If Tim Fahnbulleh didn’t think he was a football player, he doesn’t think that way anymore. The junior returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown, led the Concord High football team with 129 rush yards on five carries and scored a 61-yard rushing touchdown to lead the Crimson Tide to a 45-14 victory over Manchester Central in Saturday’s homecoming game.

The victory gives, not just Fahnbulleh but the whole team, a shot of confidence as the Tide are 2-0 to start the season, already more NHIAA Division I victories than the team earned last year.

While last week’s victory came in the closing seconds, Concord wasted no time in Saturday’s game, scoring on the opening drive.

Senior quarterback Colby Nyhan (6-for-8, 85 passing yards) threw to junior tight end Ben Ryder in the end zone for a 14-yard score (Nyhan also connected on all six extra points he attempted as kicker) to give Concord an early 7-0 lead with 8:47 still on the clock.

Although Central quarterback Caydin Salvi (5-for-16, 41 passing yards) and running back Trevor Wong (151 yards on 25 carries) did a good job moving the ball, the Little Green’s first drive ended with Fahnbulleh’s pick-six.

Junior linebacker Jack Gfroerer (fumble recovery) and senior defensive back Brett Tuttle (interception) also had takeaways in the first half for the Tide, while Concord committed zero turnovers, an issue that plagued the Tide in week one.

“It’s amazing what can happen when you don’t give the ball away,” Concord head coach Jim Corkum said. “We had an emphasis in practice this week on ball security, and it looks like it paid off today. … I’m pleased with how they responded to some of the mistakes we made last week.”

Fahnbulleh’s pick six gave Concord a 14-0 lead through the game’s opening quarter.

“At practice we were working on screen passes, so when I saw (the Central receiver) stop, I knew it was going to be a screen pass, so I went up and got it,” Fahnbulleh said. “I saw an open hole and just went.”

“We’ve been trying to convince him, ‘You are a football player,’ ” Corkum said. “He’s got the intangibles, the speed, the power. I don’t know if he was quite believing us through camp, but after a couple games I think he’s believing that now.”

Fahnbulleh wasn’t done yet. In the second quarter he broke a couple of tackles near the line, displaying both strength and speed in a 61-yard touchdown to put Concord up 28-0.

It’s the best game of his career, for now.

Sophomore Colin Savard (52 yards on nine carries) scored on the previous drive and Nyhan connected on a 31-yard field goal to give the Tide a 31-0 halftime lead.

Wong and Remy Content both scored touchdowns in the third quarter for Central (0-2), but Nyhan ran in a pair of touchdowns (he had 23 yards on three carries) to maintain Concord’s big lead.

Now the Tide moves into a tougher portion of its schedule, including next Friday’s home game against Londonderry, a program that has played in each of the previous three Division I championship games, winning the title in 2021.

“I hope they can start gaining some confidence and recognize that they can make big plays and we can rip off some big runs,” Corkum said. “But (protecting the ball) is not something you can do for one week and then forget about. We’ve got to keep going with that. (The schedule) is definitely not getting easier.”

Division I Central is widely regarded as the most challenging of the three D-I conferences, with the likes of Londonderry, Pinkerton and Salem there.

Having already surpassed last year’s win total, Concord hopes to ride that momentum as long as possible.

“It’s a great feeling. This year we’re strong, ready,” Fahnbulleh said. “For now, it’s the best (game of my career), but there’s more to come.”