GILFORD – A year ago they were happy just to be in the playoffs and were a team celebrating having a winning record for the first time. That perspective will help in time, but it won’t erase the heartbreak of Saturday’s loss.
The No. 1 Gilford-Belmont Golden Eagles (10-1) led by 14 points at halftime, but were stymied by the No. 4 Souhegan Sabers’ (10-1) defense in the second half, losing 29-28 in the NHIAA Division II football semifinals.
“If you had told me (last) year that we’d be 10-0 and lose in the semifinals I’d probably be celebrating at that time,” Gilford-Belmont head coach Josh Marzahl said. “I’m sure within a week or two, or maybe even in a couple days, we’ll be able to reflect and celebrate the victories of the season and the accomplishments, more so than right now.”
In the end, the game played out the way you’d expect it to in a semifinal between two teams with powerful, dynamic, big-play offenses, with a couple plays making the difference.
Junior quarterback Isaiah Reese (156 yards on 28 carries) and senior running back Michael Kitto (111 yards on 28 carries) both scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half to build a 28-14 lead, but Souhegan’s JJ Bright (two rushing touchdowns) ran for 147 of his 235 rush yards in the second half and scored on a pivotal two-point conversion that proved to be the only point separating the two programs.
Kitto scored a 4-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game and senior Brady Heyman forced a fumble on the kickoff return that junior Logan Grant (4-for-4 on extra points) recovered, giving the Eagles a short field. Gilford-Belmont continued to chew clock with its ground game and Kitto scored on a 6 yard carry to make it 14-0 with 3:49 left in the opening quarter and Souhegan yet to run a play.
Souhegan quarterback Romy Jain (8-for-13, 113 passing yards) completed some big passes to McGrath (90 yards on four catches), setting himself up for his first keeper to make it 14-7, but Reese scored a 22 yarder to make it 21-7.
Bright scored a 53 yard TD to make it 21-14, but on the next drive, Reese scrambled up the middle and broke three tackles for a 35 yard TD to double the lead, making it 28-14 for halftime.
The Sabers were extremely efficient on their first two drives, scoring a pair of touchdowns on just eight plays, and Souhegan had one more crack on offense, but a bad snap caused an 11-yard loss and that forced a punt.
Souhegan received the ball to open the second half, but Jain’s pass was intercepted by Kitto to end the drive.
“We talk about how ‘the only team that stops us is ourselves,” said Souhegan head coach Robin Bowkett, referring to his team’s mistakes. “(We) kept playing and kept battling.”
Jain ran in his second 1-yard QB keeper of the day to make it 28-20 late in the third quarter. An offsides call on the Golden Eagles on the kicking attempt moved the ball even closer to the Gilford-Belmont end zone, causing Bowkett to pull kicker Joe Bernasconi in favor of a two-point conversion.
Bright converted to make it 28-22 and later broke away for a 66 yard score on Souhegan’s next drive to make it 29-28 with 6:25 left in the fourth.
“We didn’t control the ball and the time of possession as much, so they were able to get more drives (in the second half),” Marzahl said. “Their offense scores fast. It can switch momentum quickly.”
The Eagles moved the chains, but not nearly quickly and efficiently enough, with Finley Raudelunas sacking Reese and Madux McGrath breaking up a pass on fourth and 7 on the Sabers’ 42 with 1:47 to go, allowing Souhegan to go into victory formation.
“It was a good game. Close game,” Marzahl said. “We only needed a field goal. We knew it would come down to (a couple of plays), we just weren’t able to move the chains to score.”
The loss ends the careers for 12 Eagles who have been crucial in turning Gilford-Belmont from D-II cellar dwellers and afterthoughts into one of the best in the division.
Among those seniors are Kitto, four-year starting offensive lineman Strat Kenny, Heyman, standout receivers Jalen Reese and Sam Cheek, and blocking back and defensive end Luke Jackson.
“They’re a hardworking group. Nobody flashy, but a great, hardworking group,” Marzahl said. “They worked hard all offseason to put us in this position.”
While Souhegan will play No. 2 Pelham (11-0) in the championship game, there’s nothing for the Eagles to do but reflect on just how close they were to getting there.