NASHUA, N.H. — With the pain of a championship loss still raw, Pinkerton’s Ryson Michaud had a message for the New Hampshire football world.
Watch out for the Astros in 2026.
“We have so much talent and experience coming back and I think next year will be an amazing year,” said Michaud. “This hurts, but we have an amazing group with so much chemistry, and I think we have a great shot at winning the state championship next year. Preparation has already started, and we’re going to come out hot next season.”
Pinkerton’s quest for a second straight state championship came to a devastating end on Saturday, falling to undefeated No. 1 seed Bedford 35-7 in the Division I state title game at Stellos Stadium.
But spirits remained high, despite the pain and disappointment, as a talented and accomplished group of returning Astros turned their sights to 2026, which they will enter as a state title favorite.
“I believe we will be in this same spot next year, and we’ll work to be on the winning side,” said Brady Spellman. “We’re reloading with a bunch of junior and sophomore starters coming back that have a lot of experience in big games. I’m not worried about us next year. I think we’ll be really good.”
Of the 22 starting positions — 11 on offense, 11 on defense — in the lineup for Saturday’s state title game, 13 were filled by players that expect to be back in 2026.
That’s six juniors starting on offense and/or defense: running back/defensive backs Michaud and Spellman, receiver/defensive back Noah Rao, offensive guard Aidan Sarringer and offensive/defensive tackles Elliot Ingraham and Braden Connolly.
To go with that were sophomore linebacker Bentley Blais and freshman offensive guard Harry Yuan. And starting offensive lineman Justin Berard missed the game with a shoulder injury.
Not bad for an offense that scored 31.9 points defense that and allowed 15.6 points a game.
“We’re going to be just fine next year,” said head coach Brian O’Reilly with a smile.
Bedford head coach Zach Matthews went one step further after the game, calling Pinkerton the team to beat in 2026.
“They have a special group coming back and I think they’re the favorites going into next year because of what they return,” said Matthews. “Spellman and Michaud are both explosive, talented players. They have a lot of skilled athletes for sure. They went through the experience (in the title game) that our kids went through last year, using a tough loss for momentum to work in the offseason.”
There is plenty of be excited about for the Astros in 2025.
They’ll return their leading rusher for this year’s team in Spellman, who ran for 572 yards yards and eight touchdowns despite battling injuries, along with Michaud who was third on the team in rushing (361 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns). Both are also impact players on defense with Michaud at cornerback and Spellman at safety.
Five returnees will be back from an offensive line that led Pinkerton to 1,726 rushing yards this fall, once again allowing the Astros to control the game on the ground.
Rao, a transfer who played for Londonderry in the 2024 state title game, turned in big plays on both sides of the ball, including the game-changing interception he returned for a touchdown in the Astros’ playoff win over Windham, a pick and a touchdown catch against Salem and a game-clinching interception against his former Lancer mates. He scored six touchdowns in all, and led the team in receiving with 18 catches for 388 yards.
And Blais was the most productive player for the Astros in the title game, notching a sack and five tackles.
Pinkerton will certainly be graduating plenty of talent, including Eagle-Tribune All-Stars quarterback Aiden McDonald and tight end/defensive lineman James Caruso along with fullback/linebacker Joe Osanya. But those seniors know they are leaving the program in good hands.
“They should be right back here, where we left off,” said Caruso. “I expect them to win it next year. They have so many juniors and sophomores and even freshmen that are so talented.
Added McDonald: “I can’t wait to see what they do next year. About 80 percent of this team is returning. It’s a talented group. I don’t think they state can compete with them next year.”
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