Division III
 
 (4) Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough at (1) Bow
  The Bow Falcons are your Division III favorite by virtue of their southern conference championship (RIP: Sub-Division) over formerly undefeated Pelham last Saturday afternoon. Matt Ehrenberg was once again the story as he ran for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 18-6 win. The two teams were tied at six heading into the fourth quarter before Bow scored twice. The Falcons now go from a home game in round one to a home game in the semifinals.

 Ehrenberg deservedly gets all the headlines but someone is opening up those holes he is barreling through. Bow’s offensive line has been as a good a unit as any in the division and the contributions have come from center Alec Tellifson, guard Dwight Alford and tackle Tucker Johnson. Mike Johnson and Billy Knap have also been very solid as Bow has been able to control both the clock as well as the line of scrimmage.

 In the Lakers they face a team a team that was 1-7 a year ago and were the benefactor of six Gilford turnovers in a 27-14 win, including two that came as the Golden Eagles were inside the five yard line and about to score. Nick Brothers was a huge part of the victory in returning a Jack Athanas interception 89 yards for the go ahead score. Quarterback Josh Blundo and all-state running back Devante Carter (19 carries for 127 yards) moved the ball all afternoon and just as importantly took care of the football, with a Kyle Gaudet interception being the lone Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough turnover on the day.

 They’re not going to get six turnovers sent their way on Saturday so if there is a chance for the upset they will have to compete at the line of scrimmage.  The Lakers need a few big plays of their own to gain early momentum but it won’t be easy. Bow played the toughest schedule in the division and as we declared weeks ago, the team that comes out of the south is your team to beat.

 Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough gets the first crack at them Saturday.
 
(3) Epping-Newmarket at (2) Stevens

 Epping-Newmarket moves on to the semifinals after an impressive 28-0 shutout of a good Bishop Brady offense (the defense not so much..). Jake Valinski was again outstanding in the win (18 tackles) and the offense has found a good rhythm behind running back Joe Leclerc. The strength of each conference is irrelevant to Epping-Newmarket’s mind frame going into this one and although they went 0-3 against teams from the south they have at least faced the iron of the division and know how high the bar resides.

 Stevens was equally as impressive in their victory over Newport and are led by Division III rushing champ Donald Pellerin and a defense that features Austin Tenney, Richard Bell, Devin Porter and Bryar Rouillard. Stevens has not lost since a week 3 (championship preview perhaps?) 21-7 loss to Bow and in those five wins they are giving up an average of only 10 points per contest.

 This isn’t a team that beats you with trick plays or by airing it out, Stevens tries to win the field position battle and knows they have a running back good enough to move the chains. Pellerin also hasn’t faced many linebackers as good as the one he will see on Saturday so the match-up of Valinski spying the all-state back should be a fun one to watch.