Memorial captures Division I East title with big run plays, defensive stand
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MANCHESTER — Manchester Memorial football coach Rob Sturgis knows that his team is not synonymous with conference championships.
That did not stop Memorial from aiming for the NHIAA Division I East title this fall.
On a Friday night when Chabot-McDonough Field felt more like a wind tunnel, the Crusaders became conference champions.
Big outside runs — primarily from Jacob Schuff — and a late defensive stand led Memorial to a 28-21 regular-season-finale victory over Exeter.
The conference title secured Memorial a first-round playoff bye.
The Crusaders’ regular-season record (8-1 overall, 7-1 in NHIAA play) is their best since winning the 1972 state title with an 11-0 mark. This run followed a historic season last year, when Memorial made its first postseason appearance since 2003 and won its first playoff game since its 1973 championship campaign.
“We wanted to show everyone that we’ve taken the next step from last year – where we can compete, we can play with the big dogs,” Sturgis said. “We thought the best way to do it was to win the East.”
Since 1972, Memorial has posted six winning seasons: 1973, 1977, 2003, 2014, 2024 and this year.
Coming off their second win in 28 all-time meetings with Division I Central champion Pinkerton Academy, the Crusaders never trailed and led, 21-6, at halftime against Exeter (5-4, 5-3).
Schuff, a senior captain and running back, rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Six of his totes went for at least 10 yards, including his 41 and 50-yard TD runs.
Schuff did most of his damage on outside tosses, which he said have been the team’s go-to running plays all fall.
Memorial junior Jathyen Torres also excelled on tosses, logging 12 and 17-yard gains.
“I think we just have a dynamic, skilled team that can make anyone miss at any time,” said Schuff, who logged three TDs against Pinkerton. “There’s not a lot of times that the first guy who gets there will tackle us.”
Exeter stopped Schuff at a crucial moment, though.
The Blue Hawks allowed Schuff to gain only 1 of the 2 yards he needed on a fourth-down play at the Crusaders’ 49-yard line with under three minutes remaining.
Sturgis decided to go for it because Memorial would have had to punt into the fierce wind, it was in the team’s usual four-down territory and he had faith in his defense.
On the first play of Exeter’s final drive, with 2:23 left, Memorial senior defensive back Pharell Therenciel intercepted Blue Hawks quarterback Tyler Ream.
“We always know that our defense has our back,” Schuff said. “I feel like the defense is really the backbone of this team but, at the same time, (our) offense can make a play on any given moment.”
Alongside his outside runs, Torres caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Memorial senior quarterback Alex Sutherland.
Sutherland also ran in a 27-yard score in the second quarter to help build a 14-0 Crusaders lead.
Memorial sophomore Jordan Gallego intercepted Ream in the third quarter to end an Exeter drive that reached the Crusaders’ 29, preserving his team’s 28-14 lead. The sophomore linebacker also made the game-clinching pass breakup against Pinkerton.
Ream went 7 of 17 passing for 110 yards. His favorite target was tight end Gavyn Daley (six receptions, 80 yards).
Max Corzatt (11 carries, 89 yards) rushed for two TDs and Brendon Jelinek ran in another for the Blue Hawks.
“It’s great to be a part of something special,” Schuff said of this season.
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