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| TEAMWORK – Hooksett Jr. Pee Wee player Derek Clark (left, No. 33) gets ready to deliver the final blow to a Nashua running
back, aided by Cole Melanson (with hands on the runner) and Jared Chandler (with head tucked). The locals played well defensively,
but could not move the ball against the Crusaders, gaining just one first down against Nashua. (Jerry Liptak Photo) |
The Hooksett Hurricanes Pop
Warner program doesn’t limit
its success to the gridiron.
You’ll need to check the sidelines
as well.
While three Hooksett football
teams reached the Division I
postseason, two spirit squads
excelled at the New Hampshire
Pop Warner Cheerleading
Competition at the University
of New Hampshire’s
Whittemore Center.
Both the Jr. Midget and
Midget cheerleaders won their
divisions and were crowned
state champs.
With their fine performances,
the teams will travel to the New
England Regional Championship
at the University of Rhode
Island’s Ryan Center in
Kingston, R.I., on Saturday and
Sunday, Nov. 20 and 21.
The top two teams from the
regionals are eligible to compete
for the National
Championship in Orlando, Fla.
The fourth-seeded Jr. Midget
football team has earned a shot
at the state title following two
lopsided wins. The ‘Canes
crushed host Londonderry, 33-
8, on Wednesday, Oct. 27, then
blew out No. 2 seed Salem, 40-
7, on Sunday, Oct. 31.
Waiting for Hooksett is
Pelham/Windham. The Razorbacks
host the locals on
Sunday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is
planned for 1 p.m.
The Jr. Pee Wees, the fifth-ranked
team in the tournament,
shut out the visiting Amherst
Patriots on Oct. 27, 12-0.
The team ran into a buzz saw
on Halloween, dropping a 30-0
decision to the unbeaten Nashua
Elks Crusaders at Donati Field.
The Midgets entered the postseason
as the top seed, earning a
bye into the state semifinals.
But the squad dropped a 28-0
decision to Pelham/Windham
on Oct. 31. It was a close game
until the fourth quarter, when
the Razorbacks caused
turnovers and turned them into
quick points to account for the
final score.
The Midgets concluded the
regular season with some exciting
games, including a 20-14
loss to Pelham, a 28-26 win over
NorRock and a 26-24 victory
over Derry.
In the loss to Pelham, Jimmy
Mattos broke free for a 56-yard
score. He and the other backs
were helped by strong blocking
from Shaun Vesey, Drew
Daneau, Bryan Morissette,
Jordan MacRae, Justin Colvin,
Randy Hamilton, Cameron Ess,
Tad Shuell and Lucas Coleman.
Down 14-6, quarterback John
Natalizio hit Joe Campbell and
Mattos with passes, and Jon
Gelinas ran well, setting up
Mattos’ second score of the
night. Chris Cote’s two-point
kick knotted the score.
Doug Merrill, Campbell,
Jimmy Mattos, Justin Colvin
and Gelinas played well defensively.
Scott McCurdy defended
a pass. Bryan Morissette and
Gelinas shared a QB sack. Nick
Florence, Jeff Rousseau and
Cameren Ess added key third-quarter
tackles.
Down 20-14 late, John
Boudrias contributed a strong
kickoff return, and McCurdy
found Mattos for a 17-yard gain.
But a last-second pass fell
incomplete to seal the locals’
fate.
In the win over NorRock,
Hooksett overcame a 14-0 halftime
deficit behind McCurdy,
Natalizio, Mattos and Ken
Deyett on offense.
Gang tackling by Ess, Shuell,
Andy Largy, Coleman,
Boudrias, Gelinas, Rousseau
and MacRae kept the Vikings in
check.
In the tight victory over
Derry, the Midgets earned the
regular-season title for dedicated
head coach Bill Vesey and
his hard-working assistants,
Paul Morissette and Ken
Bradley.
Mattos followed a strong lead
block from Merrill for an early
score. Deyett added another TD
on the ground. Mattos’ second
score of the first half, followed
by Cote’s accurate kick, opened
a 20-0 lead for Hooksett.
After the Demons rallied furiously
to take a lead late in the
game, Mattos added his third
score, giving the ’Canes the lead
for good. Still, the locals hung
on only when a last-second 35-
yard field goal attempt by Derry
fell just short.
On defense, Merrill had an
interception, and McCurdy
forced a fumble.
