PEMBROKE – By the time Drew Muzzey finally stopped running, the 6-foot, 180-pound offensive centerpiece for the Sachems had gobbled up nearly all of the Laconia football team’s yardage.
Facing an overmatched Pembroke Academy defense, the Sachems offensive line cleared the way for their bellcow back time after time on Friday night. Muzzey stung the Spartans for 231 yards and four touchdowns – all in the first half – and finished the game with 327 yards on 30 carries en route to a much-needed 45-6 victory for Laconia.
“Kudos to the offensive line coaches and the offensive line. Kids stepped up all day and Drew ran hard,” Laconia Coach Craig Kozens said. “Ironically, we had two starters out and a third sit out the second half … so we did it with the next men in. It’s a program win and that’s what we love.”
The program has been run with Kozens at the helm for 17 seasons, and on Friday night the head coach reached a special milestone, collecting his 100th career victory for the Sachems.
“I don’t even pay attention but it means a lot,” Kozens said. “I’ve been doing it a long time in a football community that’s been around great coaches, great people, great kids and a great administration, so I’m happy.”
Looking to bounce back after a 44-7 letdown against Plymouth last week, Laconia (2-2) accomplished exactly what it set out to do when the team boarded the bus to Pembroke on Friday evening.
The Sachems pulled ahead 13-0 in the first quarter and then forced three Pembroke turnovers en route to a 25-6 halftime lead. Muzzey rumbled in a pair of short-yardage touchdowns early before gashing the Spartans for a 60-yard sprint into the end zone in the second quarter.
With their senior back steering the ship, the Sachems salted the clock away on the ground in the second half. Bradley Weeks, Riley Roy and Connor Johnson all added short touchdown runs and the defense held Pembroke (0-3) off the scoreboard to push the Sachems into the middle of the pack in Division II North.
“We didn’t throw the ball much because we were ripping off 10, 20 yards (on the ground), so we relaxed, tried to get ball control, run the clock and keep our offense on the field,” Kozens said. “We probably could have thrown the ball more today, but it was working on the ground so we had to take care of business. This one gets us into position for the next four.”
Pembroke has now been outscored 126-6 through its first three games on the season, but did show second-year Coach Larry McElreavy some positive signs in the first half as the program goes through its growing pains.
The Spartans notched their first points of the season on a touchdown run from Seth Chouinard near the end of the first quarter and were driving into Laconia territory trailing, 13-6, in the middle of the second.
But a fumble and an interception on the next drive resulted in two quick scores for the Sachems to make it 25-6 in a flash.
“For a first half we were competitive and we haven’t been,” McElreavy said. “We haven’t paid our dues yet in the weight room and in the second half you saw them get beat up and you get worn down. … Unless I can get a commitment from them this winter in the weight room, then we’re going to have long nights like this.
“Laconia is an established football team,” McElreavy added. “That’s one hell of a back they’ve got and a nice senior quarterback, so they’re playing with juniors and seniors and we’re playing with mostly freshmen and sophomores.”
Pembroke will get a shot at its first win when it visits a winless Manchester West team on Sept. 30. Laconia will continue its playoff push with its Homecoming game against John Stark on Friday night.
Bow 2, Coe-Brown 0
Key players: Bow – Chris Gallier (2 assists), Max Elsasser (goal), Matt Selleck (goal), Joseph Rychwalski (goalkeeper), Benjamin Guertin (defense), Aidan Westenberg (midfield)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons scored their first goal 11 minutes into the contest when Elsasser headed home a dead ball service off a free kick from Gallier and freshman Selleck finished off a corner kick from Gallier 17 minutes later.
Coaches’ quotes: “Coe-Brown made us earn this win. They came well prepared and played with energy and commitment. As that wise sports sage Tim O’Sullivan used to say, ‘We’ll take a little luck when it is given to us.’ ” – Bow’s George Pinkham
“The whole team played great, we just weren’t on for a couple of set pieces. It’s good to play well against one of the top teams in the division. We didn’t allow many good opportunities to a team that scores a lot of goals.” – Coe-Brown’s Christian Gompert
Records: Bow 8-1-0; Coe-Brown 4-4-1
Newfound 4, Winnisquam 0
Key players: Newfound – Brad MacDonald (2 goals), Justin Shokal (goal), Cian Connor (goal), Mike Doan (shutout)
Highlights/key moments: A balanced Newfound attack scored two goals in each half.
Coach’s quote: “It was a physical game overall. We finished our opportunities and played well defensively as a team. This was our most complete team effort of the season.” – Newfound’s Jason Hill
Records: Newfound 3-3-0; Winnisquam 0-7-1
Hanover 2, John Stark 0
Highlights/key moments: The Generals were shutout for the first time this season and were handed their first loss.
Coach’s quote: “We learn and we move forward. Hanover is not better than us, but played better tonight. Their passing was crisper and they were more dominant on the field. They also finished shots while ours lacked power and didn’t really challenge the keeper in any way.” – John Stark’s Chris Pike
Records: Hanover 5-1-1; John Stark 6-1-1
Bishop Brady 5, John Stark 1
Key players: Bishop Brady – Halle Laramie (3 goals), Riley Marsh (goal, 2 assists), Maddy Smith (goal), Kathryn Weed (goal), Kate Shoemaker (2 assists), Abby Tremblay (assist), Lauren Roy (assist), Emma Windsor (5 saves); John Stark – Skyler Rousseau (first varsity goal), Olivia Fatcheric (assist), Melina Jackson (21 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Giants took a commanding 4-0 halftime lead. The Giants had a 12-5 advantage in corners.
Coaches’ quotes: “Great all around play by the team as a whole. Lauren Roy and Abby Tremblay worked hard and their teammates responded. Very proud of everyone this afternoon.” – Bishop Brady’s Kelly Owen
“Melina played incredibly in net today for us. Unfortunately the team in front of her came out extremely flat, playing on back-to-back days. We rebounded well in the second half and a lot of players got some varsity experience which will help for down the road.” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: Bishop Brady 2-5; John Stark 1-7
Newfound 5, Laconia 0
Key players: Newfound – Caroline Marchand (2 goals), Julianne Marchand (goal), Savanna Bony (goal, assist), Katy Drapeau (goal), Hayleigh LeTourneau (2 assists), Madison Hanley (assist)
Highlights/key moments: The Bears scored 1:30 into the game and gave up no shots or corners to remain undefeated.
Coach’s quote: “We controlled the game from start to finish taking 23 corners and putting 37 shots to cage.” – Newfound’s Karri Peterson
Records: Newfound 8-0; Laconia 2-4
Gilford 3, Coe-Brown 1
Key players: Gilford – Maggie McNeil (22-for-22 serving, 19 digs, 9 kills, 8 aces), Karly Sanborn (24 assists), Kasey Moore (23 digs), Brooke Beaudet (20 digs), Lexi Boisvert (16 digs); Coe-Brown – Amaya Newport (8 kills, 3 blocks), Maggie Sylvester (16 digs, 8 kills), Anneliese Wade (7 kills, 5 blocks), Molly Swansburg (23 digs), Jadlyn Newport (27 assists)
Highlights/key moments: The Golden Eagles recorded 98 digs as a team in a 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20 victory over the Bears.
Coaches’ quotes: “Maggie had a great game, she led us in serving, aces and kills.” – Gilford’s Joan Forge
“We need to work on the little things in the game and doing them correctly.” – Coe-Brown’s Rick Veno
Records: Gilford 5-1; Coe-Brown 4-5
Laconia 3, ConVal 0
Key players: Laconia – Hannah Dow (9 aces, 6 kills), Avy Bartlett (5 kills, 2 aces), Caitlin Beattie (15 assists, 7 aces)
Highlights/key moments: The Sachems topped the Cougars in straight sets, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17.
Coach’s quote: “We spent a lot of time this past week working on our defense which showed with our performance tonight.” – Laconia’s Jeff Twombly
Records: Laconia 3-2; ConVal 1-5
Prospect Mountain 3,
Hillsboro-Deering 0
Key players: H-D – Kaelyn Snair (2 kills, dig), Kimmie Rodier (8 digs, kill), Meg Wheeler (3 digs, kill)
Highlights/key moments: The Hillcats dropped a contest on the road against the Timberwolves.
Records: Prospect Mtn. 3-4; H-D 2-6
Inter-Lakes 3, Moultonborough 0
Key players: I-L – Jessalyn Brown (20 assists, 12 digs, 3 kills), Morgan White (7 kills, 6 points, 6 digs), Emma Wheeler (8 kills, 6 points, 3 blocks), Hailey Hart (14 points, 8 digs, 2 kills), Sarah Seeley (11 digs, 10 points)
Highlights/key moments: Sophomore middle hitter Wheeler’s block for a kill on match point gave the Lakers a 27-25 win in a hotly contested third set. The Lakers remain undefeated.
Coach’s quote: “Very pleased with my team’s resilience in fighting hard for the win. We only missed three serves, which was a key factor in the match.” – I-L’s Randy Mattson
Records: I-L 6-0; Moultonboro 2-5