The Bedford Jaguars junior high school varsity football team made big plays on both sides of the ball, defeating the Pembroke Junior Spartans, 30-0, to win the Granite State Football League (GSFL) championship on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Bedford High. The Jaguars shut down the Jr. Spartans with a pair of goal-line stands, then broke a close game open ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORThree years ago, the last time Goffstown and Pembroke met on the Division III football gridiron, the Grizzlies were headed for the postseason and the Spartans were struggling to win a game. Following the most recent matchup, on Saturday, Oct. 25, GHS coach Rob Cathcart told his team: “I love games like this, but I ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORTo even the most subjective observer, there was little noticeable difference, in terms of talent, between the two teams clashing on the varsity gridiron. The respective coaches agreed: neither squad had a distinct advantage. Yet the numbers on the scoreboard told an altogether different story. Indeed, a 28-12 final is a ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORDivision III football has a different look in 2008. While perennial beast Souhegan of Amherst remains the favorite, and always-solid Milford and Portsmouth are still around as well, Plymouth, winner of seven of the last 10 D-III titles, moves down a division. “From year to year, the teams change so much it’s ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORSitting at a youth hockey conference, watching what was likely to be another boring prerecorded training video, Kermit Brunelle sighed. On the screen, Don Lucia, coach of the national champion University of Minnesota ice hockey team, was giving a speech. “A lot of people think I have the best job in hockey, and I tell ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORIt’s uncomfortable, but it’s a conversation both parties know must take place. As practice begins, Bill Walton, the John Stark wrestling coach, pulls Morgan Belanger aside. “You know if anything inappropriate happens, you have to tell me,” he says. Belanger nods. She’s had this talk before. ...

BY RYAN O'CONNOR Receiving second life and a fresh set of downs at the opponent’s 7-yard line, John Stark looked poised to move ahead 9-0 in the Oct. 13 fooball contest and put the visiting foes in an early hole. But the ensuing events mirrored the season; the Generals ran toward success, then fumbled the chance. Stark, after ...

BY RYAN O'CONNOR Two big plays were enough to extend Pembroke Academy football’s improbable run toward the Division III postseason. Taking advantage of the hosts’ many mistakes, PA won its first road game, 14-10, at John Stark Regional High School on Saturday, Oct. 13. PA improved to 4-3, good for fifth place in D-III. The top ...

BY JERRY LIPTAK The Spartans shoved. The Eagles pushed back. But when the hosts shoved harder still, the visitors teetered and were ultimately toppled in a 34-18 Pembroke Academy victory over Kennett on Saturday, Oct. 6. A pair of first-half touchdowns – a short run from Douglas Merrill and a 42-yard trek by Christopher Allen, who ...

BY JERRY LIPTAK Pembroke Academy stunned its fans and, more importantly, visiting Portsmouth with a late-game defensive stop and subsequent touchdown, beating the Clippers, 14-10, on Saturday, Sept. 8. Portsmouth led the Spartans, 10-7, when it reached the PA 5-yard line in the fourth quarter. But four straight stops by the locals – three ...