Division V football semis: Trinity, Brady to clash for title

MANCHESTER – Trinity dominated Bow on the football field for the second consecutive week.

With their 37-0 victory in the Division V semifinal at Gill Stadium yesterday, the Pioneers (10-0), of Manchester, earned a shot at the school's first state football title since 1988. The triumph came on the heels of Trinity's 59-0 rout of the Falcons (6-4) in last week's regular-season finale.

Trinity scored all its points in the first half. Senior wingback Connor Lyons was virtually unstoppable, scoring four first-half touchdowns and rushing for 135 yards. He ran for three scores from scrimmage and returned a punt 75 yards to paydirt.

"Connor does some nice things for us," said Trinity coach Gary Leonard. "He makes life easier."

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►Div. IV Semifinals: Laconia, Plymouth advance (7)
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Late in the first quarter, with Trinity leading 14-0, Lyons fielded a punt at the Pioneer 25. He took off up the right sideline, pointing to direct his blockers before weaving left en route to the Maple Street end zone. Phil Dion ran for a two-point conversion to make it 22-0.

"I saw an area with a little wall (of blockers) built up," Lyons said.

"I had a personal protector in James Horn, and after that it was pretty wide open."

Early in the second quarter, Lyons took a handoff, spun out of traffic and broke down the left sideline for an 80-yard score. The extra point made it 29-0.

With 2:36 left in half, Pioneer quarterback Jake Castricone tossed to Lyons, who cut right and scampered home from 29 yards. Evan Bergeron caught the two-point conversion to make it 37-0.

Lyons' first touchdown came on a 4-yard run after Castricone intercepted an Austin Hill pass and returned it 29 yards less than three minutes into the game. Leading 8-0, the Pioneers drove 80 yards on their second possession, with Phil Dion scoring on a 13-yard run.

Bishop Brady overcomes Pelham

PELHAM -- In a stunning reversal of their regular season matchup, Bishop Brady of Concord overpowered Pelham High School, 32-18, in the Division V football semifinals at Harris Field last night.

Bishop Brady (7-2) will face top-ranked Trinity in the division final next week.

The loss brought Pelham's season to an end and shattered any chances at a third appearance in the finals for the two-time defending division champion Pythons.

Pelham (also 7-2) last lost to Bishop Brady in 2006. When they met earlier this season the Pythons routed the Giants, 25-7.

It was the third loss Pelham has suffered in as many years. Its 22-game winning streak ended earlier this year with a loss to Trinity of Manchester in their Sept. 5 season-opener.

Bow's Alexander Foley is tackled by Trinity defenders Andrew Lauderdale, left, and Phil Dion. (MARK BOLTON)

Scoring early and often, the Giants relied on their ground game and let senior running back Mike Smirnioudis tear up the field and shred Pelham's defense. Smirnioudis scored twice during the first half, on runs of 24 and 25 yards.

Teammate Eric Feehan, a senior tight end, also pitched in, pulling down two passes from senior quarterback Mark McKenna for touchdowns in the first half.

Returning from the locker room with a 21-point lead, Smirnioudis saw the ball again and again in the second half as the Giants chewed up the clock.

The Giants also had a helping hand from the Pythons, who turned the ball over six times (four interceptions, two fumbles). Bishop Brady also registered a safety when Pelham was called for intentional grounding in the end zone.

There were some bright spots for the Pythons. Senior running back Cameron Robidoux returned a kick-off 86-yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and quarterback. Joseph DeAngelo hit senior receiver Joshua Luciano in the end-zone as Pelham struggled to rally in the second half.

-- DERRICK PERKINS