In our first of three semifinal round previews we take a look at Division III as four teams fight to stand where Newport did a year ago at UNH next weekend.

 Our new videographer Mike Miezejeski will bring you video highlights & post-game interviews with the winning team when top seed Monadnock takes on fourth seeded Stevens.

 Division III

 (4) Stevens at (1) Monadnock

Regular season meeting: Monadnock 20, Stevens 6 (Box Score)

What does Stevens have to do to beat Monadnock?

 They’re going to have to have success running the football. The easiest teams to defend are one dimensional offenses, Paul Silva’s team has had a lot of success this season both throwing the football and running the ball behind Richard Bell (672 yards & 14 TDs) but that kind of balance wasn’t in place when these two teams met a few weeks ago.

 In the first meeting Stevens could only muster 27 yards on 14 carries against a physical Huskies defense. Stevens, whether it be on draw plays or reverses, has to figure out a way to get yardage on the ground. Stevens does a nice job of calling screen plays against blitzes, look for Silva and his staff to work to keep Monadnock off balance on Saturday afternoon.

What does Monadnock have to do to beat Stevens?

 Linwood Patnode’s team has to cover against the big play. Where the Monadnock offense is designed for long seven minute scoring drives, Stevens will have a lot of trouble putting together those types of twelve play drives so they’ll look for the home run play to all-state WR Parker Smith (739 yds. & 10 TDs).

 This is a defense that gave up 31 points ALL SEASON. That means if Stevens is going to win they’re going to have to hold the Huskies offense to under twenty points. Levi Bassingthwaite & Jarod Redfield have rushed for more yards than any two teammates in the state. Until someone makes the Huskies throw because they need to come from behind late they will follow the same recipe that got them to 9-0. They will pound you at the line of scrimmage and wear your team down over the course of four quarters.

 How the Stevens defense led by Zach O’Brien handles that grind will tell you their chances of pulling off a major upset and advancing to Durham next weekend.

(3) Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough at (2) Bishop Brady

 What does Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough have to do to beat Bishop Brady?

 How about the efficiency of these numbers; QB Ryan Kelly 17 of 21 passing for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns, RB Andrew Brothers 9 rushes for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns, TE Zach Swanson 4 catches for 76 yards. Those were the numbers from the Lakers meeting earlier in the season with Bishop Brady. The Lakers put up those numbers in a 35-7 win at Bishop Brady back in Week 2 that was more one sided than the score indicates.

 If Jon Francis’ team can produce like that in Saturday’s second meeting they have a very good shot to get back to UNH where they were beaten by Newport a year ago.

 This is a different Giants team today though, Head coach Matt Shaw and defensive coordinator Chase Phaneuf have done as good a job with this 21 man team as any staff in the state. Rich Sullivan has evolved into a big time receiver and the Lakers are going to have to pay a lot of attention to him to keep him in check Saturday afternoon.
 

 What does Bishop Brady have to do to beat Inter-Lakes Moultonborough?

 Take their shots downfield with Joe Bernard (920 yds. passing) looking for Sullivan for big plays. With Sullivan’s size at wide receiver and Moses Murenzi’s (843 yds. rushing) ability to make tacklers miss the Giants have been a very good offense in the red zone this season. Where they struggled in the first meeting was creating those opportunities against a good Laker defense.

 Brady needs to make sure Andrew Brothers can’t get to the outside where he does most of his damage running the football. How the defense defends Swanson and Jayden Lara will also be something to watch as both tight ends have given Ryan Kelly the ability to hit them going up the seam of the defense.