UNION LEADER/WGIR/WMUR FOOTBALL POWER POLL Nov. 4, 2013 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 9 of the 2013 NHIAA season, with first-place votes/points in parentheses:
 

1. Concord, 9-0 (6/60)

2. Nashua South, 8-1 (52)

3. Pinkerton, 7-2 (50) 

4. Keene, 7-2 (39)

5. Manchester Central, 7-2 (36) 

6. Bedford, 7-2 (29)

7. Portsmouth, 8-1 (22) 

8. Exeter, 6-3 (12) 

9. (tie) Plymouth, 8-1 (10)

9 (tie) Spaulding, 6-3 (10) 

Also receiving votes: Monadnock, 9-0 (7); Bishop Guertin, 6-3 (3)

Here's how I voted...

1. Concord...when I think about the tremendous season this team has had so far, I can't help but think of the classic 80's hit from Blondie were she sang, "the tide is high but I'm holding on...I'm gonna be your number 1".  Yes, Concord is my...and everybody's undisputed #1 after an unbeaten regular season establishing themselves as the favorites to win the Division 1 State Championship.  I must say I was very much looking forward to a playoff rematch with Bedford(Concord won 34-27 in the regular season), but the match up with a much-better-now Central team is pretty intriguing too.

2. Nashua South...the Panthers bounced back nicely to close the regular season with a win over Winnacunnet after a setback the week before on the road in Keene.  Trevor Knight and company now get the chance for payback as South entertains the Blackbirds in the D1 West conference Championship Game at Stellos Stadium.  Should be fun to watch, and we'll have the NHSportspage.com video camera there on Saturday to bring you all the highlights!

3. Pinkerton...we had coach Brian O'Reilly on the NH High School Football Show last weekend and when asked by Dave Haley where star running back Manny Latimore ranked in the all-time Astros "greats" list, the Grand Poobah of Pinkerton basically said to ask him again once the playoffs are done.  That's the way it is for Pinkerton football as they identify true greatness with Championships, not regular season stats.  

4. Keene...I'm really looking forward to seeing Alex Parenteau and the Blackbirds in person for the1st time all year when they come to Nashua to take on South.  Hard to believe they were once the team that was really in danger of missing out on the playoffs despite a good record and   a season long spot in the Top 10.

5. Portsmouth...it's too bad Portsmouth will be missing do everything player Jake Becker who won't be allowed to join his teammates in the postseason because of what I'm told are "disciplinary reasons".   I still think the Clippers have enough to make some noise in D2, but it's a shame how we see stuff like this affect the playoff fortunes of teams year in and year out.

6. Plymouth...why the rest of the poll voters don't have Plymouth ranked higher is a mystery to me.  Think about it, if I have the Bobcats at #6 and they ended up tied for 9th overall with Spaulding it's pretty obvious everybody else thinks a lot less of them than I do.  I mean, is a last minute loss to a really good Portsmouth team that damaging to a team's resume?  

7.  Manchester Central...I applaud Little Green head coach Ryan Ray for calling me out on camera during our postgame interview after the Bedford game for not having his team on my ballot yet this year.  Bottom line for me is that up to this point, Central hadn't gotten that signature win that convinced me they were truly worthy of my vote.  Now coach Ray and his phenomenal RB Jesiah Wade and the rest of the Central players are in the playoffs and Bedford is green with envy.

8.  Bedford...it must have been a harsh reality for the Bulldogs to wake up on Saturday morning to face the fact that their once magical season was suddenly and surprisingly over.  All due respect for Central for getting it done in the do or die game, but I can't help but feel bad for coach Kurt Hines and his seniors.  

9.  Spaulding...congrats are in order for the East conference regular season winners.  Because of that, the Red Raiders are hosting their 1st home playoff game in 20 years!  Trey Scott is a definite player of the year candidate and the dream season continues on Saturday vs 2-time D1 Champs Exeter.

10.  Exeter...the winner of the game between the Blue Hawks and Spaulding will have to face the highest remaining seed in the Division 1 Final Four on Saturday the 16th, so if Exeter is to 3-peat they are going to have to prove they can still hang with the upper echelon in the state.