Football Notebook: Salem focusing on matchup with Bishop Guertin

Salem High School running back Aidan McDonald felt right at home on the Stellos Stadium turf in Week 1.

The senior enjoyed a career night, rushing for 243 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries. He also made an impact on special teams, returning a kickoff for a score as Salem outslugged Nashua High School South in a 62-36 season-opening victory.

Maybe Salem’s road games won’t be all that bad this fall. Three of the Blue Devils’ four away games – including the opening win – will be right there in Nashua.

The Blue Devils return to Stellos Stadium Saturday night (6:30) to face a Bishop Guertin team that Salem head coach Steve Abraham says has “a swarming, ball-hawking defense,” and visits again on Oct. 15 to face defending Division I champion Nashua High School North, the very team Salem lost to in last season’s semifinals at – you guessed it – Stellos Stadium.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Facing Bishop Guertin in Week 2 is all that matters at the moment to Abraham. Not even the excitement of a 26-point win is allowed to linger.

“Yeah, there’s not much to say about what Aidan did on opening night, he had himself a game,” Abraham said of McDonald, who had touchdown runs of 3, 5, 35 and 55 yards to go along with an 88-yard kick return for a score. “Aidan obviously had the game he had, but that doesn’t stop him from practicing and preparing for the next game. We all enjoyed that win Friday night and a little on Saturday, but we’re zero and zero heading into this week against a really good BG team.”

The Cardinals, led by juniors Matt Santosuosso and Charlie Bellavance, are coming off their own season-opening road win, 34-13 in Keene.

“BG runs a similar system to South,” Abraham said. “I think we understand the spread scheme, but we just can’t start as slow defensively as we did against South. Santosuosso is a threat from 95 yards away. Anywhere on the field, if he finds an opening, he can take it all the way.”

Salem’s defense, which allowed South to rush for 248 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, did tighten up in the second half – shutting out the Panthers on just 29 rushing yards until South scored again in the final two minutes against Blue Devils backups.

“We really started slow in that Salem game,” Abraham said. “Tackling was an issue. We were tackling high and not wrapping up. We went back to basics in the second half and I’m proud of how our kids responded. That second-half effort is what we need from the start on Saturday night against BG.”

A repeat performance from McDonald wouldn’t be so bad either at Salem’s new home away from home.

Back in Business

No matter how much coaching staffs pushed the significant loss of graduating seniors, the defending champions all looked good in Week 1.

PELHAM, the only returning champ to hold onto most of its starters from a year ago let defensive star Alex Carroll join in offensively as the Pythons cruised to a 48-6 home win over Stevens.

A backup quarterback last season, Carroll was used exclusively in the defensive backfield on Pelham’s road to the Division III title. This fall the junior is getting touches at running back as well. In the Python’s season-opening win over Stevens, Carroll rushed for 25 yards and a 9-yard touchdown on three carries. He also gobbled up a fumble and ran it back 20 yards for a defensive score.

Carroll, who told reporters postgame that he loves getting chances on offense, may see more action on both sides of the ball Friday night in Laconia against the Sachems (0-1).

How were the other openers for defending champs?

SOUHEGAN used big performances from freshman quarterback Romy Jain (18 of 33, 319 yards, five touchdowns) and senior receiver Tony Garrant (six receptions, 138 yards, three touchdowns) to shut out Kennett 37-0 in the Sabers’ Division II opener. Souhegan (1-0) visits Milford (1-0) Friday.

NASHUA NORTH beat Alvirne 25-13 in Division I. The Titans (1-0) host Merrimack (0-1) Friday.

NEWPORT got off to a strong start with a 24-7 win over visiting Somersworth. The Tigers (1-0) visit Bishop Brady (0-1) in Week 2.

Quick Hits

Astros ground machine ready for liftoff

Eleven months removed from a 2020 season that was canceled after just three games due to COVID-19, Pinkerton Academy let loose on the field, beating Windham 33-6 to open the 2021 season.

Running back Jacob Albert rushed for a career-high 174 yards and two touchdowns and caught a third score, and fullback Jack Mackiernan added two touchdowns of his own to lead a 306-yard Astros rushing attack. Cole Yennaco wasn’t going to be left out, carrying the ball 11 times for 80 yards in the win.

South’s Compoh strong in loss to Salem

Nashua South senior running back Josh Compoh carried the ball 14 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 62-36 opening night loss to Salem. Compoh also hauled in a pair of passes for 33 yards and returned a kickoff 80 yards to paydirt.

Hershberger on the prowl for Campbell

Scott Hershberger had a varsity debut to remember, rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns in Campbell’s 28-20 win over Kearsarge. The Cougars freshman scored the game-winning touchdown in the game’s final seconds.

Washington’s arm doesn’t lie for Londonderry

Aidan Washington was 5 for 5 for 116 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and scored two more times on the ground, to lead Londonderry past Merrimack 35-6.

Post soars in Timberlane opener

Dan Post scored three times and ran for 127 yards in Timberlane’s 43-0 opening win over St. Thomas.

George Scione writes for NH-HighSchoolSports.com and has covered high school sports in New Hampshire since 1995. To report standout gridiron performances, or offer ideas for the football notebook, send an email to scioneg@gmail.com.