It's back! The best listicle in NH, the McIsaac Top 10! And I'd like to announce that this year, Jen Chick-Ruth is a Top 10 voter! 

(46 minutes later)

Oops, Austin Grass had a giant screaming fit about that decision, so Jen's out. I guess she had a slice of pizza in a media press box once, and THAT CAN'T BE ALLOWED. 

The Top 10 is brought to you by TJ’S in Portsmouth! My absolute favorite spot in Portsmouth to catch a game. Tell Bethany that McIsaac sent you.

10. IT’S ANYTHING BUT COLUMBUS DAY

Leif Ericson Day, Indigenous People’s Day, whatever. Anything but Columbus Day, who was 2nd to “Discover” North America by 500 years, and was a pretty notorious scumbag. Enjoy the day off though!

9. CATS ON THE PROWL

It’s hard to describe what a big win UNH Football came home with on Saturday night-  playing without one of the key members of the defense, Pop Lacey (who’s also a captain), and with limited action from a banged up Malik Love (their most reliable WR, although the youngins are coming along pretty fast), the Cats staged a 4th quarter comeback to beat 22nd ranked Stony Brook 20-14. There were 15 different heroes in this one, and by the time you read this, UNH, who is now 4-2 and 3-0 in the CAA, should be nationally ranked

8. WHILE YOU WERE READING THIS THERE WAS ANOTHER INT IN THE GOFFSTOWN CENTRAL GAME

7 total interceptions, including a pair of Pick 6’s in the Grizzlies 13-12 win. A believe you can call that either a “Delhomme” or a “Jameis”, depending on how old you are. A win is a win but Goffstown will want to get their 4 INT performance on offense cleaned up before they meet Londonderry this week.

7. THE SEA WAS ANGRY THAT DAY MY FRIENDS

Nothing like a giant ferry with about 40 cars on it getting tossed around like a cork in Long Island sound to start your weekend right.  That was my situation on Friday, with some of the Rough Seas Rookies on board getting a 2nd look at their lunch, and the boat slamming into the dock 3 times when we arrived in NY. Good times! I almost kissed the ground when I got off.

6. SALEM GRINDS IT OUT

This is a repeat #6 from last week – Salem managed just 238 yards of offense without Brandon Wall, but were able to get a 17-7 win over rival Windham, who is probably the best 2-4 team in the state. The 7 points Windham scored were the first surrendered by Salem since week 2 v Londonderry

5. SNAKES HELD THE PLANE

The endzone plane, that is, as you saw on NH Sportspage.com – Pelham stuffed Souhegan’s 2 pt conversion attempt to secure a 21-20 victory and for the third or fourth straight week, the team I thought was the Top Dog in D2 was knocked off. There is no Top Dog in D2 right now, if you get in, seeds 1-8, you have a legit chance to take the title home in November. Most fun division in NH and it’s not even close.

4. A STATEMENT WIN FOR THE HUSKIES

Lincoln Blodgett bludgeoned the HDH Red Hawks with 3 TD wins and the defending champs got back on track with a 52-20 W Friday. The win got Monadnock to 4-2 as they head out on the road the next two weeks with clashes at Laconia and Campbell, in a game many (and by “many”, I mean “me” – MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT) picked the Red Hawks in.

3. DOVER SHOCKS PORTSMOUTH

Normally the biggest shock you get when talking about Dover and Portsmouth is when you compare the cost of real estate in the two cities, but a 17-7 win by the Greenwave over the Clippers sent shockwaves around the Seacoast Friday night. Eric Cumba was almost down to Team Managers suiting up at the end of the game after a series of injuries, but managed to duct tape together a W over a Portsmouth team that can really run the football. It would’ve been easy for Dover to pack it in after getting their hearts ripped out by rival Spaulding the week before, but credit the Greenwave team for showing some big intestinal fortitude.

2. THAT NICK SABAN AFLAC COMMERCIAL ACTUALLY ISN’T BAD

You can rely on me to complain about crappy commercials in this listicle, and lord knows I’ll probably have plenty to gripe about soon, but I don’t hate this Nick Saban spot, where he threatens to show a smidge of personality.

1. I’M DECLARING D1 “THE LONDONDERRY INVITATIONAL”

Londonderry is the runaway favorite in D1 after crushing Bedford in Bedford 35-0. The last time there was a football-related abuse of this many dogs, Michael Vick went to jail. I’m more sure of Londonderry winning the whole thing in D1 than I am that the Cowboys will crush the Jets! (Checks notes-  Hmmmmmm. Maybe don’t order the banner just yet, LHS. I tend to be wrong sometimes)

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Phil Rivers playing like a man who has 9 kids, Tacko Fall comes to Portland, Exeter rolls, St. A’s football with a last-second win

Justin McIsaac writes the Top 10 every week (usually). He is the 2018 NSMA NH Sportscaster of The Year.  He has 1,000 jobs, including radio color commentary for UNH Football, Producer of "NH Today with Jack Heath", HS play by play for MOSN, The McIsaac On Sports Network, college play by play for Dartmouth, St Anselm’s, UNE, Harvard, and whoever else will cut the check. Follow him on Twitter: @justin_mcisaac