H.S. Football: Central shocks Salem

SALEM – Manchester Central has been in playoff mode for the last four weeks.

Only now it's official.

On-the-bubble Central last night locked up high school football's final Division I playoff berth. The Little Green, playing must-win games since mid-October, stunned previously perfect Salem with a 45-7 regular-season finale drubbing at Grant Field.

Salem (9-1 overall, 7-1 Div. I) is still the top playoff seed. Tiebreakers make Central (7-3, 6-2) the No. 3 seed, regardless of today's tilt between Nashua North (7-1, 6-1) and host Pinkerton Academy of Derry (5-4, 5-2).

Idle Londonderry (5-4, 5-3) is stiff-armed from the postseason. The Lancers, owners of the head-to-head tiebreaker with Central, needed a Salem win to play on.

"I envisioned we could come here, play a physical football game, and be competitive," said Central head coach Ryan Ray, whose team built a 45-0 lead and forced running time early in the fourth frame. "They're an excellent football team that made some mistakes (four turnovers). We capitalized on them."

Central was focused from the first snap. The Little Green hit Salem with a heavy dose of tailback Mike Cavanaugh (25 carries for 124 yards, two TDs).

And, aggressive team defense neutralized Salem standout rusher Max Jacques (10 carries for 57 yards).

"We got pushed around. There's no doubt," said Salem head coach Jack Gati, whose Blue Devils dug a 17-0 halftime hole.

On the game's first possession, Central drained 7-minutes, 32 seconds off the clock. A pair of fourth-down conversions helped move the chains. Cavanaugh capped the 15-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown for a 6-0 edge.

Special teams also made a difference for Central. A blocked punt on Salem's second drive set the Little Green up 41 yards from paydirt. Sam Graham struck on the first play. Cavanaugh's two-point run pushed the lead to 14-0 with 5:38 until halftime.

Stephen Grzywacz padded the cushion with a 26-yard field goal in the half's final seconds.

Three lost fumbles in the third quarter cost Salem mightily.

Cavanaugh and Khari Halliburton sandwiched scores around Jared Chandler's 11-yard TD toss to Junior Brown. Daveon Watley added a 35-yard TD run in the fourth.

The shutout was intact until Brady Alicea scored from 1 yard out, and Chris Saulnier kicked the extra point, with 2-plus minutes to play.

Look out. Here come the Little Green.

"We've played some tough football games," said Ray, whose team was plus-253 in total yards (353-100). "And we're playing pretty well right now."