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Pinkerton 42, Londonderry 7

Years from now, when Pinkerton Academy’s Matt Morrison reflects on his high school football career, Saturday’s Division I championship game may be what comes to mind first.

Not only did the Astros win this year’s Division I title, they did it in convincing fashion against rival Londonderry High School. Morrison, a senior halfback/defensive back, did his part by scoring five touchdowns in Pinkerton’s 42-7 victory at Exeter High School.

Morrison, who missed much of the season with a broken finger, returned the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown, caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aiden McDonald and scored on runs of 27, 5 and 5 yards. 

“I feel fantastic,” Morrison said. “I’m so exhilarated to be here and to beat them. They’ve taken us out the past three years in the playoffs and to finally beat them in the championship it’s a great feeling senior season.”

The fourth-seeded Astros (11-2) led 14-0 before the game was three minutes old thanks to Morrison’s kickoff return and a 35-yard TD pass from McDonald to Camren Dillon. Pinkerton led 14-7 after one quarter, 21-7 at halftime and 28-7 entering the fourth.

Londonderry quarterback Sam Ogden scored on a 6-yard run with 1:50 left in the first quarter, but that was the offensive highlight for Lonondonerry. The third-seeded Lancers (8-4)  were in catch-up mode for most of the afternoon and the Astros intercepted two passes, one of which came on the opening drive in the third quarter.

Londonderry has advanced to the championship game each of the last four years, but is 1-3 in those four games.

“We knew that drive after halftime was big,” Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said. “We thought we would be OK, but then they got another touchdown and once you can’t run the ball it’s tough. That’s how it goes sometimes.

“If (Morrison) doesn’t get injured he’s probably the (Yukica) Player of the Year. Great player. Not upset that he’s graduating. Credit to him.” 

It was an extra-sweet victory for Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly, who passed former Plymouth coach Chuck Lenahan and now has more career coaching victories than any other NHIAA football coach. Saturday’s victory improved O’Reilly’s record to 357-130-0. Lenahan retired with a 356-70-1 record.

“The state championship is what it’s about,” O’Reilly said. “This was about the kids. To talk about anything else other than this game would be wrong for these kids. … And nobody’s taking that away from them talking about an old coach who’s probably back next year.”

Pinkerton has a 37-16-0 edge in the series against Londonderry, including an 8-6 record against the Lancers in playoff games. It was the second time the programs have met in a championship game. Pinkerton beat Londonderry 21-0 in the 1993 Division I championship game.

Morrison had all three touchdowns that were scored in the second half. It was the 12th time O’Reilly has guided a Pinkerton football team to a state championship.

“Big players come through in big games,’ O’Reilly said. “Matt’s been that all year long. He’s had a great career here. We’re gonna miss him.”

KEY PLAYERS

– McDonald completed 9-of-13 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also carried the ball twice for 19 yards.

– Ogden gained 80 yards on 17 carries, and completed 7-of-15 pass attempts for 82 yards. 

KEY PLAYS

– Londonderry trailed 21-7 in the third quarter and moved the ball to the Pinkerton 37-yard line when Brady Spellman intercepted an Odgen pass. Three plays later Morrison scored on a 27-yard run that helped the Astros take a 28-7 lead.

– McDonald’s 25-yard pass to Morrison helped the Astros take a 21-7 lead with 2:10 remaining in the second quarter and gave Pinkerton the momentum heading into halftime.

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