Winnacunnet Upsets Exeter, 27-24 [VIDEO/PHOTOS]

By Max Sullivan

Friday night meant two things for the Winnacunnet Warriors football team. For one, they proved themselves worthy of recognition by beating Division I Exeter High School.

Secondly, they beat Exeter High School.

"I've been thinking about this game forever, and right now," Winnacunnet junior Collin Witt said, "Everything that's happening right now, I can't take it in."

That was the feeling at the Winnacunnet home football field when Warriors quarterback Inghao Veasna took the victory knee to seal a 27-24 win in front of hundreds of Warriors and Blue Hawks fans, a daunting horseshoe of people which wrapped around the school side uprights.

The kneel cemented a new classic in one of NH football's best loved rivalries, a hard fought battle and a well earned "W" for the Warriors.

Ben Franzoso was the undisputed star of the night, rushing for 219 yards and three touchdowns, including two touchdown runs of more than 75 yards each. Veasna scored the winning touchdown on a option play with 2:04 remaining in the third, practically walking into the end zone after catching the Blue Hawk defense off guard.

At the end of a second half otherwise dominated by defense, Exeter made one last push with little over two minutes remaining. Though they pulled off an impressive fourth and 11 conversion early in the drive, Winnacunnet linebacker Sam Bonsaint's sack on the following second down forced Exeter to spike the ball, bringing up fourth and 13 with 35 seconds left. Exeter quarterback Ethan Joyce then passed for an incompletion, handing the Warriors the ball and the game.

At that moment, the Winnacunnet players and fans erupted with excitement. Judging by the way the players ran up and down the sidelines, hugging, laughing, celebrating with students and parents in the stands, one would think the Warriors had won their division title.

"This game is bigger than a championship to a lot of people," Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said after the game. "Old time people that have been here, this is the first game they ask. 'Did you beat Exeter?' They don't ask, 'Did you win a championship?' 'Did you beat Exeter?'"

"One thing we look forward to all year is playing Exeter," Bonsaint said, "And the one thing you look forward to growing up is playing Exeter, and one thing you grow up as a senior looking forward to coming into the season is playing Exeter, and to finally have a chance and actually beat them is crazy."

If Franzoso was dropping jaws with his breakaway rushes, Veasna was the evening's unsung hero. He threw the ball through some incredibly small windows for big gains and made quick, smart decisions when running the option.

"We struggled with our defense, but Inghao was the reason we stayed in the game," Witt said. Veasna connected with Witt on a few impressive pass plays. "He was really composed, and in front of a crowd that big, it's hard to be as focused as he was, and he held onto the ball pretty well."

"I think that was probably the best game he's played in two years," Auffant said. "He was calm, under pressure, he didn't let the crowd get to him."

Auffant said he was concerned about the pressure that was to come with Friday night's rivalry game, but Veasna put his head down and focused. His execution was nearly flawless.

"If he doesn't do that, we dont win the game," Auffant said.

A common theme Friday night was positivity. In years past, violence in the stands has been considered an issue at the two teams' annual meeting. This year, with added security present, the crowd stayed controlled and light spirited.

The Winnacunnet players also felt the positive vibe. There is more respect for Exeter than hatred this year, they said.

"It used to be more about hatred, but now its more a respectful rivalry," Witt said.

The non-division win puts Winnacunnet at 4-0 on the year, still 2-0 in Division II.

The Blue Hawks were undefeated entering Friday's game, scoring over 40 points in two of their three games this season and limiting their combined opponents to just 27 points. Putting away Exeter's top ranked defense and solid running game made the Warriors look like a good candidate for a deep playoff run this year.

After the win over their rival from the town over, however, even the thought of a championship must be put on hold. The Warriors will need a full weekend at least to soak in their victory- grounding the previously high flying Blue Hawks.

"Coach said when we were coming off the field, 'That's a memory you can never take away,'" Bonsaint said, especially grateful to win the rivalry game in his final year. "'As long as you live, you'll have beaten Exeter you're senior year.'"