MANCHESTER, NH – Manchester Central defeated Manchester West in the Queen City’s annual Turkey Bowl game, 34-22, a traditional game played one day earlier than expected.
While anticipated record-breaking wind chills moved the game from Thanksgiving morning to Wednesday night, both teams struggled to warm up early on as snow flurries fell on Gill Stadium for most of the contest.
Central’s Cooper Verano provided the game’s first score, a one-yard touchdown run with 6:38 left in the first half, with West’s Jaymeson Maheux respond just over two minutes later, providing a two-point conversion as well to give the Blue Knights an 8-6 lead.
That lead wouldn’t last long as Alex Hawkom needed only three plays to get the Little Green back into the end zone, a trio of completions completed with a five-yard strike to Nick Olibrice.
Central would not relinquish the lead after that point, with Verano adding another score on the first drive of the second half and Hawkom provided a touchdown through the air to Miguel Genesee after the Little Green forced a kickoff fumble following Verano’s touchdown.
Maheux and Shawn St. Felix each added another touchdown for West after that. Hawkom also added a third passing touchdown, a 22-yard completion to Kevin Upton.
West went to Maheux on 38 of their 48 plays from scrimmage, as he finished with 309 yards rushing and a pair of incompletions.
In contrast, Central had 10 rushers combine for 151 total yards on the ground, led by Verano’s 55-yard effort.
Hawkom also added 217 yards through the air, connecting on 13 of his 22 passing attempts.
