Top 10 games from 2019: No. 3

By rbrown
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Updated: April 10, 2020

TOP 10 NHIAA GAMES FROM 2019
No. 3: Goffstown 29, Salem 28

There weren’t many outside of Goffstown predicting a Salem loss in this game.

The Blue Devils entered the contest as the No. 3 team in the Union Leader Power Poll, had shut out four of their first seven opponents and held an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Grizzlies stunned the state by pulling out a one-point victory that secured Goffstown a Division I playoff berth.

Salem led 28-17 early in the fourth quarter, but Goffstown’s Jonah Lopez caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jarrett Henault that sliced Salem’s lead to 28-23. Then Goffstown’s Matt Dalton intercepted a pass on a fake field goal attempt that gave the Grizzlies possession on their own 16-yard line with no timeouts remaining.

Three plays after a 69-yard pass from Henault to Peyton Strickland moved the Grizzlies to the Salem 15, Zach Picard scored the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard run with 23 seconds to play. Picard ran for 161 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in the victory.

Goffstown also got a TD catch from Strickland and a 27-yard field goal from Kyle Pinard.

Salem trailed early, but hung tough thanks to a pair of TD runs from running back Riley Mulvey (14 carries, 110 yards, two catches, 66 yards). Mulvey put Salem on the board with a 2-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, then helped make it 14-14 score at halftime with a 52-yard score.

Salem grabbed the lead in the fourth quarter. First, quarterback Kaleb Bates hit Michael Ference for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Then Tommy Ahlers returned an interception 38 yards for a score. Brady’s PAT gave the Blue Devils a 28-17 lead, but it was all Goffstown after that.

Jake Brady added an interception for the Blue Devils, who also received 92 yards rushing from Brandon Wall.

No. 4: Trinity 31, Campbell 24

No. 5: Plymouth 14, Pelham 12

No. 6: Milford 14, Pelham 13

No. 7: Milford 28, Alvirne 27

No. 8: Pelham 21, Souhegan 20

No. 9: Alvirne 23, Souhegan 22

No. 10: Windham 28, Central 21