By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
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The rivalry between the Exeter High School and Winnacunnet High School football teams is one of the fiercest in the state, and last Saturday's matchup produced a game that neither team is likely to forget anytime soon.
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Exeter stopped Winnacunnet quarterback Ryan Cronan inches short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime to preserve a 36-35 victory.
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"I told them before the play that it was a play that would be with them for a lifetime," Exeter coach Bill Ball said. "Three yards and a lifetime."
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The failed conversion attempt spoiled what would have been an improbable comeback by the Warriors, who trailed 29-15 with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.
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Winnacunnet's Sam Auffant returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, however, and then the Warriors pounced on an onside kick. Winnacunnet moved the ball to the Exeter one-yard line, where Cronan scored to make it a 29-27 contest. Cronan then pulled the Warriors even when he ran in the two-point conversion.
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Exeter's Gabe Bourgeois scored on the first play of overtime, and Brad Kelly's point-after kick handed the Blue Hawks a 36-29 lead.
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Winnacunnet responded when Cronan scored on a quarterback draw. The Warriors elected to go for two, but Cronan was ruled down before he pitched the ball to Auffant on an option play.
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"They were hurting us all day with (the option), but we stopped it when it counted," Exeter captain Chris Grillo said.
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Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said he didn't regret going for two in overtime.
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"I'd do that same thing again," he said. "The play was good."
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The victory improved Exeter's Division II record to 4-0. Winnacunnet slipped to 1-3.
Exeter and Winnacunnet first met in 1924, and Exeter leads the series 51-22-2.
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Elsewhere last weekend .
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Division I: Pinkerton Academy (4-0) became the only unbeaten team in the division by beating previously unbeaten Salem 41-10. It was the 200th career victory for Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly, who is in his 29th season as Pinkerton's head coach. Plymouth's Chuck Lenahan (280) and the late Buzz Harvey of Nashua (217) are the only other high school coaches who have won 200 games in New Hampshire.
Division II: Bishop Guertin (4-0) kept pace with Exeter by beating Dover 27-6. BG played without starting quarterback Eric Laliberte (concussion), but backup signal caller Ryan Burgess passed for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Burgess also ran for a touchdown to help the Cardinals extended their winning streak to 28 games.
Division III: Plymouth, Souhegan, and Portsmouth each improved their record to 4-0 and remained in a three-way tie for first place. Plymouth beat Milford 21-6, Souhegan routed Kingswood 41-2, and Portsmouth received two touchdowns from Rod Walker in a 17-3 triumph over Merrimack Valley.
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Division IV: St. Thomas forced seven turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns in a 42-12 victory over Kearsarge. St. Thomas (4-0) and Somersworth (4-0) are the only unbeaten teams in the division. The Toppers beat Fall Mountain 61-14 to pick up their fourth victory.
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Division V: Bruce Vieira scored three touchdowns to help Pelham improve its record to 3-0 by beating Bow 35-6. Franklin and Bishop Brady also remained unbeaten. Franklin (4-0) beat Campbell 27-7, and Bishop Brady breezed past Winnisquam 63-28.
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Boys Soccer: Nute Snaps Streak
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Nute had a 1-7 record through eight Class S games this season, but its one victory was a big one.
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Nute ended a 50-game losing streak by beating Mt. Zion, 3-1, Sept. 18. It was the program's first victory since Sept. 5, 2003.
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The marquee matchup this week will take place in Class I when Oyster River (8-0) meets Bow (7-0) in Durham Friday. The Bobcats and Falcons are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the division.
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Girls Volleyball: Four Seeking Perfection
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Four girls volleyball teams entered the week undefeated: Salem (8-0) in Division I; Gilford (8-0) and Portsmouth (5-0) in Division II; and Nute (7-0) in Division III.