Welcome to the best time of the year as teams battle for their post-season lives and home field advantage in the playoffs.
Today we will list our candidates for player and coach of the year in all four divisions in addition to ranking the contenders.
We’ll have coverage of two games tomorrow night;
Pete Tarrier and Patrick Cogan will be in Amherst as the Souhegan Sabers take on the Pelham Pythons.
Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I will be in Somersworth when the Hilltoppers take on the Newport Tigers in a big Division III battle.
Our column is brought to you by our longtime partners at White Mountains Community College!
Division I
Division I Standings and Statistical Leaders
Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Brian Pafford of Portsmouth-Oyster River and Ryan Francouer of Winnacunnet
Bedford- A year ago, we worried that their lack of close games would cost them in the playoffs (spoiler alert: it worked out just fine). This year there are no concerns on how battle-tested Zach Matthews Bulldogs will be going into November. The two-time defending champs will face undefeated Nashua South tomorrow night, winner is very likely the top seed in the Division I playoffs.
Exeter- The Blue Hawks beat a good Manchester Memorial team 13-6 as Jack Kavanaugh continued his climb up the rushing leaderboard with 100 yards on 13 carries. We know Exeter is very good. Are they championship-level good? We’ll know next week when they face …
Londonderry—The Lancers scored 61 points on Nashua North, led by Adrian Cruz and Sam Ogden, in a rushing attack that averaged 7.5 yards per carry. They’ll close with Windham at home for Senior Night, followed by a trip to #2 Exeter next week, a game we will cover.
Nashua South—Since an opening night 21-15 overtime win over Bishop Guertin (a game we covered), Scott Knight’s team has outscored their in-state opponents by an average score of 36-6. But we will find out if they are a true title contender tomorrow night. My guess is they are. Cody Jackson and co. will be as good as any offense Bedford’s new-look defense has seen all season. It should be a good one.
Salem- Really good 28-14 road win over Windham last Saturday. Steve Abraham’s Blue Devils have two more big tests to close the season as they’ll face Bishop Guertin this week before a season-finale against Concord.
Pinkerton Academy—The Astros took care of business in a 41-6 win over Manchester Central (when I started this website seventeen years ago, Pinkerton/Central games were game-of-the-year-worthy match-ups). Jamie Isaac returned to the lineup and scored a touchdown in the win. The Astros close against two playoff teams: Concord and Alvirne.
Manchester Memorial- It was impressive to go over to the seacoast and battle Exeter for four quarters as Collin Beaulieu threw for 98 yards and Mohammed Olanweraju ran for 76. Next up is a tough test against a 4-2 Winnacunnet team looking to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Bishop Guertin- Do I see the red-hot Cardinals winning the title this season? I do not. Do I think they can knock off a higher seed and be a very tough out? I absolutely do. They get a measuring stick game against a very good Salem team Saturday afternoon, which should be a really fun football game.
Alvirne- The Broncos looked good in beating Concord convincingly last Friday night as Charlie Crawford threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns while Mike Landmesser (168 yards rushing and two touchdowns) and Rylan Rocheleau (112 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns) continued their all-state seasons for Matt Lee’s team. Big one at home against Keene, in a game the Blackbirds have to have, before facing Pinkerton to close the season.
Concord- The Tide have a gauntlet to get through to close the season as they face Pinkerton in Derry this week before a trip to Salem next week. A Keene loss helps Jim Corkum’s team, but a win gets them in.
Player of the Year Candidates: Kevin Todisco of Salem, Brody Helton of Bedford, Cody Jackson of Nashua South, Jack Maye of Bedford and Daniel Batstone of Exeter
Coach of the Year Candidates: Scott Knight of Nashua South, Rob Sturgis of Manchester Memorial, and Anthony Nalen of Bishop Guertin.
Division II
Division II Standings and Statistical Leaders
Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Chris Sanborn of Plymouth, Bob Polish of Bow, and Robin Bowkett of Souhegan
Plymouth- A big-time 28-21 win over Souhegan by Chris Sanborn’s team vaults them to the top spot and all but assures them of the #1 seed in the playoffs. Tristan Patridge ran for a season-high 122 yards in the victory, while Emmitt Nossaman, Tyler Mederios, and Liam Shannon led the defense.
Souhegan—The Sabers went toe-to-toe with Plymouth and came up a score short in overtime. They have no time to look back on the defeat with the champs coming to Amherst tomorrow night. Trinity ran the ball for 283 yards and 9.4 yards a carry, but the Pythons' defense held Trinity to 83 through the air. Can Robin Bowkett’s offense pound the football against Pelham tomorrow night?
Trinity- Terrific win by Rob Cathcart and his Pioneers. Anthony DiGiantommaso and QB Oliver Service combined for 264 yards rushing as Trinity put themselves in line for a top 3-seed in the playoffs. They’ll host Kennett this week and close the season in Manchester against Bow.
Pelham- The 41 points given up against Trinity were the most the program has allowed since giving up 43 points to St Thomas in 2018. Now, they face their arch-rivals with a top-three seed at stake.
Manchester West- The Blue Knights earned a good 21-13 road win at Kingswood as Gio Doria passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Jerome Henert. Next up is a big-time showdown against John Stark this weekend.
Bow- The parity in this division, after the top four teams, is becoming clearer by the week. The Falcons were on the outside looking in before a season-saving 19-14 win over John Stark behind a 104-yard and three-touchdown performance from Chase Flagg. A win against Pembroke Academy this weekend punches their playoff ticket.
John Stark- The Generals have a quasi-playoff game this Saturday against Manchester West. Win and they are likely in (they’ll close with Con Val at home next week). Lose and they are not out of it, but will be scoreboard watching.
Kingswood- Cory Woodsome’s Knights stay at eight even after the close loss to West. They have their own quasi-playoff game (see why this time of year is so fun?) against St Thomas this weekend. It’s a loser leaves-town game, with the winner staying alive in the playoff hunt.
Player of the Year Candidates: Mike Fiengo of Souhegan, Anthony DiGiantommaso of Trinity, Emmitt Nossaman of Plymouth, Junior MacKinnon of Pelham, Joey Dykstra of John Stark, and Gio Doria of Manchester West.
Coach of the Year Candidates: Cory Woodsome of Kingswood and Andrew Provencher of Manchester West.
Division III
Division III Standings and Statistical Leaders
Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Josh White of Sanborn
Campbell- The Cougars are on a bye week before they face off with Monadnock for the top seed in the playoffs. Scott Hershberger ran for 225 yards in a 43-15 win over Lebanon while brother Nick rushed for three touchdowns.
Monadnock—Are the Huskies flying under the radar? They’ve outscored their last four opponents 175-31 and feature two of the best running backs in the division, Liam Hart and Nick Ball. They’re off this weekend before Campbell rolls into Swanzey next week for a battle of undefeated teams.
Inter-Lakes Moultonborough- The Lakers beat Epping-Newmarket 34-7 behind 390 yards passing and four touchdowns from Alec Adorno, who leads the state in passing yards. Brogan Donnelly (148 yards and two touchdowns) and Jacob Heyward (161 yards and a touchdown) lit up the Blue Devils in the win.
Newport—It will be an ornery football team that shows up in Somersworth tomorrow night after the Tigers very uncharacteristically blew a 24-0 lead to (2-5) Kearsarge on their home field last weekend. All the credit goes to head coach Micheal Jensen and the Cougars for the win.
Stevens—Josh Duford’s Cardinals are coming together. They looked good in their 30-8 win over Laconia, as Steven Rheume and the offensive line paved the way for rushing touchdowns from Zach Richardson (145 yards on the night), Karter Thyme (who also had three interceptions), and two by Carter Bastian. A tough road trip to the greatest hometown in America (Gilford, obviously) is up next, as the Cardinals remain in the hunt for a Top-3 seed.
The Gilford/Somersworth/Laconia Sandwich- All three teams are 3-3, and get your pens out; Gilford beat Somersworth, Laconia beat Gilford, and Somersworth beat Laconia. Noah Harder stepped up with 150 yards rushing for the Golden Eagles last weekend in their 20-0 win over Somersworth.
Player of the Year Candidates: Scott Hershberger of Campbell, Nick Ball of Monadnock, Nick Hershberger of Campbell, and Alec Adorno of Inter-Lakes Moultonborough.
Coach of the Year Candidates: Ryan Avery of Monadnock and Glen Costello of Campbell.
Division IV
Division IV Standings and Statistical Leaders
Raymond- Ethan DeRoche went over 1,000 passing yards in the Rams 59-0 win over Newfound. Raymond, who, like the rest of the division, is on a bye this week, will be the top seed in playoffs.
Mascoma- The Royals earned a good 28-14 road win over Franklin that clinches the #2 seed. They’ll close out the regular season next week against Farmington-Nute.
Bishop Brady- Huge game next weekend against Franklin; winner is in, loser likely out. Joey Richardson was terrific in a 22-21 win over an improved Winnisquam team, rushing for 158 yards and three touchdowns.
Hillsboro-Deering- The Hillcats beat Farmington-Nute 58-8 as Robert King (four touchdowns) and Dan Richard combined for 249 yards on the ground. They’ll close the season next week against undefeated Raymond.
Player of the Year Candidates: Ethan DeRoche & Dennis Glidden of Raymond and Robert King of Hillsboro-Deering.
Coach of the Year Candidates: Rob Clauss of Bishop Brady and Tim Snow of Franklin.
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