Turkey Bowl-bound

MONUMENTAL MOMENT – As his team rushed the field to celebrate its fourth straight Division I football championship, Central senior Todd Pelletier briefly stays behind to marvel at the Little Green’s latest accomplishment. With its 48-17 win at Gill Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 20, Central also claimed its fifth D-I title in the last six seasons. (Marc Thaler Photo)

MANCHESTER – Within Manchester Central’s victory vault, in the section specifically reserved for Division I football championships, the Little Green’s ’04 file can be found. This latest folder is marked with the tag, “Nodoubter.”

Against No. 3 Pinkerton Academy of Derry, 8- 3 in D-I, top-ranked Gang Green took control early on Saturday, Nov. 20, at Gill Stadium with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns from tailback Sloan Russett.

Central’s senior standout ran for 199 yards on 22 carries and, appropriately, broke the goal line four times on the afternoon, helping the Little Green machine win its fourth straight D-I title, 48- 17.

The Astros were the last D-I football program to claim four consecutive state crowns – from 1991 to 1994.

The one-sided title game also gave Central, 11- 0 in D-I, its fifth championship in six seasons and the school’s seventh overall. Prior to kickoff, both Central and Pinkerton were tied with six titles.

“Anybody watching this game knows who the better team was today,” said Pinkerton head coach Brian O’Reilly. “We couldn’t stop them ... We really showed no ability to slow them down. They’re a much better team.

“Their skill position people are just too good,” he added. “They just make you look so bad in the open field. Believe me, I’ve got tough kids. They are not afraid to tackle. But (Central is) just too quick.”

Less than two minutes into the game, Central was up, 7-0. After Russett broke a 53-yard run to set up first-and-goal at PA’s four-yard line, he had his first of four TDs two plays later.

On the ensuing drive, the Astros’ first, Central senior Dan Hayden snared his first of two interceptions near midfield and returned it to Pinkerton’s 12-yard line. Once again, Russett picked up the remaining yards on two carries for the score.

DAZZLED – With his display of dazzling moves, Central senior tailback Sloan Russett left Pinkerton’s defensive backs wide-eyed all afternoon. Russett ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Little Green to another state title. (Marc Thaler Photo)

“Sloan is phenomenal,” said Central junior Cory Wright of Hooksett, who had two INT’s in the game. “He’s got so much talent. He’s gonna be so good in college. We all go out there as a team and block for him. We all take pride in what he does.”

Up 14-3 in the second quarter, the Little Green increased the lead to 18 points. With 8:29 left in the half, 6-foot-2, 220-pound tailback Dave Philistin scored his first of two touchdowns. Philistin finished with 111 yards on nine carries.

At the 5:10 mark, Russett added his third TD and the rout was on at 28-3.

The second half was a 24-minute formality. Josh Ratacik, Central’s junior QB, scored from the two-yard line with 5:05 to go in the third. A missed extra point meant little as Central was in control, 34-3.

Six seconds into the fourth, leading 34-10, Russett capped a great career with his fourth trip to the end zone, followed by a brilliant 36-yard scramble by Philistin for the final score.

“The whole off-season I had people telling me you never come back the same,” said Russett, who missed his entire junior year due to injury. “My goal was to come back better than I ever was.”

“Sloan Russett, Dave Philistin – they make everybody look bad,” O’Reilly said. “Philistin made everybody look bad last year when he was the tailback all by himself. Now he’s the second banana this year, which tells you all you need to know.”

Up before the sunrise on game day worrying about Pinkerton – a program that had yet to lose a title game – Central head coach Jim Schubert quickly realized he had no reason to be nervous upon his arrival at Gill.

“This team is not a cocky team; it’s just a very confident team,” Schubert said. “I looked in their eyes today and their eyes told me they were ready to play football.”

Central didn’t punt once in its 48 minutes of action, scoring on seven different drives.

Prior to the ’04 campaign, the most prolific Central offense in Schubert’s 15 years at the helm was the ‘01 state championship club. Behind field general Tim Day, now the University of Massachusetts-Amherst quarterback, Central amassed 5,000 yards of offense and scored 480 points.

A mammoth offensive line, including starters Tyler Pfaff, George Samaras, Ben Brule, Lucas Pedras and Jake Dicroce, was instrumental in the Little Green’s ability to open gaping holes for the skill players, helping Central break the 500-point barrier.

“This was probably the best offensive team I’ve had in my 15 years as head coach,” Schubert said.

Central will lose 11 seniors – six starters – to graduation, but return a solid nucleus for a run at consecutive title No. 5 in ’05.

“Through the whole season, our goal was to make it to the state championship and win it,” Wright said. “That’s how we go into it every year.”

“I believe in working hard, you pay the price and there are refunds there,” Schubert said. “That’s something we teach as a coaching staff. If you work hard, it pays off in the end.”