CONCORD — The Crimson Tide's defensive game plan called for one thing, over and over, on Homecoming Weekend.

“Pressure,” Concord head coach Eric Brown said.

Brown's boys executed the strategy to near perfection Saturday afternoon, preventing sixth-ranked Nashua South from finding the end zone in a 20-3 Division I win at Memorial Field.

The combination of Concord blitzes and numerous South penalties turned the Week 4 contest into a fight for field position. The Tide tilted the turf in their favor, thanks largely to defensive linemen Seth Gosse, Wyatt LaBombard and Dylan Naylor.

Concord's physical front had South quarterback Trevor Knight scrambling for most of the matchup. The junior completed 3 of 15 passes for 11 yards. He totaled 23 rushing yards on 18 carries.

“Things were blowing up. We'd get caught in a blitz here, a blitz there. We didn't do a good job,” said South head coach Scott Knight, who couldn't recall the last time the Purple Panthers were kept out of the end zone.

Ryan Guidaboni provided South (2-2, 1-1) with its only points. The sophomore drilled a 23-yard field goal to cap a 13-play drive.

It was South's first — and best — possession of the game.

Concord starting QB Marc Gaudet — whose edge-rushing on defense was a difference-maker — teamed with Seimou Smith for a 13-yard rollout TD in the second quarter. Walters Ndi kicked the first of his two extra points, giving Concord (3-1 overall, 2-1 Div. I) a 7-3 lead heading to halftime.

Brown switched QBs in the second half. The strategy proved sound as Robert Law won a third-quarter dive to the right pylon. The drive's fifth play, a 14-yard burst, extended Concord's lead to 13-3.

South (2-2, 1-1) continued to struggle with run-blocking and pass protection. Lack of production led to the dagger drive.

Law led the offense on a 13-play, 89-yard march. It drained 7 minutes, 7 seconds off the game clock, and ended with Tolbert Nemo's 3-yard score.

The Purple Panthers, needing points in a hurry, responded with a three-and-out.

“We couldn't let an athlete like (Trevor Knight) stay back there and pick us apart with his arm or his legs,” Brown said. “Our game plan was to try to pressure him as much as we could.”

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Marc Thaler may be reached at mthaler@unionleader.com.