The Alvirne High School football team went to 5-2 last week with its 30-14 win over the Crimson Tide. They also helped to solidify a playoff spot as they currently sit in second place in the Division I Central standings.
On Friday night, at home, the Broncos took on the 4-1 Concord Crimson Tide and handed them their second divisional loss of the season. Londonderry was the only other team to beat them this season.
The Alivrne defense started strong in the game, forcing a three-and-out during the Tides first drive of the game, giving the Broncos offense a start from the CHS 47-yard line, where they promptly marched down field and scored.
The Broncos were able to get into the Tides end zone in just six plays to go ahead 6-0. The drive featured a 10-yard run by quarterback, Charlie Crawford, passes to Gabe Conrow and Quintin Tetreault of 14 and 15-yards, and finished with a first-and-goal run by Mike Landmesser from the four-yard line.
Shawn Boudreau’s point-after made it a 7-0 start for Alvirne.
Concord’s second drive took the team’s through the end of the first quarter and finished with a touchdown on a pass from the 15-yard-line with 10-minutes left in the half.
Tied 7-7, it didn’t take long for Crawford to help regain the lead, starting from the 20-yard-line, the QB connected with Ryan Rocheleau on a screen and the senior tight-end ran for a 80-yard touchdown.
The Broncos had a 14-7 lead in just over 10 seconds with the ball.
The Broncos defense made another quick stop, forcing a punt from their 25-yard-line.
The Broncos third drive of the game saw the offense take off the remaining time of the half with 20-plays.
Two AHS penalties didn’t help in the drive and they settled for a field goal attempt from the 11-yard-line with 32-seconds left in the second quarter for a 17-7 lead.
The Broncos defense helped preserve the 10-point lead heading into halftime.
In the first drive out of the break, starting from the 30-yard-line, Landmesser broke tackles at the line and ran for 40-yards to put the ball at the Concord 20-yard-line.
On the second play, Crawford connected with Rocheleau in the endzone to put the Broncos ahead 24-7 with another extra-point by Boudreau.
The Crimson Tide came back with their second strong drive, but the Broncos defense forced a fumble to take over at the AHS 23-yard-line.
After six plays, the Alvirne offense was stopped and they settled for a punt, putting the ball on the Concords 22-yard-line.
The AHS defense, once again did their job, forcing a fourth-and-14 from the CHS 35-yard line where they punted to the 15-yard-line.
With the ball, the AHS offense began a much slower, defensive drive, taking six plays to wind down the clock to the fourth quarter.
On their first play of the fourth-quarter Crawford lost the ball on a third-and-one play at their 40-yard-line.
Concord took over there, where they were held by the tough Broncos defense, then forced a fourth-and-two at the 32-yard-line and took over on downs.
The Alvirne offense drove the ball down field for Landmesser’s second running touchdown of the game, this time from the 15-yard-line. It was the junior running back’s 13th touchdown of the season.
A bad snap spoiled the extra-point attempt, but the Broncos went ahead 30-7.
The following drive by Concord resulted in the team’s only other points with just over four minutes left to play in the game.
The Crimson Tide followed up the score with a successful on-side kick to give them possession at the AHS 45-yard-line.
Alvirne was able to wind down the clock to finish the game with another win, securing a spot in the Division I playoffs.
This is the second consecutive year they will be heading into the post-season playoffs.
The Broncos will be hosting their final two regular season games starting on Friday night, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. when they will face the Keene Blackbirds (4-3).
The team’s final game of the regular season will against Pinkerton Academy (4-2) on Nov. 1.