As we all know, Power Polls are silly- some of the voters don’t even watch any games! But people love lists, which is why Buzzfeed is a thing, so here’s Justin McIsaac’s TOP TEN!
 

10. NH THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL >>>>>> NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Bishop Brady and Raymond went at it Thursday night, and I hope you took the over- Andrew Downey of Raymond rushed for 392 Yards and 5 TD’s in the game, but even THAT wasn’t enough to beat Brady, as the Giants Brendan Johnson threw for 6 scores in a 62-40 Bishop Brady win. There’s a 562156 % chance that the Jets v Pats game this Thursday will be less entertaining. 

9. CARDIAC CRUSADERS  

Winnacunnet is a team that is better than their record might indicate, and they raced out to a 29-6 lead on Manchester Memorial on Friday night. But behind 153 yards rushing from Daquan Henclewood, Memorial rallied to grab a 38-29 win and keep their playoff hopes alive. Memorial needs to take care of business with a  TOUGH 3 game stretch (vs Spaulding, @ Exeter, @ Goffstown), but they hold the tiebreaker with Concord. 

8. EAGLE FANS GONNA EAGLE FAN

We’ve all heard the stories – they’ve booed Santa, they cheered when it looked like Micheal Irvin was paralyzed, slashed Terry Francona’s tires (I guess that’s Phillies fans, but same animal)... last night might be a new low. An Eagles fan STOLE A DUDE’S PROSTHETIC LEG at the game last night: http://6abc.com/news/veterans-prosthetic-leg-stolen-outside-the-linc/347775/
The leg was recovered, but this sets the bar pretty high for the next Philly bozo. Luckily for Chip Kelly and his tires, he’s winning down there.

7. NO MORE MAPLE SHRINE GAME… NOT THAT IT’S BEEN MUCH OF A GAME

Evidently the Shriners have been sinking so much money into this game that there isn’t really left to donate to charity, so the game may come to a close. Not that it really matters- the 603 has owned VT so hard in these games, I feel like they should cede a ski resort or two to us. I’d like to see a NH-Maine game, or maybe NH vs Mass instead. Maybe VT can play our best 8th grade football team?

OH YEAH AND WE OWNED YOU IN THE TWIN STATE GAME TOO VERMONT THANKS TO DAVE AND I BUYING BANANAS. GET BETTER. 

6. ALVIRNE TAKES CONTROL OF D1 WEST

The Broncos handed Nashua South their lunch on Friday with a 42-14 win. Who could’ve predicted that the Broncos would win? THAT’S RIGHT, MCISAAC! (Although, I’m tied for last in the staff picks, so I guess take that for what it’s worth?) Alvirne’s only losses have come to Pinkerton and Salem, who are a combined 11-1, and although they have a tough one with Londonderry this week, they hold the tiebreakers over Nashua North and South (and they’re not afraid to chirp miserable media types on twitter either).

5. GRONK IS THE ULTIMATE WING MAN

It’s good to see Gronk playing more like Gronk the past few weeks, coming off that ACL surgery. He’s at about 90% Gronk by my estimation, and renewed his status as my favorite guy ever with these comments to Tony Siragusa:http://nydn.us/1o772SU

4. IS ONE POINT GOING TO DECIDE A PLAYOFF SPOT?

That could be the case with Lebanon and Laconia, with Lebanon winning on opening night 22-21. Both teams are 4-1, and both have Kennett lurking on the schedule, which could REALLY complicate things. In a 3 way tie I think it goes to penalty kicks, right?

3. IT’S PINKERTON’S WORLD, WE’RE JUST LIVING IN IT

With all due respect to everyone else in D1, it really looks like Pinkerton and Bedford are on a collision course in D1. Bedford has one last real test against Concord, and Pinkerton has already gone through the meat of their schedule. Upsets and injuries happen, but if I’ll eat my hat if those two aren’t playing at UNH on the final Saturday of the season (NOTE: I will not actually eat my hat).

2. DON’T BURY TRINITY JUST YET
The Pioneers were thought to be having a Bridge Year (copyright Theo Epstein) this season, but a 38-13 shellacking of Milford has Trinity in a good spot – 3-2 with a HUGE game vs Souhegan coming up, plus holding the tiebreaker against Milford (who still has to play Windham…) has that final game at Saint Thomas looking a WHOOOOOOOOOLE lot more important than it might’ve a few weeks ago.

1. I TRIED TO TELL YA

I was getting text updates from a Somersworth parent Saturday while my wife made me shop for throw pillows (………. Yes, it’ll happen to you, too) about the absolute barn burner going on in Tilton. Somersworth prevailed 54-48 over Winnisquam, and Elyjah Dejoie had SEVEN TOUCHDOWNS in the game- the last of which came from 41 yards out with :47 to play. Oh, and he picked off a pass in the endzone with :07 to go to seal the win. Dejoie gets a lot of help from a great line with kids like Joey Franciose and Hunter Kretschmar, but that’s a looooooot of TD’s man!

ALSO RECIVING VOTES: Aqib Talib with a pick 6 to cover the spread for Denver, Notre Dame giving up 43 to UNC, Dan Snyder spitting on the floor of the Cardinals stadium to protest a call, Spaulding leading in the 4th at Concord…. Until the Tide Rolled