Top 10 Games from 2020: No. 4

By rbrown
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Updated: December 8, 2020

TOP 10 NHIAA GAMES FROM 2020
No. 4: Salem 21, Londonderry 13

Salem had an eight-point lead with four seconds remaining in this Division I playoff game. Problem was, Londonderry was on the Salem 1-yard line.

That’s when the Blue Devils came up with a goal-line stand that extended their season and earned them a spot in the Division I semifinals.

That play capped a hectic finish that saw the Lancers drive 68 yards in four plays (32 seconds) to get within a shadow of the end zone. The loss ended Londonderry’s season and its chance to repeat as the Division I champion. The Lancers beat the Blue Devils during the regular season.

All of the scoring came in the first half. Londonderry led 13-7 after Matt Perron (16 carries, 94 yards) scored on a 6-yard run with 4:33 left in the second quarter, but Salem took the lead on Aidan McDonald’s 68-yard TD run, and then extended its lead when running back Jake Brady caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cody Clements on the final play of the half. It was the only pass Salem completed in the game.

Dante Fernandes scored Salem’s other TD on a 4-yard run in the first quarter. The first of Perron’s two TD runs came from 4 yards award with 2:05 remaining in the opening quarter. The PAT failed, which left Salem with a 7-6 lead.

McDonald led Salem’s running game with 121 yards on 21 carries.

Junior corner Kaleb Bates had two interceptions for Salem. Fernandes also intrcepted a pass.

The Lancers lost despite outgaining Salem 331-204 in total offense. That included a 241-188 edge on the ground.

Brady made each of his three point-after kicks.

No. 10: Pelham 14, Monadnock 10
No. 9: Goffstown 26, Bedford 21
No. 8: Dover 7, Exeter 6
No. 7: Plymouth 16, Timberlane 14
No. 6: Plymouth 21, Kennett 20
No. 5: Lebanon 7, Newport 6

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