D-II Football: Trinity blanks Bow, 28-0, rematch set with Pelham

MANCHESTER, NH — Apparently, you CAN find quality Service these days.

Trinity High quarterback Ollie Service threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth, helping the No. 3 Pioneers overcome a sluggish start and roll to a 28-0 win over No. 6 Bow High in a Division II State Quarterfinal, Saturday night at Derryfield Park.

All of Service’s touchdown passes came in were to speedy wide receiver Davey Durepo, including two in the final minute of the second quarter, as Trinity built a 20-0 lead.

”Ollie’s just a terrific kid. Ollie is a fantastic thrower. He does a good job of getting it into the receivers’ hands,” said Trinity Head Coach Rob Cathcart. “Davey ran a couple of deep routes and Ollie put it right on his hands.”

Service also made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball, with several tackles and pass interception.

Trinity’s victory sets up a rematch of seismic proportions with No. 2 Pelham (9-1) the four-time defending state champs, on Saturday at 1 pm in Pelham.

Just three weeks ago, Trinity pulled off a stunning upset of Pelham, 41-28, at Derryfield Park. The loss snapped the Pythons’ 47-game win streak.

This time, a berth in the State Championship game will be at stake.

”We’ve got to just play hard, just like the last time,” said Durepo.

”Just gotta put the foot on the gas,” said Service. “We gotta pretend our record is 0-0 and their record is 0-0 and come at ‘em hard.”

Last weekend, Trinity had trounced Bow, 44-7, to close the regular season. Saturday’s playoff game had a much different flow, asTrinity had some trouble moving the ball consistently.

As the offense struggled early on, the Pioneers leaned on their defense, which came through with one of its finest games of the season. Trinity generated four turnovers and dug in for a sensational goal line stand.

Trinity grabbed an 8-0 lead with 4:19 to play in the first half, Service and Durepo connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass, capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive. The same pair combined for the two-point conversion.

After the defense forced a quick 3-and-out by the Falcons, Trinity took over at midfield and struck again. This time, Service found Durepo on a fly pattern down the right sideline from 39 yards out to push the lead to 14-0, with 44 seconds left in the half.

The Pioneers weren’t done, thanks to a huge play from the defense.

On first down from his own 47, Bow quarterback Jack Wheeler dropped back to pass and just as he went to throw, he was drilled in the ribs from the blindside by Trinity’s Hunter Henderson. The ball popped into the air and into the arms of defensive lineman Dom Canny, who returned the interception to the Bow 40.

On Trinity’s first play from scrimmage, with 22.7 seconds remaining, it was Service to Durepo again, this time down tne left sideline.

Bow had a golden opportunity to climb back into the game in the third quarter, when a fumble recovery gave the Falcons the ball at the Trinity 19.

Five plays later, on 3rd and goal from the 1, Brady Lover tried to plow over the left side, only to be stripped of the ball before crossing the goal line. Trinity linebacker Dom Detone scooped up the ball and returned it all the way to the Bow 30.

Service capped the scoring early on the fourth quarter, this time using his legs on a 51-yard touchdown run.

For the game, Service rushed for 90 yards and threw for 105.

Defensively, Connor Sturgis had an interception, to go with those by Canny and Service. Sturgis was also in on eight tackles.