Division III Rushing leader: Matt Ehrenberg of Bow 1,106 yards Passing leader: Christian McKenna of Campbell 1,532 yards Receiving leader: Kyle Gaudet of Gilford 667 yards
 

North Sub-division playoff
(2) Inter-Lakes Moultonborough at (1) Gilford

 The alma mater comes out of what could be called the Lakes Region division after a 6-2 regular season that featured one of the best passing attacks in the state. Jack Athanas (1,500 yards passing and 16 TDs) put up big numbers a year ago and came back even stronger in his senior season. That was with the aid of wide receivers Kyle Gaudet and Beck Stretcher (352 yds.) and Division III’s own version of Darren Sproles in Max Troiano who ran for 815 yards and gained 263 more receiving coming out of the backfield.

 The defense hasn’t been as consistent and on Saturday they’ll face one of the best playmakers in Division III in the Lakers Devante Carter. Containing Carter and controlling the clock will decide if the Golden Eagles are moving on to the semifinals next weekend. Athanas and Troiano give you enough punch offensively to win a shoot-out but with a player like Carter who can go for huge gains on any given snap the recipe for success is keeping their high powered offense on the field as much as possible and in-turn not allowing Carter and his teammates to get into any kind of rhythm.
 
South Sub-division playoff
(2) Bow at (1) Pelham

 Are the two best football teams in all of Division III squaring off in the opening round?

 I’d say they are, the winner here is your favorite going forward as Pelham comes in as the lone undefeated team in the division while Bow’s only defeat of the season was a 7-0 loss to the Pythons in week 1.

 Pelham’s defense has been nothing short of dominating and it is led by ‘do everything but run the 50/50 raffle at halftime’ linebacker Tyler Kozick, who has been moved all over the field depending on the formation in front of him. His task Saturday is to control a Falcons running attack that saw Matt Ehrenberg go for over 1,000 yards rushing on the season and get considerable production from Chris Robbins (368 yds.), Kyle Barrington (217) and Alex Reitze (289). Neither team is going to throw the ball very often although Bow’s Derek Polish and Pelham’s Joe Slattery have proved capable when the situation called for it.

 Pelham’s Chris Medeiros is every bit the equal of Ehrenberg as a featured back (Pete Tarrier raved about Medeiros after covering his game against Campbell two weeks ago) and so keeping the other team from ripping off an 80 yard run is essential. Both teams need to avoid giving up the big play and make any scoring drives long and taxing ones. The more plays run the better the opportunity for the offense to turn the ball over. Expect a huge crowd in Pelham Saturday afternoon in what should be one of the best playoff games anywhere in the state.
 
West Sub-division playoff
(2) Newport at (1) Stevens

 Another good match-up and a rematch of what was a very good football game played two weeks ago when the Cardinals beat the Tigers 9-6 in Newport. That loss forced Larry Carle’s team to go on the road and beat a very good Mascoma team in the season finale.

 In that game, a match-up Jennifer Chick covered for us, sophomore C.J Lawrence ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns in a surprisingly comfortable 42-14 win. Defensively the Tigers have been very good all season, it is their offense that has tended to get stuck in neutral. In Stevens they’ll face a talented football team with playoff experience after they battled Somersworth on the road in the Division V semifinals one year ago.

 Anyone who follows Division III knows the name Donald Pellerin (858 yds. rushing and 29 tackles) but the Cardinals have also gotten a lot of production out of quarterback Ryan Tanguay (513 yards passing) and wide receiver Nathan White (301 yds.). Defensively this has been a very good unit and one led by Pellerin, Robbie Knight and Collin Belt.

 These two teams combined for only fifteen points in the regular season meeting and even after Newport lit up the scoreboard last weekend in West Canaan you shouldn’t  expect it to happen in back to back weeks. Stevens is a difficult team to beat on their home field and a defense that ranks amongst the best in all of Division III makes that task even more difficult for Carle and his Newport team.
 
East Sub-division playoff
(2) Bishop Brady at (1) Epping-Newmarket

 A match-up of two .500 teams that is getting some attention from around the state for the wrong kind of reasons. While teams at Bedford (7-2), St. Thomas (6-3), Campbell (6-3) and Bishop Guertin (6-3) sit at home the new playoff format will allow two 4-4 teams in. Make no mistake, Bishop Brady and Epping-Newmarket are not going to apologize for finishing in the top two of their sub-division and they’ll both be at midfield moments before kickoff Saturday afternoon.
 Epping-Newmarket has been led by running back Joe Leclerc