Windham Wolverines: An Undefeated Season and Playoff Bound

Four of the Windham Wolverines' teams wrapped up their regular season last weekend on the road. Windham took on the Keene Knights, the Milford Mustangs and the Plymouth Huskies. The seventh grade team finished their season 8-0 and the fourth and fifth grade teams moved on to the play-offs. The sixth grade team battled hard all season and showed improvement each step of the way. 

RESULTS  

Fourth Grade vs.Milford 

The fourth grade Windham Wolverines traveled to Nashua last Sunday to play the Milford Mustangs in the final game of the regular season. A win would secure a 7-1 record and a first round bye in the play-offs. The Mustangs won the toss and elected to receive the kick-off but were unable to move the ball and went four and out on the first series. The Wolverines took over and wasted no time scoring on a long touchdown run by Rocky Heres. Windham then took possession on Milford's forty-eight yard line after a successful onside kick. Three great runs by Alessandro Oliveira, Westin Lippold, and Jacob George set up a touchdown reception by Rocky Heres giving the Wolverines a 13-0 lead late in first quarter. The defense led by Braydon DeCotis, Vito Ortiz, Saku Kulesza, Caden White and Connor Matthews forced a fumble giving the Wolverines the ball again. A terrific reception by Gianni Zollo made it first and goal at the end of the first quarter. Heres scored his third touchdown of the day followed by a successful George conversion pushing the lead to 20-0. Special teams continued to dominate. Curtis Shattuck stripped the ball carrier after the kick-off and and brought it all the way back for another Wolverines TD. Tyler Mueller scored the extra point. Windham had a commanding 27-0 lead. The blocking of Joey Pallaria, Jackson Mahoney, Connor Logue, and Michael DePamphilis was key to the Wolverines' first half offensive explosion. Nolan Paquette topped off a great first half with terrific run as the clock wound down. 

The Wolverines received the second half kickoff and picked up where they left off. Aiden Carter broke away for a long touchdown run and a conversion by Bradley Valo gave Windham a 34-0 lead. The score remained that way throughout the third quarter. Joey DaSilva put the final score on the board with a TD run in the fourth quarter and DeCotis added the conversion. The final score: Wolverines 41, Mustangs 0. Windham ends a great regular season with a 7-1 record and now looks forward to their next opponent on Sunday in second round of the play-offs.   

Fifth Grade vs. Milford 

The 5-2 Wolverines looked to extend their four game winning streak and traveled to Nashua to take on the 5-2 Milford Mustangs. On a perfect fall day, Windham received the opening kick-off. Tommy Doe made a slashing run behind devastating blocking from the "White Line" led by Bobby DiCicco, JoJo Gallo, Timmy Michalik, Jack Flannagan, Jack Matuszewski, Tristan Adams and Matt Logue. Windham marched right down the field. Four plays later, Tommy Doe powered the ball into the end-zone. The extra point attempt was no good. Milford answered with a score of their own to tie the game at six. After a three and out by the Wolverines, it was time for the Windham defense to show its teeth. Dylan Field, Parker Rice, Mason Belsky, Jack Potter and Jake Dunlap made big plays to shut down the high-powered Milford offense.  Windham's "White Line" went back to work. They moved the ball down the field again with dynamic running by Luke Schramm, who punched one in for Windham’s second score of the afternoon. The extra point attempt was successful and Windham took a 13-6 lead. Milford again came roaring back to tie the game. It was 13-13 at the break.  

Windham kicked off to start the second half and shut down a determined Milford offense. After another impressive drive, Doe again found the end zone behind impressive blocking from Dylan Driggers, Nick Ploufand Riley Desmarais. The Windham defense came up big again with by stops by Nathan Boucher and Melissa Fitzmaurice. Windham took over and sealed the victory with a Dunlap TD over the left end. The surging fifth grade Wolverines took their 6-2 regular season record into the play-offs this past Thursday evening.  

Sixth Grade vs. Plymouth 

The sixth grade team got off to a flying start against the Plymouth Huskies. QB Thomas Hebert displayed his air attack and connected on two 20 yard pass plays with receiver Jeff Andon during their first posession. Windham took an early 6-0 lead. Plymouth fought back and went ahead after scoring a TD and an extra point. Gannon Fast and Jacob Wallace were outstanding on defense in the first half. Both players each had a sack forcing Plymouth into long yardage situations. The pass blocking of Nick Gaiero, Michael Vitale, Chris Reddard and Jacob Wallace allowed Hebert to connect with Hunter Delaney for a 35 yard bomb late in the second quarter. Plymouth held and took over on downs. The Huskies went on to score and led 13-6 at the half. 

Windham's defense came out strong once again in the second half. Ryan Marrotta made several text book tackles and Alex 
Webman came up big with a fourth down tackle. JP Pallaria also joined his teammates and sacked the Plymouth quarterback for a big loss. Alex Li recovered a fumble and set up the Wolverines' next scoring drive midway through the third quarter. QB Hebert connected with Andon once again for a 37 yard pass play down the right sideline to the Huskies' 25. Windham chipped away with a few short positive gains until Andon sliced his way for 14 yards down to the one yard line. Hebert took the QB keeper and busted up the middle behind Reddard, Gaiero, Vitale and Pallaria into the end-zone. Plymouth would answer with three more scores. Other Windham second half highlights included an Andon TD-saving tackle and a 35 yard run, two stand-out tackles by Cam Burns, a Delaney sack for a 17-yard loss and a Fast strip that resulted in a Wolverines' fumble recovery. Final Score: Plymouth 34, Windham 12.     

Seventh Grade JV vs. Keene 

The JV Windham Wolverines captured their eighth straight victory on Sunday and finished with a perfect season. The Wolverines played the Keene Knights at Goff’s Falls Elementary School in Manchester on a cool, crisp, fall morning. Windham started the game with a pass from QB Jake Byers to receiver Max Faro who broke several tackles and ran 86 yards for the game's first score. Faro found himself open in the end-zone for the two point conversion and an 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the contest. Windham's defense buckled down. Zach Cunha, Jack Swarbrick, Faro, Joey “Cheech” Micciche, and Thomas “Splags” Splagounias made sure Keene didn't go anywhere. Nico Nardone and Tommy Costa teamed up to shut down the Knight's opening drive. Joe Dunlap took the punt return for a 45 yard dash down the field before being tackled. After terrific runs from Brian Murdza and strong arm blocking from Cunha and "Cheech", Faro blasted in for another Wolverines' TD. Windham led 16-0 in the first quarter. The offense didn't stop there. Joe Dunlap snagged a Byers pass for 20 yards and Faro, once again, weaved his way through the defense for another monstrous run and TD. James Williams converted the extra points with a great catch to make the score 24-0 in favor of the Wolverines. Later in the second quarter, QB Byers passed a bomb to Nolan Cunningham who made a phenomenal catch in the end zone. On defense, Williams, Faro, and “Splags” pressured Keene's QB and Tyler Folsom came down with an interception. Windham led 32-0 at half-time. Highlights in the second half included a trick play with a hand-off to Faro who then completed a pass to Jack Swarbrick, a Folsom touchdown catch from Byers and yet another TD reception to Faro. Nardone, Justin Gelinas, Max Sweetser, and Joe Dickerson locked down the defense to preserve the 46-0 shut-out and a very impressive 8-0 season. The team sure knows how to put on a show for the family, friends and fans watching on the sidelines week after week. Congratulations boys!! Job well done! 

For more information about the Wolverines' Football and Cheer Program visit our Facebook page or go to windhamwolverines.org.

Jon MacLean, Kelley Stewart, Lou Zollo, John Matuszewski and Karin Gelinas contributed to this article.