UNION LEADER/WGIR/WMUR FOOTBALL POWER POLL The top 10 high school football teams in New Hampshire, as voted by the staffs of the New Hampshire Union Leader, WGIR AM and FM, and WMUR-TV after Week 8 of the 2013 NHIAA season, with first-place votes/points in parentheses:
 

THIS WEEK / LAST WEEK

1. Concord, 8-0 (6/60) / 1. Concord, 7-0 (6/60)

2. Bedford, 7-1 (54) / 2. Nashua South, 7-0 (54)

3. Pinkerton, 6-2 (46) / 3. Bedford, 6-1 (47)

4. Nashua South, 7-1 (44) / 4. Pinkerton, 5-2 (41)

5. Keene, 6-2 (36) / 5. Bishop Guertin, 5-2 (26)

6. Manchester Central, 6-2 (21) / 6. Portsmouth, 6-1 (23)

7. Bishop Guertin, 5-3 (18) / 7. Keene, 5-2 (21)

8. Portsmouth, 7-1 (16) / 8. Trinity, 6-1 (13)

9. Exeter, 5-3 (15) / 9. Plymouth, 6-1 (11.5)

10. Plymouth, 7-1 (16) / 10. Exeter, 4-3 (3.5)

Also receiving votes:Spaulding, 5-3 (8); Monadnock, 8-0 (2)

Here's how I voted...

1. Concord...only a home game with Goffstown stands between the 8-0 Crimson Tide and an undefeated regular season.  A win will lock up the overall #1 seed in D1 for Concord who will be watching this Friday night's Bedford/Manchester Central game to see who makes the trip to Memorial Field for the playoffs on November 9th.

2. Bedford...it's been a dream season so far for the Bulldogs, but their 1st year in Division 1 could be looked at as a nightmare if Jesiah Wade and Central come into Bedford and pulls an upset that will knock the Bulldogs out of the postseason picture.  

3. Nashua South...they got spanked by Keene in the 2nd half, but if they can take down a good Winnacunnet team in their regular season finale the Panthers will have home field for the playoffs, likely against the Blackbirds who now only need to beat Alvirne to punch their ticket.

4. Pinkerton...on paper, the Astros are probably the team with the easiest route to the Final Four in Division 1.  They will meet rival Londonderry in the South conference Championship Game, while the other 1st place teams in D1 will likely have to play teams like Bedford, Exeter and Keene.

5. Keene...speaking of Keene, do you think coach John Luopa sent a little "Thank You" note to Jason Robie and Nashua North for helping the Blackbirds once bleak playoff chances by taking out BG Friday?  The bottom line though is that Keene also did what they had to do by beating previously perfect Nashua South.

6. Portsmouth...the Clippers found out who their likely playoff opponent will be when Merrimack Valley topped St. Thomas on Saturday essentially locking up 2nd place for the Pride in D2 East.  Portsmouth has a home game with Hanover to finish the regular season and get ready for MV.

7. Plymouth...although they lost some of their "air of invincibility" when they lost a late lead against Portsmouth, you can be sure the team and the entire Plymouth community has already put that behind them as they head into the playoffs with 1 goal in mind...win another Championship to send coach Lenahan out in style.

8. Exeter...still involved in a 3-way tie with Spaulding and Winnacunnet in Division 1 East, the Blue Hawks have Nashua North in Exeter to finish the regular season, while Spaulding has a rivalry game with Dover and Winny plays a toughie in Nashua vs South.  Because of the potential tie-breakers, all Exeter needs is a win to get in.

9. BG...it's not quite so easy for Bishop Guertin who may have sealed their playoff fate in a bad way with back-to-back losses against Nashua North and Nashua South the last 2 weeks.  To stay alive the Cards need to win @ Timberlane on Friday and then hope(and pray...hey, it's a Catholic school) that old friend Mark Philips and Alvirne can upset Keene.

10. Spaulding...with wins over both Exeter and Winnacunnet, the Red Raiders have the head to head advantage over both conference rivals in the playoff hunt that is going down to the wire.  But it could all go away if Dover can ruin things for Spaulding this weekend.  A win over Dover puts Spaulding in.