Top Games from 2024: No. 9

By rbrown
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Updated: January 7, 2025

TOP 10 NHIAA GAMES FROM 2024
No. 9: Bedford 28, Pinkerton 25

Quarterback Jack Maye had one of his best games in a Bedford uniform when the Bulldogs held off the Astros in this Division I matchup at Bedford High School.

Maye’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Landon Ellsmore with 1:47 remaining handed Bedford the lead for good as the Astros turned the ball over on downs with 1:04 to play.

Maye, who also had a 45-yard completion to Peter Suozzo on a third-and-12 play from the Bedford 40-yard line earlier in the scoring drive, completed 14-of-20 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He was intercepted once.

The victory extended Bedford’s winning streak to 22 games.

Maye also tossed a 12-yard TD pass to Noah Cassamassino with 3:32 left in the first half. That TD plus the extra point trimmed Pinkerton’s lead to 19-14.

Another key completion came when Maye connected with Bennett Matthews (five receptions for 80 yards) for an 11-yard gain on a fourth-and-six play midway though the third quarter. Two plays later, running back Brody Helton (24 carries, 91 yards) scored his second touchdown on a 3-yard run that helped the Bulldogs take a 22-19 lead.

The Astros began the game without injured halfback/defensive back Jamie Isaac and then lost halfback/running back Matt Morrison to a finger injury following Bedford’s first possession. Morrison ran for 80 yards and a touchdown on two carries before leaving at halftime to have X-rays.

Pinkerton turned to sophomores Ryson Michaud (eight carries, 55 yards, touchdown) and Brady Spellman (eight carries for 34 yards). Spellman’s 3-yard scoring run on Pinkerton’s second possession made it 13-0 Astros with 5:47 left in the first quarter, and Michaud gave the Astros a 25-22 lead on a 7-yard TD run with 7:14 to play.

The Astros also scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aiden McDonald (3 of 7, 74 yards) to Anthony Caruso. That TD handed the Astros a 19-7 lead with 10:11 remaining in the first half.

The teams also met in the Division I semifinals, where Pinkerton earned a 27-13 victory.

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