Dave Haley looks at the biggest games from around the state.
 

 Division I

 Portsmouth (4-1) at Exeter (3-2)

 Huge game on the seacoast Friday night and we will be there as Pete Tarrier and Jen Chick bring you all the action from Bill Ball Stadium. Winner here takes control of the East Conference race and it is a match-up of contrasting styles.

 The Clippers under a veteran coaching staff that includes head coach Brian Pafford, Tim Hopley, Johnny Iafolla (off. coordinator) and Kevin Mills (def. coordinator) want to spread you out and get their playmakers (Christian Peete, Loden Formichelli & Joey Auger) out in space. That kind of attack has given Exeter trouble at times in the past and early in the contest Portsmouth will test Exeter and try to find the mismatches to exploit.

 On the other side of the ball it is a young defense that has played well with Justis Mattis-Clark, Evan Jones and Quinton Desjardins serving as the anchors on the interior. Friday night they face their biggest test of the season against a very well coached Blue Hawks team with enough weapons to control the pace of the game. That style of play can wear opponents down and that serves as something to look for as Exeter will have an advantage in size along the lines.

 The Blue Hawks will run the Straight -T and Wing-T with the intent to grind out yards while moving the chains. The Clippers will have to be disciplined to contain it and it all makes for a fun chess match to watch as two coaching staffs that have had a long look at one another from different divisions finally meet on the same field.
 
 Nashua South (3-2) at Alvirne (3-2)

  The winner takes over sole possession of first place in the West Conference Standings and it is a game the pre-season favorite comes into with a lot of momentum.
 Nashua South couldn’t have started the season off worse if they had showed up in the wrong uniforms but Scott Knight and his staff has turned the ship around. Right now the Panthers look like the smart/talented veteran crew everyone expected.

 Malik Langa spent the entire pre-season holding off Shayne Holland for the starting quarterback job but after a bumpy start he has played very well in three straight wins over Merrimack, Nashua North and Timberlane. Knight’s offense has playmakers galore in Langa, Holland, Josh Perry (over 500 yards rushing & receiving) and running back Andrew DeCarteret (529 yds. rushing).

 The Panthers defense has picked up their play as well and in week six they’ll need to focus on Broncos star RB Jack Mahoney (546b yds. & 5 TDs). Alvirne has seen their offense sputter in the last two weeks after hanging 54 points on Keene on September 19th. Teams have been able to hold wide receiver George Notini in check and in turn, made Alvirne into a one dimensional offense. They’ll need all eleven guys contributing to wrestle first place away from Nashua South.
 
 I will be away this weekend traveling way up north with my family but be sure to listen in this Saturday morning to another edition of the New Hampshire High School Football Show.

 Pete Tarrier and Joe Marchilena from the Nashua Telegraph and www.NH-highschoolsports.com  break down the biggest games of the week and preview the Saturday match-ups as well from 8 to 9 am on WGIR 610 AM or 96,7 FM on the seacoast.

Our guest Saturday morning will be Nashua South head coach Scott Knight.
Listen online on the link below:
     http://www.iheart.com/live/WGIR-AM-610-2752/
 
 Division II

 Milford (4-1) at Trinity (2-2)

 The coverage of Trinity High school is sponsored by The Auburn Pitts

 Keith Jones’ Spartans have been able to build off of the momentum of their victory at Souhegan back in September (in a game we covered) and now travel to Manchester to face a Trinity football team that lost a heartbreaker in overtime last Saturday at Plymouth. Trinity led by two scores in the final minutes before the Bobcats tied the game up and won it in overtime when the Pioneers could not convert a two point conversion for the win.

 The offense has not been the problem for Steve Burns’ team as Hunter Hannon has played well at quarterback while Saikou Bah has become one of the top running backs in the division. Tight end Ryan Boldwin has given this team a legitimate threat up the seams while Will Sheppard has played very well on both sides of the field.

 Milford has moved the ball behind a very good offensive line and relied on Jahir Romney (230 yds.) and Mark Madigan to carry the bulk of the load running the football. This will be a match-up of similar styles and the winner here puts themselves in very good position to be one of the conferences two playoff teams along with front-runner Windham.
 
 Football note: Last Saturday afternoon John Stark trailed Hollis-Brookline 7-0 in the final minute of their game. With their back to the wall at their own seven yard line and having been unable to sustain a drive all afternoon John Stark sophomore QB Drew McQuarrie dropped back under pressure to throw and…..well this happened:
 http://www.hudl.com/team/17628/highlights/81097817
 
Division III

Gilford (3-1) at Mascoma (2-2)

 The alma mater travels to Mascoma, their longest bus ride of the year and what awaits them won’t be any more enjoyable than the trip. The Royals have bounced back after a 0-2 start behind Andrew Cash and a road win at Stevens two weeks seems to have re-shaped their season.
 Shawn Garrett’s Golden Eagles are a wagon offensively and improving defensively by the week. Gilford held Fall Mountain to 6 total yards for the game last Saturday afternoon and rolled behind an offense led by all-state back Max Troiano (509 yds. rushing & 109 receiving) and David MacDonald.

 If there has been a Gilford player not getting enough  attention this season it is Kyle Gaudet who in addition to being one of the leading receivers in Division III has played very well defensively. Michael Madore is anchoring a good offensive line and on Saturday Gilford has to try and make Mascoma play from behind, where their lack of a passing game could hurt them.