By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
The Exeter High School football team didn't fumble the ball away or throw an interception in any of its first three games this season, but the Blue Hawks turned the ball over twice during Saturday's Division II game against rival Winnacunnet. The second of those two turnovers may have cost Exeter a victory.
Winnacunnet had two-point lead midway through the fourth quarter and looked like it was about to put Exeter in a deeper hole. It was third down and the Warriors were a foot away from the Blue Hawk end zone. The Exeter defense came up big on back-to-back plays, however, and took over on downs at its 1-yard line.
Two plays later, Exeter quarterback Andrew Kukesh had the ball stripped away and Sebastian Oweifie fell on it in the end zone for a Winnacunnet touchdown. That TD plus Mike MacArthur's fourth point-after kick gave Winnacunnet a 28-19 lead and the Warriors hung on for a 28-26 upset victory at Exeter's Eustis Field.
"We came in here and beat a great football team," Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said. "They'll be there in the end."
Winnacunnet quarterback Ryan Cronan rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. He also blocked a PAT kick that prevented Exeter from making it a 14-14 game.
Halfback Brett McAllister (26 carries, 158 yards) and fullback Gabe Bourgeois (20 carries, 154 yards) each scored twice for the Blue Hawks, who began their final drive on their own 22-yard line with 2:17 to play. Exeter (3-1) failed to pick up a first down and turned the ball over on downs with 1:13 remaining.
"It was a very good effort by Winnacunnet," Exeter coach Bill Ball said. "Cronan was immense. It all runs through him, and he controlled it today for the most part.
"Defensively I'm unhappy, but I have been all year. It's been a process trying to play Exeter defense. It's a problem. If you want to be a team that competes you have to play defense. There's no getting around it."
Winnacunnet (3-1) has won three games in a row since opening the season with a 40-0 loss to Bishop Guertin.
"I'm speechless," Cronan said. "Our (offensive) line did a great job today. They really played well. We're a different team than when we played Guertin. We've really improved."
Exeter's other turnover came early in the second quarter, when Sam Auffant intercepted a Kukesh pass near midfield.
It was the first time Winnacunnet has beaten Exeter since the 2002 season. The Blue Hawks lead the all-time series against the Warriors 51-23-2.
"It was a great team effort," Ron Auffant said. "We're improving every week and that's the key. It's even more special because it's Exeter."
Other significant results from last weekend .
DIVISION I: Pinkerton Academy rushed for 210 yards and posted a 25-20 victory over Salem, a team Pinkerton has beaten in each of the last two Division I championship games. Pinkerton (4-0) and Nashua South (3-0) are the only unbeaten teams in the division.
DIVISION II: Bishop Guertin routed Dover, 55-13, for its 39th victory in the last 40 games. BG's victory coupled with Exeter loss handed the Cardinals (4-0) sole possession of first place.
DIVISION III: Plymouth scored eight first-half touchdowns and raised its record to 4-0 by beating Milford 56-0. The Bobcats, who have scored 163 points this season, are seeking their ninth state championship in the last 11 years. Souhegan (4-0) is the only other unbeaten team in the division.
DIVISION IV: A goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter helped Kearsarge defeat St. Thomas, 18-13, in a battle of unbeaten teams. Kearsarge and Laconia are tied for first with 4-0 records.
DIVISION V: Eric Dean rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns in the first quarter to lead Gilford to a 55-12 triumph over Farmington. Gilford (4-0) and Pelham (4-0), the only unbeatens in the division, won't meet until the regular season's final week.
