The ConVal football team continues to put together one of the best seasons in program history, as the Cougars’ dominance on both sides of the ball continued Friday night with a 55-21 win over Trinity.
Lead back Danny Parker got things started for the Cougars with a 13-yard touchdown scamper less than two minutes into the game. Parker (5 carries, 61 yards, 3 total TDs) would then pick off Trinity on the ensuing drive and return the ball for another quick touchdown.
Unbelievably, Parker made another pick-six on the very next Trinity drive, but his return was negated by an illegal block in the back penalty. However, ConVal would score on their first play from scrimmage after the turnover, with quarterback Dan Spezzaferri lofting a 32-yard ball to wide receiver Isaac Bacon for a touchdown.
ConVal’s stalwart, aggressive defense would not allow Trinity to get anything going, and two more quick stops led to two Liam Baldwin touchdowns. On the first, Spezzaferri tossed a beautiful ball down the right sideline; Baldwin leapt, snagged it at the 20 and took off for the end zone, shedding a would-be Trinity tackler on the way to a 47-yard touchdown.
Just minutes later, the two would connect again as Baldwin hauled in a 28-yarder in the back of the end zone to make it 35-0 ConVal at the end of the first quarter.
ConVal’s defense would strike again early in the second. Trinity has developed an affinity for the wide receiver throwback pass, with mixed results. On the Pioneers’ fourth such attempt of the game, the wide receiver muffed the throwback, allowing ConVal’s Scott Stanley to scoop up the fumble and rumble 55 yards for the score.
“Scott Stanley is a god among men!” exclaimed backup QB Keenan Wilson upon seeing Stanley’s score.
After Makeen Wilson took an 81-yard sweep to the house to make it 48-0 ConVal, it was officially a laugher.
Trinity would finally break the ice with a nice 24-yard rushing touchdown with three minutes left in the half. That score broke a 56 minute, 54 second stretch — nearly five quarters — in which ConVal had held opponents scoreless, dating back to the comeback win at Sanborn.
A pair of running-time TDs for the Pioneers and a pass from Spezzaferri to Parker would cement the final score at ConVal 55, Trinity 21.
ConVal has now won four straight games to position themselves at 4-1 on the season, and they’ve done it with balance — a potent defense and an extremely efficient offense. The Cougars are averaging over ten yards per pass attempt so far this season, and seven yards per rush.
Despite this early success, the season is far from over and the Cougars have work to do. If the season ended today, ConVal would have the seventh of eight playoff spots in Division II. The road to improving that position stops next in Hollis-Brookline on Saturday in a game with major playoff implications. The Cavaliers are 5th in DII 4-1, with their only loss coming to undefeated 5-0 Windham, DII South’s top team, in the season opener. And, Hollis-Brookline’s remaining schedule is cream-puff soft: Pelham, Souhegan and Manchester West are a combined 2-13.
ConVal’s remaining schedule, by comparison, is much tougher. They’ll travel to Hollis-Brookline Saturday at 1 p.m. before returning home for the Oct. 14 homecoming game against Pelham (the only team Trinity beat this season). After that, it’s St. Thomas (3-2) and Windham (5-0) to close out the regular season. A win on Saturday would likely flip-flop the Cougars with Hollis-Brookline in the standings and give ConVal a great shot at a playoff berth.