Impact athletes come in all shapes and forms, and in high school football they aren't always best known for dragging quarterbacks to the turf or finding the end zone from anywhere on the field.

Cody Brackett — Exeter High's 16-year-old sophomore who died Tuesday — proved it.

“We lost a great young man. Just a wonderful guy, infectious smile, good kid,” Exeter head coach Bill Ball somberly said Friday night at the stadium bearing his name, after his No. 1-ranked Blue Hawks blew the doors off No. 2 Manchester Central, 49-0. “His memory will live on for us. That's for sure.”

Exeter senior co-captain Tyler Grant, the epitomy of a high-character yet humble leader, had a game to remember. The 5-foot 10-inch, 165-pound running back scored four touchdowns, three in the first-quarter onlsaught. He also forced two of Central's six turnovers as a defensive back, intercepting passes while fighting to remain composed.

“Early (Friday), the whole team went down to (Brackett's) wake. We walked through. Emotions were definitely flying,” said Grant, identified by Ball as Exeter's heart and soul. “We all came together as a team, I thought, and that carried over onto the field.

“The good thing about football is that's where you can channel all our energy,” he added. “That's just two hours where nothing else matters and you just take it all out on the field. I really thought we were able to channel all that energy and refocus.”

How the Blue Hawks (3-0 overall, 2-0 Div. I) managed to succeed is astonishing. It stands to reason that, at some point, mental exhaustion would take its toll. Mistakes would be made.

A legitimate threat to Exeter's throne, Central (2-1, 1-1) would capitalize.

Guess again.

Grant said the locker room before kickoff and during halftime was uncharacteriscally quiet. Players, he added, were left with their thoughts, particularly during a stadium-wide moment of silence honoring a teammate lost far too soon.

Silence lasted 12 seconds. Brackett's No. 28 was displayed on the main electronic scoreboard above Eustis Field. A sign at the entrance to the school's Blue Hawk Drive said “Blue Hawks fly together.”

“There's no question that they loved him, in particular the sophomores, those guys that are his buddies,” Ball said.

Asked if he felt Exeter's emotion was the difference in the rout, Manchester Central head coach Ryan Ray politely declined to comment.

“That's a sad, tragic story. My heart goes out to the family and everybody that knew the young man,” he said. “I would just say that they were a whole lot better than we were tonight.”

Ball said that, before kickoff, he was “worried” about his team's ability to execute in all facets of the game.

He knew his players would be physically tough. There's no question they took mental toughness to another level, too.

“It's a family. That's what we have. And it's a lot of people helping each other. That's what it's all about,” Ball said. “It was never more evident than this week, when tragedy struck.”

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THE OUTPOURING of support for Exeter High and its community was evident on Twitter. Football programs and players used the social media platform to offer condolences.

Division V Stevens of Claremont (@stevensfootball), still dealing with last month's death of assistant coach Aaron Robar: “Thoughts and best wishes for the Exeter High Football Program as they deal with their own tragedy this week.”

Division II Dover's student section (@Tsunami_DHS): “Thoughts and best wishes go out to Exeter High School football and the Exeter community.”

Dover head coach Ken Osbon confirmed via text message that a moment of silence for Brackett was also observed at Dunaway Field before his host Green Wave beat their fierce rival from Rochester, Spaulding, 31-10.

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Marc Thaler covers high school football for the New Hampshire Union Leader & Sunday News. He co-hosts the “N.H. Sports Show” Saturday morning on WGIR-AM 610 and the Seacoast's 96.7. Send e-mails to mthaler@unionleader.com and follow him on Twitter: @marc_thaler.