes me proud to know our university has a piece of history along with it too.”

Scharon broke his hand the last game of the regular season. He saw limited action in the MAC title game – when Buffalo throttled 12th-ranked and undefeated Ball State, 42-24 – and in the International Bowl, but he said it didn’t take away from his experience.

“From the time the MAC Championship ended and the (International) Bowl, you have people patting you on the back telling you how great you are,” said Scharon. “It’s a big accomplishment.”

Chambers and Scharon developed a close relationship, and the running backs coach said he was thrilled when Scharon caught his first-ever touchdown pass in 2007, a home game against Akron.

Gati said he watched one game with pride when Starks broke free for a score, and the announcers specifically highlighted the touchdown-producing block thrown by Scharon.

“Looking down the field, seeing them breaking a big play that you threw a block for, it’s a great feeling,” said Scharon. “I’m not the fastest guy. I’m not the strongest guy. I’ve known that to achieve what I wanted to, it’s going to come from hard work. To become better each year was the thing for me. In my eyes, to be successful you have get down and dirty, and work your butt off.”

Salem football team sets scoring record

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:59:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

When last the Blue Devils played under the lights at Grant Field, they were forced to say goodbye to 26 seniors after Manchester West came to town and handed them a 17-14 loss in the regular-season finale that kept Salem from the playoffs.

On Friday, Sept. 19, the Salem football team returned to the scene of the crime for the first time in 10 months to face another Queen City foe.

Though Memorial put an early scare into the locals, going ahead 6-0 on the first drive of the game, it quickly became apparent it was SHS doing the bludgeoning on this night.

So when Salem’s Chris Hale recovered a high punt snap in the end zone with 0:00 remaining on the game clock, the touchdown meant nothing in terms of result, but everything in regards to history.

The Blue Devils hung 65 points on the visitors, setting a team scoring record that stood since a 64-0 victory against Somersworth in 1971.

The boys also set new marks with eight touchdowns and five two-point conversions.

More important than records, however, was the play of the team’s offense in the 65-20 victory, said head coach Jack Gati.

“We needed something like this,” he said. “We needed our backs to hold onto the ball and protect the ball and run, and the linemen needed to block, so things were really put together tonight, as far as I’m concerned.”

In the backfield, the four-headed monster of sophomore speedster Max Jacques, junior Darren Brown and seniors Kyle Kenney and Chris Najem ate up the Memorial front seven all night.

The quartet combined for 338 of Salem’s more than 500 yards from scrimmage. Jacques tallied 90 yards and found the end zone once on 11 carries, and a 48-yard touchdown run was called back on a holding penalty. He also compiled in excess of 100 yards on kickoff returns.

It was the forceful running of the 200-pound Najem that gives Gati hope for the team’s chances this season.

Najem carried the ball nine times, earning 143 yards on the ground. He found pay dirt three times, not including a two-point conversion.

“He’s the one I needed to step up tonight, and he did,” said Gati. “He had a long week of practice and didn’t have the best game last week, so we needed a little more consistency out of him, and we got it tonight.”

First-year starting quarterback Matt Cannone, meanwhile, hit the passes he needed to. He connected twice for long scores with his favorite target, Cory Lavallee, once on a 52-yard bomb that caught the senior wide open along the left sideline in the second quarter and again on a similar 40-yard play exactly four minutes later, three seconds before the half.

“He does a nice job, doesn’t he? Boy, he’s really matured in the last couple weeks,” said Gati of his sophomore signal caller. “I was really pleased with the way he threw the ball. He’s very composed ... I’d say that’s his best quality right now. For a sophomore, that’s impressive.”

Still, while the Blue Devils gained much-needed momentum heading into their contest with rival and three-time defending state champ Pinkerton, Gat said his defense must play better if Salem’s to contend.

“Really, we were only 22 points ahead (against Memorial), and the way they were throwing the ball, I was concerned going into the third quarter,” said Gati of his squad’s 36-14 halftime lead. “Offensively, we did what we wanted to, I have no complaints. Defensively, we have a couple things to work on still.”

Another slip – Salem drops homecoming battle to defending champs

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:36:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Following consecutive Division I title-game losses to Pinkerton Academy, Salem’s geographic rival and annual road block, you can’t blame coach Jack Gati and his players if they had revenge on their minds.

But in the marquee event of the Blue Devils’ homecoming festivities, five costly turnovers – spread throughout the contest – led to another Blue Devil loss on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Astros, 25 – Blue Devils, 20.

Stopping PA’s opening drive with a quick three-and-out, Salem drove down field into scoring position before senior running back Kevin Sledge fumbled at the Pinkerton 10-yard line.

Though Pinkerton didn’t score, its defense held Salem on the following possession. Following a botched Salem punt that was accidentally downed on the host’s 9-yard line, the Astros quickly scored. A two-point conversion put them ahead, 8-0.

But Salem showed resiliency throughout the contest.

Sledge capped a 55-yard drive with a 4-yard score, though the Blue Devils missed the two-point conversion.

“This is the best we’ve played, outside of the big turnovers,” said Gati. “We played hard, and that’s all I can ask for. We just need to stop making these mistakes.”

Indeed, another fumble led to a second Pinkerton score and 15-6 edge at halftime.

After the break, Salem tried to control the pace of play and was successful – to a degree. James Stewart’s 2-yard score completed a nine-plus minute drive.

Pinkerton’s response, however, took 45 seconds; a 64-yard score on the second play of the drive extended the ’Stros’ lead again.

Salem, in turn, came right back when Sledge returned a kickoff 97 yards to paydirt.

“I knew I just needed to make a big play to make up for my early mistake,” said Sledge.

In one minute, 30 seconds, the PA lead shrunk from 15-6 to 22-20.

A fourth quarter Pinkerton field goal and two late interceptions sealed another Salem loss.

Gati couldn’t explain his program’s poor performance against the Astros, seven consecutive losses including playoff contests.

A week after a 34-14 home loss to Londonderry, Salem dropped to 1-2 in Division I following the Pinkerton loss, knocking the Blue Devils off their perch of preseason favorite.

“We’ve got to win some games first. We’ve got two losses staring us in the face with some good teams down the road,” said Gati. “We’ve got to take care of what’s ahead of us. We’ll worry about the playoffs later.”

Run through – Salem enters ‘meat of schedule’ by crushing Memorial

Salem Editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:55:00 GMT

BY DAVE CHOATE

Most opponents know Salem High School is going to run the football early and often. Stopping that powerhouse running game is a different matter.

The Blue Devils crushed the Memorial High School Crusaders, 42-7, in a game where the clock and scoreboard were dominated by Salem’s running backs.

Salem ran up a 28-0 lead at halftime on three rushing touchdowns and a short pass from quarterback Hal Landers before pulling most of its starters in the third quarter.

The Blue Devils piled up more than 200 yards on the ground. Shane McMahon led the way with 14 carries for 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including one highlight-reel sprint from 64 yards out.

The team also made extensive use of a defensive package featuring three down linemen and five linebackers to keep Memorial’s running game in check. The defense had allowed 90 yards and was helped by mistake-prone Memorial on an intentional grounding call that led to a safety.

“We can’t do well unless we run the ball and play defense,” said Salem head coach Jack Gati. “Memorial tries to spread you out on defense, but our 3-5 scheme worked really well tonight.”

Memorial coach Dante Laurendi tipped his hat to his opponents.

“They play like you want your football team to play. We didn’t come to play mentally, and you can’t make a lot of mistakes against a team that good,” said Laurendi, whose team fell to 1-1.

Gati said his team, now 2-0, must keep its powerful running game going against Londonderry next week.

“We’re into the real meat of our schedule now. This season’s like a ladder, and we’re just going to take it one rung at a time,” said Gati. “And we’ve climbed the first and second ones now.”

Salem Rams offer sign-ups for football, spirit

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:25:00 GMT

The Salem Rams have football and spirit sign-ups for the 2007 season in early April.

Registration takes place at the Salem/Derry Elks Lodge, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 12. Open registration is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Football players and parents must be present to sign up. Players must be weighed for roster placement.
Cheerleaders do not need to attend.

The registration fee is $150 for the first child and $95 for each additional child.

Be sure to bring a clear copy of your child’s birth certificate.

Football players need to bring a completed registration form available at salemrams.com under the documents tab on the left side of the home page.

New for this season, the Rams offer a middle school football program for any sixth-, seventh- or eighth-grader. There is no weight limit.

‘Championship effort’

Salem Editor — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:08:00 GMT

Salem impresses in loss to powerhouse Pinkerton

BY MATT STOUT

Most years, a runner-up plaque is a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. On Saturday, Nov. 18, it could have represented a title in itself.

In what many tabbed to be a foregone conclusion, the Salem football team fell, 27-7, to powerhouse Pinkerton Academy in the Division I title game. A third-quarter, 96-yard Astros’ touchdown pass ensured Pinkerton’s 12-0 season and second consecutive title.

Yet, as much as it hurt to bow in the championship for the second straight year, just another victim in the Astros’ run to Division I glory, Salem coach Jack Gati and his players watched as Pinkerton celebrated their victory.

And they didn’t bow their heads once.

From the start, it was Pinkerton and everyone else in 2006. The Blue Devils, at 8-4, were the last ones standing.

“When we started this season, there wasn’t much on us, we didn’t have very high expectations,” said Salem senior captain Jared Ciriello, who pointed out that just three players on the varsity bus leaving Derry started in last year’s 7-0 loss to Pinkerton. “Everything we did this year is attributed to the team and not last year’s team setting it up. So making it to the championship was definitely great for us.

“And we all know that.”

As gaudy as the final margin was, the 20-point cushion Pinkerton built doesn’t begin to tell the game’s story. After two Pinkerton rushing scores and a blocked punt that Astros senior Dana Macleod ran in from roughly 15 yards out, Salem found itself down 19-0 less than 12 minutes in.

But the Blue Devil defense found its footing thereafter, holding running back Mike LaRocque to 11 of his 121 yards rushing in the second half, continually forcing Pinkerton into short drives, two of which ended in three-and-outs to start the third quarter.

The Salem offense, meanwhile, made good on a short field with 6:06 left in the second quarter when it scored its lone touchdown on a 5-yard halfback pass from Shane McMahon to Kevin Sledge.

Overcoming two Pinkerton interceptions late in the first half and early in the second, the Blue Devils seemed to be gaining momentum after they pinned the Astros inside their 5-yard line with less than a minute to play in the third quarter.

But then, in a way, the Salem defense proved too good. With Pinkerton still leading 19-7, coach Brian O’Reilly called for a play-action pass. Salem read the play, taking away quarterback Bryan Farris’ first option in the flat.

Seeing that, wide receiver Juan Amador changed his fly pattern into a post, cut inside to take a pass at about the 25-yard line from Farris and sprinted untouched for a 96-yard score and, more importantly, all the Astros needed to ensure the win.

“As soon as (Salem) jumped the pass, I was like, ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me,’” O’Reilly said.

“But Brian just pumped it, turned and found Juan on the inside seam and just laid it out there.”

Pinkerton ran out most of the fourth-quarter clock, but Gati couldn’t be happier with what he called a “championship effort” from his team. The coach returns most of his key players next season, including McMahon, Sledge and quarterback Hal Landers, who threw for 81 yards.

It’s the leadership many of his seniors brought that he’ll miss. Salem graduates 10 altogether, including captains Ciriello and Mark Dupuis, Dan Frasca, Ben Lawlor, Peter Emerzian, John Emerzian, Matthew Gromyko, Brent Madigan, Greg Lorenz and Greg Sapochetti.

“To get to this point and get into the championship game,” Gati said, “there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”