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Division II

(8) Monadnock at (1) St. Thomas
 Justin McIsaac & Jennifer Chick will bring you full video coverage of this game 

 The Saints have breezed through the regular season, there is no other word for it, and the only reason you would select anyone besides Stephen Hedberg (1,744 yards passing, completion rate of 68%, 24 TDs and only 4 Ints) for Player of the Year would be because he was usually out of the game by the start of the third quarter.

 The Saints defense has been every bit as good, and well rested, as its offense in allowing only 67 points in eight games (the next closest team Souhegan has given up 116.).

 Monadnock is in but not without its controversies. A win on a bye week over Laconia gave them the points advantage over John Stark. They did beat John Stark head to head, in a game all-state QB Drew McQuarrie was knocked out of, and that should have been the tie-breaker that determined the Generals fate.
 
 (5) Milford at (4) Souhegan

Highlights of the first meeting between the two teams: Souhegan vs Milford

 There is a popular opinion, stated on our radio show last Saturday morning, that the three best teams in Division II today are stuck in the same side of the bracket. Here are two of those teams, mixing it up again in a huge rivalry game that sends one very good team home.

 An excellent Sabers defense led by defensive coordinator Jim O’Rourke and the outstanding play of Cam Kinney, John Nogueria, Mike Mancini and Nick Truchon was given a huge boost when Brendan Cray returned from an injury on October 16th. This is as good a defense as there is in the division and the task Saturday afternoon is to at least earn a draw in the battle of the trenches.

 Keith Jones’s team opens up huge holes for Bryce Walker (516 yards) and Mark Madigan (576) behind a line anchored by Kody Palladino, a player so good he is going to get player of the year consideration without ever throwing a pass.

 This was a close game for much of the first meeting before turnovers and special teams doomed Milford. These are two special teams that have built toward this season, a year in which they fully expect a run to UNH. The draw did them no favors, and on Saturday one of them moves on to the semifinals while the other team will go home.

 Pete Tarrier and The Great Jon Kesty will bring you all the highlights and post-game interviews.
 
 (7) Lebanon at (2) Windham

  The question for the defending champions is whether they can they win without starting quarterback Griffin Lippold? Matt Shea and Ben Emerick each took snaps at QB last weekend in a season ending victory over Monadnock but when you plug a hole in one spot you are making another position weaker.

 The strength of Bill Raycraft’s team has been in an offense that doesn’t turn the ball over and controls clock. That system is complimented by a very good defense, led by all-state linebacker Victor Pizzoti. The focus of that defense will be to slow down do everything running back Ryan Milliken (over 1,000 yards rushing on the season) who can hurt you on special teams as well as out of the huddle.

 The big concern for a Lebanon defense led by Walker Tuttle is that they were pushed around at the line of scrimmage by Milford, a very similar team to the Jaguars. That has to be fixed if Chris Child’s team, and he will have them well prepared, is to go into Mount Jaguar and come away with an upset win.
 
 (6) Kearsarge Regional at (3) Kennett

 Highlights of the first meeting of the season: Kennett vs Kearsarge

 Pretty simple here….these are two teams who already know what is coming at them. It’s all about playing better and executing on Saturday.

 Kennett head coach Vaughn Beckwith is smart enough to keep the ball primarily in the hands of his best player Will Pollard (1,119 yards passing, 18 TDs & 666 yards rushing). Kearsarge has to recognize where Pollard is going with the football (wide receiver Drew McDonald is always a safe bet) while trying to control the clock and wear a good Kennett line down when they have the football.

 Zach Matthews team will pound the ball behind running backs Riley Antle(1074 yards rushing), Justin Norris(1000 yards rushing) and Scott Matthews, simply because on most nights no one can stop them. Kearsarge has gone for over thirty points in all but one of their games this season. Meaning they are more than comfortable getting into a shootout with Kennett. The question Saturday is which defense steps up and compliments their offense..