Lebanon Football Takes Win Over Plymouth

It was another action packed weekend for local football teams, beginning with Friday night’s matchup between two New Hampshire Division II contenders in Lebanon and Plymouth.

The Raiders headed into their first home game of the season eager to make a statement against a Plymouth team many predicted to win the Division. And Lebanon’s defense was up to the task early, forcing a turnover on downs during Plymouth’s first drive of the game on this nice tackle from Walker Tuttle.

Lebanon finally broke the ice with the game’s first points late in the first quarter when junior Ryan Milliken broke free from the Plymouth defense, and strode 40-plus years into the end zone to give his team a 7-0 advantage. The score was just the first of many highlights for Milliken, who turned in 306 yards from the ground and three scores.

The Raiders were given prime field position after blocking a Plymouth punt deep in its own zone, and the home team was quick to capitalize, with Milliken finding the end zone with his second score of the day less than a minute into the second quarter.

Lebanon’s defense came up huge moments later Tavian Tobin brought down Plymouth’s quarterback behind the goal line for a safety, before Ethan Perkins added his team’s third touchdown from 15 yards out midway through the second quarter.

Plymouth cut the deficit to 23-6 with a touchdown in the final two minutes of the first half, and made it a 36-13 game with another score early in the fourth quarter, but Milliken was there to make sure things wouldn’t get any closer, adding his third and final touchdown of the game with seven minutes left to play.

Sports reporter Mike Pezone spoke to Lebanon coach Chris Childs after the game and asked him what it was like besting a team many predicted would lead the division.

Mike also asked what he thought about Milliken’s impressive 300-yard performance.

Lebanon will try and make it 3 wins in a row on Saturday when it travels across the Connecticut River to face Windsor