Football Roundup: Pinkerton overcomes slow start to beat Windham (video)

DERRY – Joseph Osanya ran for 165 yards and a touchdown to help the No. 3 Pinkerton Academy football team overcome a slow start on the way to a 34-6 win Friday over No. 6 Windham in the Division I quarterfinals.

The Astros (7-3) gained 317 of their 327 yards on the ground, getting 69 yards and a touchdown from Brady Spellman while Aiden McDonald and Jordan Ball also had rushing touchdowns.

Pinkerton went scoreless until the final two minutes of the first half, when Noah Rao picked off a pass from Windham’s Jackson Wright and returned it 6 yards for a touchdown with 1:48 remaining until halftime.

A fumble by Wright on Windham’s next possession set up McDonald’s 20-yard touchdown run with 25.4 seconds left in the half to give the Astros a 13-6 lead going into the break.

The Jaguars (7-4) took the game’s opening kickoff and went on a 15-play, 65-yard drive that took up the first 7:36 of the game. Wright hit Brandon Jacobs for a 6-yard touchdown to make it 6-0 with 4:24 to go in the first quarter.

But Windham gained just 54 yards for the rest of the game, turning the ball over five times. Wright was 6 of 13 for 50 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions while Brady Clementi had 59 yards rushing.

Pinkerton moves on to the D1 semifinals, where it will host No. 7 Salem, who beat No. 2 Manchester Memorial 24-17, on Nov. 21 in Derry.

Division II Semifinals

No. 2 Trinity 29, No. 3 Plymouth 27

The Pioneers got out to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter and held off the Bobcats to advance to the D2 championship game.

Ollie Service and Tate Zubhuza connected for touchdowns passes of 38 and 37 yards, respectively, with the later, along with a two-point conversion, accounting for the game-winning score for Trinity (10-1). Service also had a 46-yard touchdown run and Davey Durepo scored on a 15-yard run, both in the first half.

Ben Valenti had two rushing touchdowns for Plymouth (9-2), including one with 4:25 remaining that cut the lead to two, but the Bobcats couldn’t convert the two-point try. Cavan Sanborn added a rushing score and hit Cooper Legacy for a 16-yard touchdown.

Trinity will take on No. 1 Souhegan, which beat No. 4 Pelham 47-14, in the D2 title game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pinkerton Academy.

Division III Semifinals

No. 4 Gilford 26, No. 1 Monadnock 13

The Golden Eagles fell behind early but were able to shut the Huskies down in the middle of the game to advance to the D3 title game.

Nick Ball gave Monadnock (10-1) the lead on its opening possession with a 1-yard touchdown run, and the Huskies threatened to take a two-score lead on their next drive. But a goal line stand by Gilford forced the ball over on downs and Lukas Diaz (112 rushing yards) broke free for a 90-yard touchdown run to tie the game 6-6.

It was still a tie game going into the second half when Mark Uicker hit Henry Sleeper for a 3-yard touchdown pass to open the third quarter. Liam Butler added a 20-yard touchdown run to put the Golden Eagles (8-2) up 19-6.

Monadnock took some momentum back when Koby Kidney returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown, but Uicker connected with Lucas Raleigh for a 20-yard touchdown to put the game away for Gilford.

The Golden Eagles will face No. 2 Laconia, who beat No. 6 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough 28-7, in the D3 title game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bank of NH Stadium in Laconia.