Listicles are great- but my weekly listicle is REALLY great. These are the Top 10 things of the week as voted on by the voices in my own head. Dave doesn’t get a vote in THIS power poll, either.
 
10.  THE BROTHERS BROTHERS

It’s fun to say “The Brothers Brothers”. It’s not fun to tackle them, as Somersworth found out on Friday night. First play from scrimmage was a 60 yard TD run from Nick Brothers, and “little” brother Andrew scored from 37 yards out and also had an 11 yard TD catch in the Lakers 33-12 win in Somersworth Friday night.  The only negative for IL/MA seemed to be a late injury to Malik Carter, but the Lakers were as advertised on Friday night.

9. BEDFORD PUTS UP A BILL & TED ON SOUTH

The Bulldogs are a force, I think we can safely say. 69 points preceded by a 48 point outburst on opening night. Looking at their schedule, who’s going to give Bedford a test before their 10/10 showdown with Goffstown?

8. KENNETT HANGS ON IN OT

I love love love love love love when teams go for 2 and the win in OT. I’m a million percent in favor of going for the W. YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! Kearsarge looked like they had the right play, but in High School football, sometimes passes bounce of hands and fall incomplete. The result is an important road win for Kennett in a sub-division that looks to be an absolute dogfight this year. That one play could decide a playoff spot.

7. DAVE HALEY’S TEXTS FOLLOWING A NOTRE DAME WIN

Our fearless leader is over the moon for his beloved Fighting Irish- it is not uncommon to be greeted on a Saturday morning with a voicemail from Dave that is nothing but the ND fight song. After it looked like curtains for ND against Virginia, only for the Irish to win on a last second TD, Dave unleashed a torrent of jubilant messages which would get me fired if I were to repeat them. If the Irish beat Ga. Tech, I’m throwing my phone away.

6. GRONK GRONK GRONK GRONK GRONK

Is there anything nicer than having a healthy Gronk in week 1? Yes. Having a healthy Gronk on your fantasy team in week 1. Gronk was taken in the first round in a ton of leagues, and it paid off big Thursday night, although unfortunately, the Pats won’t get to face the Steelers defense every week.

5. TAKE THE OVER IN PA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES

107-90 is a really high scoring HS basketball game. It’s an OBSCENLY high scoring HS Football game. DuBois High hung 90 on the board, but it doesn’t matter when Meadville puts 107 on your defense. Journey Brown of Meadville had 722 yards on 30 carries and 10 TD’s in the game, numbers that get you all state votes for a SEASON in NH. All the defensive coaches were lined up and fired after the game. (I’m kidding. I think.)

4. I’M LOCKING MY DOORS MORE VIGILANTLY THIS WEEK

The Rochester Fair starts on Friday, which means a rash of Carnies have already started skulking about my neighborhood. These are the same people with whom I will entrust the life of my children when they get on those death trap rides next week. Always good to see the carnies carrying plastic bags of Natty Ice 24 ouncers down the road.

3. BIG BOUNCE BACK FOR THE OWLS

Timberlane is a team that had a lot of preseason buzz, but they took an L on opening night to Exeter. Sometimes a loss on opening night can take the wind right out of your sails, but a convincing 28-7 win over Londonderry has Timberlane headed in the right direction.

2. BYE WEEKS IN WEEK 2 ARE INSANE

Gassers and Sprints all summer. Hitting the sled, running drills in the 95 degree heat, all just for a chance to strap on the helmet on opening day/night. The thrill of competing in that first game of the year! Aaaaaannnnnnnn then you’re off the next week. That’s crazy pants stuff. I get that there’s only 8 games in D2 and D3, but can we put the bye weeks a little later in the year?

1.  #SHUSHGATE

Or #BandGhazi, or whatever you want to call it. Halftime of the Portsmouth game saw our leader Dave shushed not once, but TWICE by band parents who were watching the halftime show. And then The Big Smooth Lewis Atkins was shushed! NOBODY SHUSHES THE BIG SMOOTH!

There are communites (as a Spaulding grad, this happens in Rochester a bunch) where half of the crowd is only at a football game to see the band play at halftime. Both my kids are in band, so I get being proud of your kids, playing an instrument is tough. BUT, a few things here….

1. You are at a football game. At halftime, people may want to talk about said football game. If there’s no game, there IS NO HALFTIME SHOW.
2. Those instruments are LOUD. You should have no trouble hearing them, no matter how loud Dave is!
3. IT’S THE SAME HALFTIME SHOW EVERY TIME. If you missed one of the nuances of your kids Souzaphone solo, odds are you’ll get to hear it again. And again, and again, and again….

So band parents, you have earned an official “Settle Down” from me. Let Dave and Smooth talk, even if it’s probably about the 9 seed in D4 hoops. Let’s avoid anymore #ShushGates in the future. Thank you.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to respond to 5679 angry band parent e-mails

ALSO RECIVEING VOTES: The Steelers are the latest crybabies, Romo leading the Cowboys back, Johnny Football throwing a TD and everyones phones blowing up, Farmington/Nute could be frisky this year

Justin McIsaac is the Sports Director at WTSN AM 1270 in Dover. Follow him on twitter @Justin_McIsaac