New Hampshire Football Report
Home / High School / Defense carries Somersworth

Defense carries Somersworth

Somersworth High School turned in one of its best defensive performances of the season in Saturday’s Division IV championship game.

Second-seeded Somersworth recorded seven sacks and scored two defensive touchdowns en route to a 40-13 victory over fourth-seeded Fall Mountain at Laconia High School. The Hilltoppers held the Wildcats to 169 yards of offense (23 rushing).

“Defense played fantastic for us,” Somersworth coach Jeremy Lambert said. “Our defense has been very stout all year.

“The biggest factor was slowing down Luke Gay, their quarterback. He was fantastic all year and we wanted to keep him in the pocket. We gave him a lot of pressure up the middle.”

Somersworth (9-1) trailed 7-6 until it stripped the ball from Gay and freshman linebacker Blayne Belanger pounced on it in the end zone. That play helped the Hilltoppers carry a 12-7 lead into halftime.

Junior Calvin Lambert, Jeremy’s son, helped Somersworth pull away when he intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a TD in the third quarter. Somersworth outscored Fall Mountain 22-0 in the third.

“Fall Mountain came out with a lot of energy and those defensive touchdowns broke their emotion,” Jeremy Lambert said. 

Lambert scored five TDs in the victory. In addition to the interception return, he had TD runs of 2, 1 and 4 yards, and caught a 51-yard TD pass from quarterback Jeff DeKorne. Lambert rushed for 113 yards on 22 carries.

“Very proud of him,” Jeremy Lambert said. “He ran hard. That’s the most carries he’s had all year.”

Somersworth’s Tayshawn Sheppard added 107 yards rushing on 11 carries.

Fourth-seeded Fall Mountain (6-4) received two TD passes from Gay. Brady Elliott had a 60-yard TD reception, and Josh Devore caught an 11-yard TD pass. Gay was 8 for 23 for 146 yards and was intercepted twice.

The victory victory earned the Somersworth program its first championship since 1997, when it beat St. Thomas to win the Division IV title. It was the 15th championship for the program overall.

SOMERSWORTH 40, FALL MOUNTAIN 13

Fall Mountain 0 7 0 6–13
Somersworth 0 12 22 6—40

First Quarter

No scoring.

Second Quarter

Somers—Calvin Lambert 2 run (rush failed)

FM—Brady Elliott 60 pass from Luke Gay (Willett kick) 6:18.

Somers—Blayne Belanger fumble recovery in end zone (pass failed), 3:14.

Third Quarter

Somers—Lambert 45 interception return (Lambert rush), 7:06.

Somers—Lambert 1 run (DeKorne rush), 3:49.

Somers—Lambert 51 pass from DeKorne (rush failed), :37.5.

Fourth Quarter

Fal—Josh Devore 11 pass from Gay (pass failed), 9:18.

Som—Lambert 4 run (rush failed), 3:50.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Fall Mountain, Gay 12-14. Somersworth, Lambert 22-113, Sheppard 11-107, DeKorne 6-64, Lukas Kelly 7-45.

PASSING—Fall Mountain, Gay 8-23—146 (2 TDs, 2 INTs). Somersworth, DeKorne 1-2—51 (TD).

RECEIVING—Fall Mountain,  Elliott 4-92, Devore 2-32. Somersworth, Lambert 1-51.

*******

Those who would like to help New Hampshire Football Report promote football in the Granite State can do so by purchasing a New Hampshire Football Report membership or by making a donation below.  Sponsorship inquiries can be sent to nhfootballreport@gmail.com. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

You must be logged in to post a comment Login