Each week on Tuesday, we give you the Union Leader's latest NH High School Football Power Poll, voted on by 6 local high school football media people including our own Pete Tarrier.  Pete is the only voter who tells us who he voted for and why.  This week was one of the toughest to rank because there's 3 teams tied at 4-1...and they've all beaten each other.  Here's the Power Poll after Week 5 of the season...under that look for how Pete has the teams ranked 1-10.  

After Week 5

The top 10 high school football teams in New Hampshire, with record, first-place votes/points in parentheses, plus last week’s rankings:

1. Bedford, 5-0 (5/59) 2nd

2. Winnacunnet, 5-0 (1/55) 3rd

3. Pinkerton, 4-1 (44) 1st

4. Salem, 4-1 (43)                      7th 

5. Plymouth, 5-0 (33)                  4th

6. Londonderry, 4-1 (32) 5th

7. Nashua North, 4-1 (28) 6th

8. Merrimack, 4-1 (18)             10th

9. Hanover, 5-0 (10)                      RV

10. Exeter, 2-3 (3)                      9th

Others receiving votes: Bow, 4-1 (2), NR; Campbell, 5-0 (2), RV; Manchester Central, 3-2 (1), 8th. 

HERE'S HOW PETE VOTED...

1. Bedford...the Bulldogs left no doubt on who the #1 team in the state should be after a 45-0 win over Manchester Central last week.  
2. Winnacunnet...unless you're a fan of the Warriors who are also 5-0 and coming off an impressive 21-7 win over their rivals from Exeter.  Winnacunnet has played a slightly tougher schedule than Bedford, but the Bulldogs have been alot more dominant so I give them the nod this week.
3. Salem...here's where the tough part began for me on who should be ranked ahead of who.  4-1 Salem beat Pinkerton head to head last week so I put them ahead of the Astros who I had #1 the week before.
4. Pinkerton...I dropped 4-1 Pinkerton down to 4th from 1st after the loss to Salem, 1 spot below the Blue Devils.
5. Londonderry...the Lancers are also 4-1 and they did beat Salem head to head in Week 2, but they got blown out by Pinkerton 34-14 just 2 weeks ago so I placed Londonderry behind their rivals & Salem.  That being said, I think all 3 teams are very evenly matched.   
6. Plymouth...the Bobcats won the battle of D2 unbeatens on Saturday taking down St. Thomas in Dover.  The next big challenge for Plymouth doesn't happen until the regular season finale at Hanover on October 26th. 
7. Nashua North...the Titans look like the team to beat in D1 West, and their 31-7 loss at Bedford in Week 1 doesn't look all that bad now.  North should cruise the next 2 weeks with BG & Keene on the schedule before a big game in Merrimack on October 19th.  
8. Merrimack...speaking of the Tomahawks, the turnover-filled stinker against Manchester Central in Week 3 where they gave up 21 points is the only time this year Merrimack has given up double digits in a game.  That's some good defense!  
9. Hanover...we'll get a better idea of where the Marauders are at in 2 weeks when they begin a tough 3 game march to close the regular season against Bow, John Stark & Plymouth.  
10. Campbell...the Cougars broke open a tie-game vs. Trinity late to win 30-18 on Saturday.  It was the 2nd straight game Trinity competed til the end against the Division 3 Power 2...Campbell & Monadnock who play each other in Swansey on October 19th.