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The Great Bay Community College Football Playoff Preview

By Dave Haley, 10/29/20, 6:15AM EDT

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It's playoff time for Owen Taylor and the Stevens Cardinals

 Today we take a look at all four divisions as we begin the playoffs…a much different-looking tournament than we have seen before but it's 2020….. and that feels like explanation enough.

 We’ll take a look at each division and tell you who the favorites are and who might be able to pull off an upset this weekend.

 Today's column is brought to you by our longtime friends and partners at Great Bay Community College.

 Great Bay will be hosting a virtual open house on Saturday, November 7th. We have had hundreds of former student-athletes choose Great Bay, either as their route to a 2-year degree or as a start to a top college or university. 

 Check out their open house at greatbay.edu/openhouse, learn about programs, meet faculty and staff, get tips on the admissions process, and take a virtual tour. 

 See why GBCC is a great option for both students and parents.

 Click on any of their banner ads for information about courses and open house dates!

 On Saturday we will have full coverage of a big Division II playoff game when Pete Tarrier & Colin O’Neil bring you all the coverage of Milford at Hollis-Brookline.

 

 Division I

 Division I Standings and Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Ryan Francoeur of Winnacunnet,          Steve Abraham of Salem, Jimmy Lauzon of LondonderryJack Byrne of WindhamBrian Pafford of Portsmouth-Oyster RiverDante Laurendi of Nashua NorthZach Matthews of Bedford and Tarek Rothe of Alvirne                                                              

 First Round Match-ups:

 (4) Concord at (1) Goffstown

 (3) Bedford at (2) Manchester Memorial

 (4) Exeter at (1) Dover

 (3) Spaulding at (2) Winnacunnet

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 (4) Bishop Guertin at (1) Nashua North

 (3) Nashua South at (2) Merrimack

 (4) Alvirne at (1) Salem

 (3) Windham at (2) Londonderry

 The Goffstown Grizzlies looked terrific in a game we covered last weekend against Manchester Memorial. Jarrett Henault is making all the right decisions behind center, Zach Picard is the leading rusher in Division I and there may not be a better group of receivers in the state. They shouldn’t have much trouble with a Concord team with a bright future but a lot of underclassman in key roles.

 It’s fun for me that I can be doing this for so long (this is Season #13) and still look at some scores and say, ‘ No, wait…..that can’t be right’ but it happened again when I saw Nashua South 41, Bedford 7.          

 The Bulldogs after all were two weeks removed from a statement-making 26-7 win over Londonderry and on the shortlist of title contenders; Zach Matthews’ team is on it.

 They’ll be favored over Memorial this weekend but they also are going to have to play very well to win. Rob Sturgis’s team has been very good at creating turnovers and there is plenty of offensive firepower with Kai Colson, QB Jeffrey Josefik, and receivers Will Clark & Sawyer Bergeron.

 Pete Tarrier raved to me about freshman Erik Seymore, who is another Memorial play to watch.

 Bedford has to bounce back in a hurry and although a lot of people are looking forward to Goffstown/Bedford II next weekend (Box score of the first meeting) the Crusaders aren’t going to go down without a fight and have to feel like they can crash the party.

 Exeter comes into Saturday’s game as a 4-seed in name only. As we and anyone who has ever watched football in New Hampshire could have predicted they have played better by the week under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame head coach Bill Ball.

 Dover has been a great story this season in their second year under championship-winning head coach Eric Cumba. This is a rematch of a game the Green Wave won in their opener and Exeter’s second game (Box score: Dover 7, Exeter 6).

 These are similar teams as you don’t have one superstar that carries the load but depth across both units. In the end, I expect Dover QB Darian Lopez-Sullivan to make a play that puts his team over the top.

 Winnacunnet faces Spaulding for the second straight week (Box score: Winnacunnet 21, Spaulding 6)

 For Kevin Hebert’s team to flip the script they need to find a way to get Kevin Casey (276 yds. on the season), Danny Fogarty (196), and the running game going.

 The Warriors defense led by Jack Wilber, Matt Alkire, and Jack McCann was terrific against the run last week and got the best of the Red Raiders offensive line. They duplicate that feat this weekend and Ryan Francoeur’s team is moving on.

 Nashua North might just be that good. That was the general consensus after their 36-7 win over Londonderry last weekend. It’s going to be a steep hill to climb for Bishop Guertin who faces Dante Laurendi’s Titans for the second time (Video highlights of the first meeting)

 One of the best games of the weekend will be Nashua South traveling to Merrimack. Both teams are coming off of lopsided wins but it was South’s 41-7 win over Bedford that had coaches all over the state doing double-takes.

 Head coach Scott Knight told me in the pre-season that he was all about the slow build with his Panthers. Seeing where they are today, besides having to go on the road in Round 1, he has to feel like his team is right where he wants it to be.

 We knew offensive coordinator Bill Monsen’s unit would round into form, they’ve scored over 40 points in back to back games, but the defense was the group that made a major statement in the win over Bedford.

 Jason Compoh at defensive end, Tyler Armeen, defensive back Mike Rutstein, and linebacker Connor Roswell have all been terrific and against Merrimack, they’ll have to play one of their best games of the season.

 Kip Jackson’s Tomahawks boast an experienced offensive line and the leading passer in Division I in Kyle Crampton. Right now the Nashua teams seem to be surging, winner here most likely gets a shot at the Titans next week.

 Salem is rounding into form under first-year head coach Steve Abraham. As usual, their top running backs are splitting the carries and both Aidan McDonald (395 yds. rushing) and Dante Fernandes (369) have produced. The defense has been very good, with Noah Poulin, Tanner Morgano, Jake Brady, and Jack Milos all having all-state seasons.

 Londonderry’s loss last weekend meant that if there is a re-match with the Blue Devils next weekend, it’s taking place in Salem (the first meeting was at Londonderry (Box score: Londonderry 16, Salem 0)

 Windham began the season three weeks late and is just now playing to the level they are accustomed to. They battled Salem last week (Box Score: Salem 26, Windham 14) and should not be overlooked by the Lancers. Jack Byrne’s team had to play Pinkerton in Week 3 and Londonderry in Week 5 with no games to get them ready…you would have struggled too under those circumstances.

 Joey DaSilva gives the Jaguars a good passing QB and Stephen Mague leads a good group of running backs.

 For Alvirne it is a rebuilding year. QB Kyle Gora is very good when he has time to throw and WR Andrew Porter gives Tarek Rothe’s team a deep ball threat against the Blue Devils.

 If there is an upset it will beExeter over Dover…..I’m picking the Green Wave but Exeter is a 4-seed because of the first two weeks of the regular season, not the last three.

 Who we will likely see moving on: Goffstown, Bedford (don’t sleep on Memorial), Dover, Winnacunnet, Nashua South (in a close one), Nashua North, Londonderry (Windham is going to be much better the second time around), and Salem.

 

 Division II

 Division II standings and leaders

 Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Chris Sanborn of Plymouth, Keith Jones of Milford, Josh Marzahl of Gilford-Belmont, and Kevin Fitzgerald of Timberlane

 First Round Match-ups:

 (4) Merrimack Valley at (1) Plymouth

 (3) Gilford-Belmont at (2) Kennett

 (4) Hillsborough-Deering Hopkinton at (1) Bow

 (3) Hanover at (2) Lebanon

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(1) Souhegan Bye

(3) Milford at (2) Hollis-Brookline

(4) St. Thomas at (1) Pembroke Academy

(2) Sanborn at (2) Timberlane

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  Every year Division II promises surprises and delivers. Bow made a run in back to back years, once as an 8-seed that knocked off undefeated Windham and just one year ago 6 seed, Hollis-Brookline beat 5-seed Plymouth in a windy & rainy championship game at UNH.

 So as soon as the NHIAA brackets were released it was natural to start looking for where the upsets will come from.

 Let’s just say they are hiding in a pretty good spot because it’s tough to see many surprises happening this weekend. The division just isn’t as deep as it has been the past three years when very good teams were left out of the Top 8 playoff spots.

 Plymouth and Kennett look like they are on a collision course towards a rematch of their 21-20 instant classic that the Bobcats pulled out in North Conway. Merrimack Valley has struggled this season and the last place to go in the playoffs to cure those ills is Plymouth, New Hampshire.

 Gilford-Belmont has not been able to play to the level of both Plymouth and Kennett…a road trip to North Conway to play an Eagles team that knows they are good enough to win it all is going to be extremely difficult.

 Hillsborough-Deering-Hopkinton’s rematch with Bow is an interesting match-up (highlights of the first meeting). Bow hasn’t played in three weeks and they haven’t been truly tested in a close game all season long.

 The Red Hawks meanwhile won a play-in game last week (easily over John Stark) and haven’t lost since our opening day trip to Bow, including handing Pembroke their only loss on the season.

 If Jay Wood’s team can get production on the ground from Jack Morrall and Dylan Barrett they have a chance to pull an upset over a Falcons team that has been sidelined for some time.

 After a 41-0 loss to Lebanon, it is on Hanover now to turn things around in a big way and do it in a hurry. (Game Highlights)

 Three different backs rushed for over 50 yards for Chris Childs’ team and they feasted off of Hanover turnovers. The Marauders will try to get Ben Williams & Seamus Murphy the ball in space and flip the script this weekend.

 Souhegan gets a bye as Manchester West won’t play this weekend.

 They’ll face the winner of Milford/Hollis-Brookline for the second time next weekend. Chris Lones’ defending champs have played better by the week and announced they were ready to defend their title with a resounding win over Timberlane last weekend.

 Milford has not been the same since they lost Caden Zalenski to injury but the Spartans will be a tough out on Saturday if the ground game gets rolling and the time of possession swings to Keith Jones’s team.

 Marc-Andre Thermitus has been putting up Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson's rushing totals of late. Long touchdown runs hurt Milford the first time these two teams played, they’ll look to try and contain him Saturday in a game we’ll have full coverage of.

 If there’s an upset looming watch out for St Thomas at Pembroke. The Saints, a perennial contender and past champion in the division, not only lost a ton of seniors from last year's team but their new head coach Ed McDonough only had a week to get to know his players' name before the season started.

 Cam Paquette is a very good QB and the Saints have played a tough schedule. Will Moher’s Pembroke team has been a great story behind Jack Schaefer, Logan Longacre, Ethan Harmony, and Ryan Casey. This should be a very good game on Saturday.

 Timberlane has limped to the finish line with consecutive losses to Hollis-Brookline and Souhegan but they are still in a position to be the team coming out of their 4-team region. Kevin Fitzgerald’s Owls will face Sanborn on Saturday, a team they 42-14 in Week 2.

 If there is an upset it will be: St. Thomas over Pembroke

 Who we will likely see moving on: Plymouth, Kennett, Bow, Lebanon, Souhegan, Hollis-Brookline, Pembroke, and Timberlane

 

 Division III

 Division III Standings and leaders

 Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Ryan Avery of Monadnock, Glen Costello of Campbell, Paul Silva of Stevens and Tom Babian of Pelham    

 First Round Match-ups:

(4) Campbell at (1) Pelham

(3) Trinity at (2) Monadnock

(4) Laconia at (2) Stevens

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 Winnisquam has a first-round bye because Inter-Lakes Moultonborough opted out

 Campbell gets another shot at undefeated Pelham, who has been the clear cut best team in the division since Day 1. Glen Costello’s Cougars are never an easy out. They were beaten last week by Trinity after having won two games in a row over Laconia and Sanborn.

 The Pythons have been led all season by Jake Herrling, Ethan Demmons, and Kevin Brodenrader, who have been terrific running the football, and a defense led by Demmons, Zach Jones, Noah Coppinger, and Cam Santolucito.

 Defending champion Trinity at Monadnock is the game of the week. The Huskies bounced back from their loss at Newport two weeks ago to beat Winnisquam last Saturday.

 The Pioneers got a confidence-building 36-0 win last weekend over Campbell and now will have to try to beat the Huskies in the trenches with a defense led by Owen Tomko, Sully Masuku, and Kenny Knight.

 Ryan Avery’s team is tough to beat in Swanzey and they have gotten all-state level play all season long out of Dylan Cashman, Justin Joslyn, and Aidan Hart.

 Pelham will get their toughest test from their side of the draw. If the Pythons are going to have their perfect season spoiled it is most likely Trinity or Monadnock who are going to do it.

 Winnisquam heads the bottom half of the bracket and the lopsided loss to Monadnock last weekend could not have helped their confidence. This is a team with a huge senior group and back-to-back Division IV titles but like a lot of teams they’ve had to play smaller schools when games weren’t being called off.

 Their all-state QB Phil Nichols and playmakers Andre Cormier & Garrett Mango give them a chance to get back to the championship game again this season. They’ll face the winner of Laconia and Stevens.

 Playoff Paul Silva (that’s his legal name now….think Marvelous Marvin Hagler) and the Cardinals are led by QB Owen Taylor and wide receiver Clayton Wadsworth (218 yds. on the season). 

 They’ll face a Sachems team led by Demarco McKissic and looking for their first win of the season.

 If there is an upset it will be: There is no upset in Trinity or Monadnock winning…..I’m not going to call Campbell over Pelham and …..no person in their right mind bets against Playoff Paul Silva in the first round………..maybe Bye has a big week against Winnisquam?

Who we will likely see moving on: Pelham, Trinity (in a close one), STEVENS, and Winnisquam.

                    

 Division IV

 Division IV Standings

 First Round Match-ups:

 Mascoma at Newport

 Fall Mountain at Franklin

 Bishop Brady at Raymond

 Somersworth has a bye after Epping-Newmarket opted out

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 Newport is a HUGE favorite to win this division……….in fact, they might be the second-best team in Division III.

 They have gotten terrific production out of Jagger Lovely (505 yds. rushing), Josh Sharron (313), and a defense led by Sharron, Adriano Urista who leads the defensive line, and Chase Hamilton & Devin Heino, who set the edge for the Tigers.

 Fall Mountain, who was the runner-up in last year's championship game (Video highlights of Winnisquam over Fall Mtn) travels to Franklin in a match-up of teams that have only played 3 times combined this month.

 Franklin, who features all-state running back Jakob Beaupre, last played on October 3rd while Fall Mountain last played on the 10th. Orion Binney’s team is led by their own all-state RB Izaak Westover.

 The Raymond Rams beat Bishop Brady 46-28 on October 10th and get another shot at Tony Johnson’s team on Saturday.

 If there is an upset it will be: Franklin over Fall Mountain…I’m not calling it but that’s the upset special.

 Who we will likely see moving on: Newport, Fall Mountain, Raymond, and Somersworth

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