Top Games from 2025: No. 7

By rbrown
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: January 8, 2026

TOP 10 NHIAA GAMES FROM 2025
No. 7: West 6, Hanover 3

Manchester West certainly saved its offense for when it needed it the most in this Division II contest, which featured eight turnovers.

Although West turned the ball over five times in the first three quarters, the only score entering the fourth quarter was a 49-yard field goal by Hanover sophomore Dima Petrov.

West took over on its own 5-yard line with 9:10 remaining and put together an improbable 19-play scoring drive that ended with a Gio Doria touchdown run with 24.2 seconds left to put the Blue Knights up 6-3.

Kingston Green led the West offense with 106 yards rushing on 17 carries. Doria was 5-of-13 passing for 53 yards (one interception), and carried the ball six times for 31 yards and a TD.

West had 207 yards of offense before its scoring drive.

No. 8: Alvirne 28, Merrimack 26

This game took place on the regular season’s final weekend, and each team needed a win to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Merrimack trailed 28-6 at halftime, but was within two points after quarterback Maverick Torres scrambled for a touchdown with just over a minute to play. Torres completed a pass to tight end Zach Retey on the conversion attempt, but Retey was stopped about a yard short of the goal line.

After a failed onside kick attempt, Alvirne picked up a first down and extended its winning streak to three games with a 28-26 victory.

The Broncos scored on each of their first four possessions. Running back Michael Landmesser opened the scoring with a 55-yard touchdown run on the third play from scrimmage.

Merrimack answered with a 20-yard TD pass from Torres to Retey, but the two-point conversion failed.

Landmesser scored on runs of 48 and 11 yards, giving the Broncos a 21-6 lead. He rushed for 167 yards on 18 carries, and gained 159 yards in the first half.

Alvirne quarterback Ethan Dudley helped extend the lead to 28-6 when he scored from a yard away with 11 seconds remaining in the first half.

Merrimack’s Shea Scott scored on the opening possession of the third quarter and Shea Egan found the end zone on a reverse for the two-point conversion to make the score 28-14.

It was 28-20 after Merrimack lineman Nicolin Stevens pounced on an Alvirne fumble that bounced into the end zone.

The Torres TD set up a dramatic finish, but the Tomahawks, who always went for two on their conversions, came up short on their final offensive snap.

No. 9: Laconia 15, Gilford 14

This game proved that how you finish a game can be a lot more important than how you start one.

After Gilford went on a 10-play, 71-yard scoring drive to take a 14-8 lead in the third quarter, the Laconia defense rose to the occasion.

Gilford ran eight plays for minus-5 yards and was 0 for 3 passing with an interception on its final three offensive drives. The Golden Eagles had the ball for 3:51 over the game’s final 17 minutes.

The game’s key play came late in the fourth quarter, when quarterback Carter Jones tossed a TD pass to Sean O’Sullivan to tie the game, 14-14. Laconia capped the scoring when sophomore Sam Hogg kicked the PAT.

Gilford took possession on its 35-yard line with 2:59 to play, but Jacob Tryon came up with a game-ending interception on Gilford’s second play to secure Laconia’s first win of the season.

No. 10: ConVal 21, Kennett 20

This Week 1 contest was decided on the game’s final play.

After ConVal quarterback Kurt Dean scored on a 5-yard run and Spencer Bishop added the point-after kick on the first possession of overtime, Kennett pulled within a point, 21-20, on a 2-yard TD run by quarterback Abraham Kelsch. Kennett’s rush for the two-point conversion — and the win — was stopped short of the goal line, however, handing Brad Davis the victory in his first game as the program’s head coach.

It looked like ConVal would breeze to victory when the Cougars scored twice in the opening quarter. Dean tossed a TD pass to Max Erickson and then Wetu Selby scored on a 25-yard run to help the Cougars grab a 14-0 lead.

Kennett made it 14-6 at halftime, and then tied the game in the third quarter on a rushing touchdown by Jason Baker and a two-point conversion.

ConVal nearly took the lead in the fourth quarter when Jack Telofski intercepted a pass and returned the ball to the Kennett 3-yard-line, but the Eagles kept Cougars out of the end zone and forced a missed field goal. It was 14-14 heading to overtime.

*******

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.