Today’s preview is sponsored by our friends at Adrenaline Fundraising who have raised valuable funds for teams like Exeter football. Now is a great time to reach out to the Adrenaline team (their contact information is to your right) about winter fundraisers!

 

 In our third and final semifinal preview we take a look at Division I and Bedford/Merrimack II. A game some consider to be the game of the year in New Hampshire high school football.

 Click for the highlights of the first meeting between Bedford & Merrimack

 (Remember highlights and stories like this will only be available to our registered users after the season, a one-time payment of $50 equals less than a dollar a week for over 150 football articles)

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 Next week we will have opposing coaches’ break down each of the three championship games using blind quotes. A tradition we began with the basketball final fours and the football title games seven years ago.

 

 Division I

 (2) Merrimack at (1) Bedford

 Box Score from the first meeting: Bedford 24, Merrimack 20

 Pete Tarrier & The Great Jon Kesty will bring you all the highlights and the post-game celebration on Saturday

 What does Merrimack have to do to beat Bedford?

 I thought it was fitting that the Merrimack football team posted a picture on their Twitter account of the players playing touch football on Wednesday night. Fitting because the key to beating Bedford on Saturday afternoon will be making the undefeated Bulldogs chase them in space.

 A pretty smart Division I coach with a lot of wins on his resume told me back in September that Merrimack would be the last team standing because ‘No one can cover that team when they spread you out’. A look at the names tells you why, Joe Eichman (player page), Justin Weiser (player page), Tyler DeNeill (player page) , Danny Vanecek (player page) & newest Players Locker Room member Danny McKillop (player page) .

 Kip Jackson’s team wants to ride an offense that put up 42 points against the defending champions last weekend. Division I player of the year (Spoiler Alert) Justin Grassini (player page) will look to get Merrimack out early and force Bedford to make the first in game adjustment.

 A defense led by McKillop & DeNeill should not get overlooked. Merrimack has the best offense in the state but they’re not forced to win games of the 52-45 variety like Nashua North or Bishop Guertin. This has been a defense that has allowed only 16.1 ppg. The offense assures that number will stand up at the end of the day.

 On Saturday Merrimack, the favorite of just about every coach you talk to, looks for maybe the biggest win in the program’s history.

 

 What does Bedford have to do to beat Merrimack?

 The Bulldogs did a very good job of keeping the Merrimack receivers in front of them in the first meeting on opening night. Head coach Derek Stank opted to let Grassini try to work his way down the field as opposed to hitting the home run play with Weiser or Eichman.

 Bedford Team Page

 The Bulldogs have been the best defensive team in Division I this season, in allowing only 14.8 ppg. during the regular season.

 Offensively Connor Robert (player page) has been terrific in throwing for 18 TDs and only 5 interceptions. After returning from a knee injury all-state running back Nick Leahy (player profile) has begun to look like his old self in recent weeks. Bedford wants to get the ball to Leahy & Sean Tierney (player profile) and control the clock. Merrimack’s offense thrives on rhythm and keeping them off the field will be a key if Bedford is to advance back to the title game after a one year absence.

 

 (2) Nashua North at (1) Exeter

 Box score of the first meeting: Exeter 42, Nashua North 6

 

 What does Nashua North have to do to beat Exeter?

 How about burying the game ball from that first meeting? Can we get shovels deep enough into a turf field?

 The Blue Hawks averaged six yards a carry as both Cam Flanagan and Brayden Lowery went over 150 yards rushing on the day. The Titans are well aware they are not going to win a shootout in Exeter; Bill Ball’s team won’t allow that many points. Saturday it will be about stopping the run (as South was able to do for chucks of the game last weekend) and forcing Exeter to make big plays and not win with 12 play drives.

 Daunte Laurendi’s team has the weapons on offense to give Exeter trouble. RJ Jenkins, Jordan Buckmire & Sclyler Boykin can all do damage out of the backfield while Stephen Lambert is a big target at wide receiver for quarterback Jeff Baldassari.

 Nashua North’s chances for the upset come down to their defense and if they can stand up to the Exeter offensive line.

 Exeter Team Page

 What does Exeter have to do to beat Nashua North?

 Offensively it will be more of the same. Defensively they have to stop a North running game that has really taken off the last two weeks, and that may be a giant understatement.

 The Titans, as we talked about above, can beat you with several different playmakers. Exeter had trouble at times getting Nashua South off the field last weekend and in Lambert the Titans have a big time receiving threat in the redzone.

 Brayden Lowery (player page) & Cam Flanagan (player page) are going to get their touches in the offense and Kyle Ball (player page) made the play of the game last weekend when he hit WR/QB/DB/SG/P/SS Cody Morissette (player page) for a 65 yard touchdown when Exeter absolutely had to have it.

 Exeter needs to control the Nashua North running game and wear down the Titan defense, which hasn’t been used to spending long chunks of time on the field. If they are able to do that Bill Ball’s team has a very good shot to get back to Durham again next weekend.

 

 

 Tune into The New Hampshire High School Football Show on ESPN NH hosted by Pete Tarrier & Dave Haley every Saturday morning from 9 to 11 am.

 Listen LIVE on 900AM (Nashua area) or 1250AM (Manchester area) Saturday mornings from 9-11am to catch up on all the scores from Friday night, plus opinions and coaches interviews...You can also click on the link on our website to listen online or find us on your Tunein Radio app.