Colin Savard Leads Concord to First Playoff Win Since 2013
Colin Savard Scores 20 Points to Lift Concord Over Salem
Colin Savard has played football on Memorial Field since he was 10 years old. Having put up 20 points on his own to secure the Crimson Tide’s first playoff victory in 13 years during his final appearance on that turf, he sprinted toward the student section once time expired. Concord hosted its first playoff game since 2013 and did just enough to stop No. 9 Salem on the final drive to win, 25-19.
“I think it means a lot to the team and the town especially,” Savard said. “I’m just proud of everyone.”
How Concord Held Off Salem on Memorial Field
Carrying a two-score advantage into halftime built entirely by Savard, the No. 8 seed Crimson Tide leaned on him once more in the final minutes to deliver a vital touchdown and a two-point conversion that pushed the lead to 25-12 with four and a half minutes left on the clock. Senior Jewry Nunez answered immediately for Salem by returning the ensuing kickoff, narrowing the gap back to a single score. Concord only advanced 13 yards on its next drive, and Savard punted it down to the 2-yard line.
Salem was forced to drive all the way downfield with 2:25 remaining. Advancing all the way down the field, they got off two throws into the end zone as time ran low. The first slipped through the hands of senior Zachary Santermano. With four seconds remaining, junior quarterback Mason Van threw it up, this time through the hands of David Chandler Jr.
Game over. Concord played playoff-winning football again.
Concord survived with some help from weather and luck. They bent but didn’t break. The conclusion bore a strong resemblance to their 21-14 regular-season victory away against Nashua North, where they halted the Titans inside the red zone with under a minute remaining.
“Sometimes that’s football and all you gotta do is hang on there at the end. Seems to be our M.O. this year,” Concord Coach Mike Leonard said. “We’re kind of like the heart attack kids.”
Weather Conditions Shape the Offense
Concord’s offense ran through Savard again in the rain. Junior quarterback Rhys Craigue noted that while he initially anticipated throwing more passes, he quickly realized how slick the playing conditions actually were. That resilient, bend-don’t-break style has carried Concord a long way this season, though an even stronger push will be required to take the next round.
The on-field product at Memorial Field delivered a fantastic season that concluded on a high note. Battling through a challenging schedule, the Crimson Tide earned a 5-3 record and punched their ticket to the postseason for the third consecutive year. Concord hasn’t quite enjoyed the comforts of home despite its strong season either. Their sole victory at Memorial Field this year came in a 40-0 rout of the Manchester Central Little Green. They fell to Haverhill on the road, dropped their home opener against Windham at the National Guard’s field, and closed out the regular season with a 21-12 defeat to Londonderry.
The playoff showed they didn’t need a huge crowd to pull off a win, though. Craigue said it was a great experience to win at home, especially for his senior teammates. He saw a lot of faces he recognized who were seniors when he was a freshman. He saw the players who helped set the winning culture that Concord now has. He knows how much this playoff win meant to them too.
“People watching our game, that it means something to them, not just us, is really good to see,” Craigue said.
The Quarterfinal Matchup Against Windham
The Crimson Tide will play away at No. 1 Windham (8-1) in the quarterfinals and once again try to get revenge over the Jaguars. Having suffered a postseason overtime defeat to the Jaguars last year followed by a narrow 31-28 loss in this season’s opener, they are looking to settle the score.
After an arm injury forced him out of last year’s postseason contest, Craigue now has an opportunity for redemption in the upcoming playoffs. He’s excited to face them again. It’s been circled on his calendar for a long time.