Before we take a look at each of the semifinal games this weekend a reminder that each of our three championship game previews next week will feature scouting reports on all six teams using blind quotes from current coaches. Now on to the semifinal round games…
 
Division I

(3) Bedford at (1) Goffstown

Just about a month ago it was billed as the “Game of the Year” when Bedford rolled into Goffstown for a regular season battle of unbeaten teams.  Now, as the 2 teams prepare to meet again in the D1 Semifinal playoffs the stakes are even higher.  That game on Columbus Day weekend was a back and forth affair until Goffstown took control on the strength of a pair of two big 2nd quarter special teams plays, a Frankie Castillo-Diaz kickoff return for a TD and then a Connor Bourque blocked punt deep in Bedford territory that was scooped up by Ian Routhier and ran into the end zone turning a 14-10 Bedford lead into a 24-14 advantage for the Grizzlies. 

Goffstown would add a 35 yard Sam Heidenreich field goal on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter to make it 27-14 and then held on for a 27-21 win that essentially gave the Grizzlies the D1 North Conference crown and home field advantage for the postseason rematch.  You can watch the video highlights from the 1st game by clicking here Bedford at Goffstown

Not much has changed since that 1st meeting.  Bedford is still lighting up the scoreboard, the Bulldogs led the entire state in scoring with 416 regular season points(the only team in NH to score 400) for an average of 46.22 PPG, and they topped 40 in the Quarterfinals with a 41-39 win over Bishop Guertin.  Meanwhile Goffstown has methodically marched through the competition on their way to a perfect 10-0 overall record, the only remaining unbeaten Division 1 team. Both teams feature a dynamic duo at the QB and RB positions with super sophomore signal caller Connor Robert and junior runner Nick Leahy doing a lot of the damage for Bedford and senior QB Casey Gervais and his running back classmate Connor Bourque for Goffstown.

With good coaching led by Justin Hufft and Derek Stank on the sidelines, the team that wins on Saturday and moves on to the State Championship Game will probably do so because their defense steps up and makes more plays than the opposition.  That means that guys like Tim and Zach Comeau, Damian Jackson and James Poisson will need to produce for Goffstown and Bedford will look to Bobby Heald, Kyle Jalbert, Ben Miller and Caleb McDonald to make plays.

Goffstown AD Steve Fountain and his game day staff are urging people to get there early (doors open at 11:30 for the 1pm kickoff).  If you can’t make it into the game you can listen on the radio on ESPN New Hampshire 1250AM-Manchester area/900AM-Nashua area or anywhere you have the internet on www.ESPNNHRadio.com.  I will be there to bring you all the coverage on video with Jon Kesty on NH Sportspage.  We thank Goffstown Ace Hardware for sponsoring both the radio and video coverage!
 
(2) Exeter at (1) Pinkerton Academy

It didn’t look good for the Astros with 3 minutes left in their regular season finale at Exeter on the night before Halloween.  Up 12-7 late in the 4th quarter, the Exeter Blue Hawks offense was doing what the Exeter Blue Hawks offense does, pounding the ball on the ground and killing the clock, and in the process killing the Astros playoff hopes.

  Pinkerton needed to beat Exeter to ensure a playoff spot and as Exeter neared the Pinkerton 40 yard line and another 1st down that might have iced the game it was looking pretty bleak for a storied football program that hadn’t missed out on the postseason since 2002.  Then something unexpected happened.  Exeter did exactly what you don’t want to do when you’re trying to finish off a game.  They fumbled the ball away and gave Pinkerton the chance they needed.  The Astros offense did the rest as they quickly moved the ball down the field in a very un-Pinkerton manner, mostly with the passing game. 

QB Ryan Albrecht hit James Tulley with 3 big passes setting up bowling ball running back Nico Buccieri for a go-ahead 6 yard TD run with just 33 seconds remaining and the next thing you knew the Astros were being interviewed by Darth Vader inside the visiting locker room at Bill Ball Stadium instead of jumping on the bus back to Derry wondering where their season went wrong.  Here’s the highlights from the game 2 weeks ago Pinkerton at Exeter

Now in the rematch we’ve got a meeting of 2 of the most dominating teams in Division 1 over the last several seasons.  Pinkerton is the defending champ and Exeter is only a couple years removed from back to back title game wins over Pinkerton in 2011 & 2012.  Strangely enough, a pair of teams that are known for their veteran coach’s affinity for the running game are now apt to put the game in the hands of their quarterbacks to throw the ball more than just a couple times a game just to keep your defense honest.  Don’t be fooled, coach Brian O’Reilly would much rather hand the ball off to Brett Datillo, Buccieri, Nick Coombs or Tulley, but he’s confident that Albrecht can make a play throwing the ball if he wants to go that route.  The same can be said of Bill Ball’s offensive strategy at Exeter.

  The Blue Hawks still feature the straight T with a trifecta of backs that include Cam Flanagan, Mason Wallace and Jackson Allen, but QB Kyle Ball gives this Exeter team a dynamic run/pass threat that the Blue Hawks haven’t had at that position in several years.  And when you factor in stud TE in Hunter Long who is a matchup nightmare as a receiver it gives defenses a lot more to worry about.