BEDFORD DEFEATS FALL MOUNTAIN REGIONAL HIGH ON GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE

(DURHAM, May 6, 2017) - You have probably heard it before - the teams are evenly matched,  it’s anybody’s game or both teams came ready to win, but in the last semi final game of Granite State Challenge between the Bedford High Bulldogs and the Fall Mountain Regional High Wildcats those old sports cliches were more than true.

At the end of round one the score was tied at 80-80. At the end of round two the teams were tied at 200-200. The end of round three? You guessed it. The teams were tied once again by a score of 270-270. In the fourth and final round of the game the lead went back and forth, and with just four seconds left in the game the score was Bedford 430 Fall Mountain 410. A correct answer on the final question of the game by Fall Mountain or an incorrect answer by Bedford would tie the game once again.

The final question - This football team gets its name from the name given to gold prospectors in the California Gold Rush.  Neelam Sandhu of Bedford buzzed at the last second of the game and proved her football acumen by correctly identifying the San Francisco 49ers, giving Bedford the win and advancing the Bedford Bulldogs to their first SuperChallenge championship game in school history.

The Bedford High Bulldogs were represented by captain Jon Hill, Bailey Ellis, Josh Taranto, Neelam Sandhu and alternates Jacob Nover and Luke Knedeisen. The Bulldogs were coached Robby Zeller and Jon Cannon. The Fall Mountain Regional High Wildcats were represented by team captain Tim Fitzpatrick, Grace Bushway, George Gowdy, Lauren MacLachlan and alternates Brendan Reagan and Lenard Lim . The Wildcats were coached by Nick Belsky.

Watch this and all the matches online >>

Bedford High now advances to the SuperChallenge  championship round of GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE where they will meet defending champion Nashua High South on Saturday, May 13, at 6:00 p.m. on NHPTV PRIME.

Hosted by Jim Jeannotte, the popular quiz contest began the season with 16 Granite State high school teams battling toward the coveted SUPERCHALLENGE title. Also, for a fifth year, there will be a Granite State vs. Bay State Governors Cup match between the winners of the GRANITE STATE SUPERCHALLENGE and the WGBH Boston High School Quiz Show.

New Hampshire's top high school academic teams demonstrate remarkable teamwork, quick thinking and smarts as they play GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE. The game emphasizes quick recall of math, science, social studies, language arts and fine arts facts - along with questions about current events, entertainment, sports, and New England.

Watch GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE Saturdays at 6 PM on NHPTV PRIME, with multiple airdates on NHPTV PRIME and NHPTV EXPLORE. All games are available to watch online at video.nhptv.org. Online GSC quizzes keep students and audiences involved in the fun. www.nhptv.org/gsc/quiz.asp

GRANITE STATE CHALLENGE is generously funded by lead sponsor Unitil, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England; additional funding is provided by NEA-New Hampshire, Heinemann Publishing, D.F. Richard Energy, Measured Progress, Pax World Donor Advised Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the NHHEAF Network Organizations, New Hampshire Magazine, and our Super Sunday partner, Manchester Community College.

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