I’ve covered many football games in my 20+ years as a photojournalist. I’ve seen rival teams go at each other, like two bulls in a ring. The most unique asset the Memorial freshman football squad has, is their hard-hitting, crunch-the-quarterback defense.

Yes, they can score points too, kick well, and have speed. But, it’s those down linemen, and inside linebackers, topping 200 pounds, that are busting through the offensive front to constantly meet the quarterback and running backs well behind the line of scrimmage. These are not round players either - the ones you often see clogging up the middle of the field, but are out of breath by halftime. This team is gifted with athletic-looking players, who are aggresive and fired up to play ball.

I shot the photos below at a game recently against Nashua High School North. The Titans stayed with them for the first half of the game, but the Memorial defense only got stronger as time went on, and the Crusaders overpowered North in a route.

Crusaders linebacker Brandon Hammerstrom reaches for the Titans quarterback.

A Memorial linebacker puts the squeeze on a Tital ball carrier.

It looks like lunch time for this pair of Crusader linebackers.

Tags: Crusaders, defense, Football, freshman, High School, linebackers, manchester, Memorial, Nashua, north, team, titans