Top 10 Games: No. 4

By rbrown
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Updated: January 2, 2024

TOP 10 NHIAA GAMES FROM 2023
No. 4: Pinkerton 24, Londonderry 20

It was a tale of two halves in Derry. Pinkerton committed four first-half turnovers and trailed 13-3 at halftime, but roared back in the second half to end a lengthy losing streak against the Lancers.

The Astros took the lead for good when fullback Ryan Catineau plowed his way into the end zone from a yard away with 1:58 to play. The TD, plus Peyton Harmony’s point-after kick, finalized the scoring in Pinkerton’s 24-20 triumph.

Pinkerton seized the momentum when halfback Matt Morrison scored on a 15-yard run with 9:24 left in the third, and quarterback Tim Hersom helped Pinkerton take a 17-13 lead on an 84-yard TD run with 1:38 remaining in the quarter.

Hersom had two passes intercepted in the first half, one of which Ty Parsons returned to Pinkerton 7-yard line. That set up Alex Villa’s 7-yard TD run. Blake Thompson’s PAT put Londonderry up 13-0 with 9:00 left in the half.

The Lancers opened the scoring on a Cam Brutus 12-yard run on their opening drive. Pinkerton’s only scoring in the first half came on Harmony’s 32-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter.

After Hersom’s TD run, Londonderry put together a 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive. Villa, one of four QBs Londonderry used in the game, capped the drive with a 4-yard TD run. Thompson’s kick gave the Lancers a 20-17 lead with 5:59 left.

Londonderry, which also turned the ball over four times, was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the touchdown, however. The penalty was marked off on the kickoff, and after a good return by Jamison Isaac, the Astros took possession on the Londonderry 45. Eight plays later Catineau was in the end zone.

Londonderry’s final drive ended when Morrison intercepted a pass near midfield.

It was Pinkerton’s first victory over Londonderry since 2018. The loss ended Londonderry’s seven-game winning streak in the series.

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