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The Crosstown Motors Thursday Thoughts for 9/19/2019

By Dave Haley, 09/19/19, 6:15AM EDT

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Portsmouth-Oyster River picked up a big win last weekend over Winnacunnet (photo by Matt Parker)

 

 This week’s Thoughts column looks at 6 big games around the state and gives you a 3 weeks overdue look at Division IV, where Winnisquam has some serious contenders standing between them and a repeat title.

 On Friday night we will be out at two huge games:

 Pete Tarrier (yes, he’s alive) and ‘The Franchise’ Jennifer Chick-Ruth will be in one of our favorite places to cover a football game, Swanzey, when defending champion Monadnock (2-0) takes on undefeated Lebanon.

 Nichole Marrero & I will be in Hudson Friday night, bringing you full coverage of a big Division II showdown when undefeated Souhegan takes on pre-season favorite Alvirne.

 Before we get to the previews I wanted to thank two more coaches who reached out to me last week about becoming Gold Level Coaches/Programs.

 Gold Level members get access to every single full game video we produce, going back over 5 years, while supporting their team’s coverage by our team at NHsportspage.

 Thank you to Zach Matthews of Bedford and Tarek Rothe of Alvirne for becoming our latest members!

 

 Division I

 Merrimack (2-0) at Exeter (2-0)

 Exeter Team Page and Statistics

 Merrimack Team Page and Statistics

  After rolling past Bishop Guertin and Keene in Weeks 1 & 2 Bill Ball’s Blue Hawks get their first look at a contender to win the West Conference when Merrimack comes into town tomorrow night.

 The Tomahawks defense played better in Week 2, as we expected, picking off Dover quarterback Darian Lopez-Sullivan 3 times in the 49-20 win.

 Can Merrimack hang with Exeter on the road for four quarters? It’s a fair question to ask, as the Blue Hawks are our pick to get out of the East-West side of the bracket and advance to UNH.

 Senior quarterback Ryan Grijalva gives Exeter the ability to throw the football out of their running sets. Grijalva has been able to make teams pay for overplaying the run by finding receivers like Jaedon Cliche and Nathan MacDonald.

 All-state defensive end Jared Dyer will lead the Merrimack defense, who has faced two teams that have attempted 53 passes against them. Exeter likely won’t go over 10…this game will be about getting their defense off the field and not wearing down over four quarters against the Exeter rushing attack.

 What we’re looking for in this game is where the best from the West (and Nashua North may be the best team in the conference but I feel comfortable putting Merrimack in the Top 2 after BG’s win over Nashua South) stacks up against the best team from the East.

 

Division II

Souhegan (2-0) at Alvirne (1-1)

Alvirne Team Page & Statistics

Souhegan Team Page & Statistics

 Division II is the deepest division in the state year after year so Alvirne’s one-point loss at St. Thomas last Saturday shouldn’t come as a big surprise or any source of concern for the Broncos.

 The Saints are perennial contenders for a spot at UNH and facing an 0-2 start, they stepped up in a big way, erasing a 12-0 deficit and earning the victory.

 These are two teams that can throw and run the ball. Alvirne junior quarterback Kyle Gora was good enough to help get his team to UNH a year ago and he has weapons in Kyle Boucher and big tight end Paul Manzi to find downfield.

 Austin Jain has thrown for over 400 yards in the first two weeks of the season for Robin Bowkett’s Sabers and all-state wide receiver Luke Manning will likely see a few snaps behind center as well.

 The Broncos Alex Guiffrida is a good bet to get the most carries on Friday night as Souhegan will spread the carries out amongst 5 or 6 backs.

 Alvirne has been dinged up on the offensive and defensive lines, how they play in the trenches tomorrow night will be something to watch as Souhegan looks to move to 3-0 on the season.

 

 Nichole Marrero & I will have all the coverage, the highlights and the post-game interview with the entire winning team.

 

 

 Gilford-Belmont (1-1) at Plymouth (1-1)

 Plymouth Team Page & Statistics

 Gilford-Belmont Team Page & Statistics

  Gilford-Belmont was upset by an improved Merrimack Valley team last Saturday afternoon 20-17.

 The Golden Eagles didn’t take advantage of early opportunities and let MV hang around long enough to steal the game late. For a playoff or bust junior laden team it was a crusher of a loss.

 A week later they’ll head to the Land of Sanborn/Lenahan to face the 3-time defending champs. It will be the Bobcats home opener after an 8-7 loss at Bow in Week 1 and a 44-0 shellacking of John Stark last Saturday. So expect a very big crowd on Saturday.

 7-2 will get you into the playoffs, at 6-3 you’re likely going to have to come out in the front end of a series of tie-breakers. So for Josh Marzahl’s team, they can afford a loss in Plymouth this weekend, where the Bobcats are probably a 3-touchdown favorite, but their margin of error gets very thin after that.

 Meaning Gilford-Belmont is going to have to beat Kennett at home (in a game we are going to cover) and at John Stark to close the season.

 The playoff race in Week 3 is only for people like me to worry about, what the Golden Eagles have to do this weekend is prove that they can go to the toughest place to win in the state and compete for four quarters.

 Gilford-Belmont quarterback Alex Cheek (Alex Cheek Player Profile Page) is more than capable of keeping them in it offensively and their defensive line/linebackers are capable of competing with the Bobcats.

 This game is all about the gap between the Golden Eagles and the best teams in Division II. We already know where Plymouth stands.

 

 Pelham (1-1) at Milford (2-0)

 Pelham Team Page & Statistics

 Milford Team Page & Statistics

 Tom Babaian’s Pelham defense might be the most underrated unit in Division II. The Pythons shut out Sanborn a week after holding conference favorite Alvirne to 15 points.

 Milford has been terrific running the football, averaging 8.5 yards per carry against Hollis-Brookline and 10.2 yards a carry last weekend against Manchester West.

 Gavin Urda, who could be the Player of the Year in Division II, has been an absolute force. The senior quarterback has rushed for a division-leading 384 yards in two games. On Friday night Matt Crowley (Matt Crowley Player Profile Page) and the Pythons defense needs to keep him limited to 4 or 5 yards at a time as opposed to the long runs he typically breaks.

 Pelham can throw the football with Ian Hoey (253 yards passing on the season) but Babaian’s team wants those throws to come within the flow of the offense and not because Pelham is trailing late & simply forced to throw.

 

 Division III

 Lebanon (2-0) at Monadnock (2-0)

 Monadnock Team Page & statistics

 Lebanon Team Page & statistics

 There are elite playmakers on either side of the ball….Lebanon will feature QB Jon Willeman & RB Wade Rainey while the Huskies will counter with RB Lincoln Blodgett (Lincoln Blodgett Player Profile Page) & Justin Josyln.

 This game though will be won on the lines. A game that comes down to an old school battle in the trenches.

 For Monadnock, it will be Joey Drew, Wyatt Guyette, Victor Lotito & Dylan Cashman. An offensive line that has produced two straight games of 300 plus rushing yards.

 For the Raiders it will be Noah Tyler, Mason Adams and Josh Mondragon leading a Lebanon offense that was able to move the ball and put up 21 points against a very good Trinity team a week ago.

 There haven’t been any real surprises in Division III so far, with the top teams all getting off to undefeated starts. This game will earn a tie-breaker for the winner, a tie-breaker that may determine home-field advantage in the post-season.

 

 Pete Tarrier & Jennifer Chick-Ruth will bring you all the highlights and the post-game interview with the entire winning team

 

 Winnisquam (2-0) at Newfound (0-2)

 Winnisquam Team Page

  The champs have opened the season 2-0 after wins over Farmington-Nute and Fall Mountain.

 In junior Phil Nichols the Bears might have the best quarterback in the division and after the graduation of CHaD all-star Angelo Glover first-year Head Coach Derek Hunt has gone to a running back by committee. “I really like the depth we have with that group,” said Hunt of his running back rotation. “That has really allowed us to go with the hot hand.”

 Nolan Perrino, Andre Cormier, and Brady Palmer will all see carries against Newfound this weekend.

 Wide receiver Garrett Mango returns from last year’s unbeaten team and is one of the best playmakers in Division IV. Mango had 3 touchdown receptions against Fall Mountain and is joined by fellow all-state receiver Gunner Horman, another key member of last year’s championship team and one of only two seniors on the roster.

 Cooper French has stepped in and contributed right away at tight end while the offensive and defensive lines are anchored by Chaz Hibbert, Mason Fellows, Noah Pearson, and Chandler Pattelo.

 “We are still running a very similar offense, just a few differences from what we ran under (former Head Coach Pat Riberdy). (Offensive coordinator) Tim Snow has done a very good job and the kids have played well early on,” said Hunt. “There are a lot of very good teams in the division so we are looking forward to competing against them.”

 ‘The Franchise’ Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I will be out to cover Winnisquam in three weeks when they take on Mascoma.

 

 

 

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