The Alvirne High School football team had another less than desirable finish in week two of the Division I fall sports season, falling behind early and never being able to turn things around in the game.
The Broncos suffered a 48-0 loss when they traveled to Salem High School giving the Blue Devils a 2-0 start to the season.
Salem was coming off a 21-14 win over the Concord Crimson Tide in the state capital, while the Broncos were trying to correct a 7-33 home opener loss to Londonderry in week one.
The Broncos looked to have a promising start in the game, after receiving the ball to begin the game. Alvirne quarterback Ethan Dudley helped drive his team up to the Salem 49-yard line where he connected with his receiver at the 12-yard line, but was tackled at the 10 and fumbled into the hands of the defense, giving the Blue Devils the first turnover of the game.
That fumble led to the first Salem touchdown of the evening, a run from mid-field to the endzone by the Blue Devil’s running back Jordan Zannini.
The Broncos second drive of the game stalled at the 36-yard line, where they where forced to punt on fourth-and-12.
That short punt resulted in a run-back from the two-yard line by Zannini for a 98-yard touchdown, setting the tone of how the rest of the game would be headed.
Alvirne’s third possession of the evening ended the first quarter at the Salem 29-yard line with a first-and-ten and once again looking promising.
Momentum changed going into the second quarter and the Bronco were forced to punt after being pushed back to the 35.
Starting at their own 24-yard line, it took just one play for Zannini to get over the goal line again.
The Salem running back put his team up 21-0 with his third TD of the night with his 76-yard run from scrimmage.
The home team tacked on two more touchdowns before the half ended, putting the Bronco at a 0-35 deficit heading into the locker room and putting the clock into “running-time” mode for the second half.
The Alvirne defense really had no answer to the elusive Salem running back Zannini, who started the second half with a 90-yard run to the AHS endzone and a 41-0 lead.
The Blue Devils offense tacked on one more touchdown before the third quarter ended, handing the Broncos a crushing defeat.
Dudley went 6/10 with 105 passing yards in the game and kept the ball for seven carries tallying 13-yards rushing.
Mike Landmesser had 12 carries in the game for a total of 98-yards. He also made one reception for 10-yards.
Quintin Tetreault led the AHS team in receptions with four for 38-yards.
Other receivers: Derek Emanuel, one reception 35-yards; Jaden Taylor, one reception for 32-yards; and Gavin Greenlaw, one reception eight-yards.
The now 0-2 Alvirne squad will have a chance to turn things around this coming Friday night when they welcome their neighbors from Windham and former head coach Matt Lee.
Lee helped to lead the Broncos to two consecutive post-season appearances in his short stay in Hudson before taking the job with Windham.
The Jaguars lost 28-0 to the Pinkerton Astros in week one and suffered a 6-28 loss to Malden Catholic in week two of the fall season.
