Tigers Cap Off Perfect Season with Division III Title

DURHAM – It was a perfect day for championship football Sunday, and the top-ranked Tigers were up for the challenge, capping off an undefeated season with the program’s sixth title.

Newport headed into yesterday’s Division III championship at UNH more than familiar with its opponent after having beaten Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough by 13 when the teams met back in December. And coach Larry McElreavy’s team used that familiarity to its advantage yesterday, bullying their way to a 48-14 victory and a coveted state championship.

The win was especially sweet after having come up short in last year’s title game at UNH, and a welcomed send off for the team’s 11 senior. And once again it was senior running back Noah Wade who provided the majority of his team’s leg work, scoring four of the Tigers’ six touchdowns.

Wade finally broke the ice with the game’s first score with a little more than 3 minutes left in the first quarter on this 6-yard run, and also added touchdown runs of 51 and 52 yards later in the game. Fellow senior running back CJ Lawrence was also rewarded for a season full of powerful runs, scoring two touchdowns on rushes of 1 and 9 yards.

Mike Pezone spoke with Lawrence after the game, who credited his team’s offensive line for giving him and Wade the wholes necessary to put up such impressive numbers.

Mike also spoke with Newport coach Larry McElreavy, who talked about the memories he’ll be able to always share with this team.

Stay tuned for Friday night’s half hour special on Newport’s historic special.