PLAISTOW – The Gilford/Belmont football team didn’t perform as well as it wanted to on the biggest stage it’s ever played on, but it was an accomplishment just to make it to that stage at all.
Timberlane senior running back Dominic Pallaria rolled over the Eagles in Friday night’s Division II quarterfinal, scoring five rushing touchdowns and picking up 142 yards on 12 carries, leading the top-ranked, undefeated Owls (10-0) to a commanding 42-6 victory over No. 8 Gilford/Belmont (5-4).
But the Golden Eagles stayed in their post-game meeting on the field long after the victors had left their home field to warm up and relish in their win, despite the freezing temperature and frost already forming on the field. Not to dwell, but to celebrate, one last time with a team that reached historic heights for the young cooperative program.
“This game wasn’t the way we wanted to end, obviously,” Gilford/Belmont head coach Josh Marzahl said. “We just talked to the guys about some of the highlights of the season, how far we’ve come as a program in the last six years. To be able to make the playoffs for the first time this year … They should be really proud of how far they’ve come this year as a team.”
Not only was it the first playoff appearance in program history, this was the first winning season as well. That achievement wasn’t even locked until the final week of the regular season, when sophomore quarterback Isaiah Reese scored late in the fourth quarter to secure a 14-10 victory on Oct. 29 over No. 4 St. Thomas (8-2) and the Eagles successfully recovered an onside kick to run out the clock.
“That’s the best experience I’ll ever have in my life,” said senior captain Riley Marsh, who caught two passes for 11 yards and handled the bulk of the kick return duties. “Ninety five percent chance we were going to lose that game, but we pulled through. We came out to this one and we played our hearts out. A small town like Gilford playing against big towns at Timberlane, it’s great to be out here and have an experience like this.”
The Owls (a Division I team in more sports and a D-I football program in the past) beat the Eagles (usually a D-III school in other sports) on Oct. 1, 47-12. Timberlane has scored an average of 41.4 points per game, while allowing their opponents to score just 9.9. Eight of the 10 games they have played have gone to running time (an NHIAA mercy rule in which the game clock doesn’t stop once a team goes up by 35 points in the second half).
The hosts took control early, with Pallaria scoring on 7 and 4 yard runs, and Dan Post (94 rush yards on nine carries, 17-yard catch) scoring on a 24-yard run to give the Owls a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Pallaria found the end zone twice more in the second quarter to give Timberlane a 35-0 lead at halftime and scored on a 62-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter to put the Owls up 42-0.
The Eagles struggled in the first half, finishing the first 24 minutes with negative one yards of offense and one first down that was earned on the final play of the half.
“A lot of the time (the Timberlane offensive and defensive line) is only sending three guys up and they’re still able to create pressure and move the line of scrimmage,” Marzahl said. “They’re moving the line of scrimmage two or three yards every play. They’re tough to battle with.”
Even Reese – a strong runner with an accurate arm and quick release – wasn’t quick enough for a powerful Owl defensive line, who kept him under pressure early, and often. Reese went 3-for-10, passing for 10 yards, was picked off by Braden Perras, and sacked twice by Bryce Parker, who also blocked a punt.
Sean Hurley also forced and recovered a fumble in the second half for Timberlane.
“We thought we had some schemes coming in,” Marzahl said. “Schematically we were there, but some of their players made plays even when we were in the right position. It’s definitely a credit to (Timberlane). We thought we’d be able to come in and do some things differently, but they really stepped up and did well today.”
Gilford/Belmont was able to generate some offense in the second half, with junior Michael Kitto (36 rush yards on 14 carries) and senior running back Luke Loyer (58 yards on six carries) able to break away for some longer gains. Loyer’s 38-yard touchdown run with 7:50 left in the game – aided by a huge block from sophomore lineman Michael Macaione – gave the Eagles their first playoff touchdown in program history.
The scoring play late in the game was a nice sendoff for a senior class that leaves with a career record of 16-17 and has helped turned a program that has an all-time record of 18-32 record in the six years that Gilford/Belmont football has existed as a co-op.
“(This team) knew nothing was going to be handed to them,” Marzahl said. “Coming into this season, we weren’t expected to win many games, and they knew we weren’t expected to win many games. They had to earn every yard, every inch, every win we got. They did a good job of really fighting and showing they could play some football.”
“We all love each other and the coaches love us too,” Marsh said. “We bring our heart to practice and have fun. We play like we mean it … It stinks that tonight’s result was what it was, but I’ll remember this team forever.”