YEAH THAT’S RIGHT – You waited all Spring and Summer, and finally, the only reason for getting out of bed early in the week is back: Justin McIsaac’s Top 10!

The Top 10 is brought to you by TJ’S in Portsmouth! My absolute favorite spot in Portsmouth to catch a game. Tell Bethany that McIsaac sent you.

You get TWELVE in the Top 10 this week, since my laptop ate last week’s edition, and I’m a man of the people.

12. CARS

RIP to my Red Hyundai Elantra, which finally died on me last week after 210k + miles, trips to Alabama and Tennessee,  countless trips to games, and a million trips to Long Island. There’s nothing like having to get a car payment a month before X-Mas to give me even MORE gray hairs. If that’s possible…

11. NORMALLY THIS IS WHERE I TELL YOU TO SETTLE DOWN ABOUT THE PATS

And I think I’m still leaning that way, but man, it was rough out there for the good guys. The Pats looked old and uninspired, I think TB12 could already taste the Avacado Ice Cream he’ll be pigging out on during the Pats Bye Week.  Edelman looked banged up, Gronk may have a fork sticking out of him, Josh Gordon is either awesome or can’t catch a cold (who knew a guy with so many suspensions could be inconsistent?!?). I still have faith but the Chiefs look great, the Steelers are suddenly good, even the Chargers have been concerningly competent…

10. PINKERTON STOMPS SALEM, I DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING

Only Jen Chick Ruth and Nichole Marrero picked the Astros to advance over Salem this week (You two also picked Merrimack, so don’t get TOO excited ladies), and I certainly thought this was a coin flip game, so I was REALLY surprised to see the score updates coming in that Pinkerton was handing the Blue Devils their lunch. Pinkerton and Bedford in the title game could be one of those matchups we see for 5 years straight at Durham. Speaking of which…

9. BEDFORD IS WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE

A 30-8 win over a really good Merrimack team saw the Bulldogs race out to a big lead, and never look back as they punched their ticket to the big dance. The Bulldogs are finally going to get to strut their stuff in front of the NH Sportspage cameras since we kinda knew that Bedford getting to Durham was fait accompli, which marks the first time that phrase has ever been used on this website.

8. A GREAT RUN FOR THE RED HAWKS ENDS IN SWANZEY

Congrats to the Red Hawks, who are still just a toddler as a varsity football program, for getting to the Semi-Finals in D3 this year, but that Monadnock team is just a monster to deal with. Chandler Matson, Lincoln Blodgett (superb name), and Tim Hart were a 3 headed monster carrying the ball, and the Huskies punched a ticket back to Durham.

7. SPEAKING OF GREAT SEASONS, HOW ABOUT STEVENS?

Last week’s Top 10 that was eaten by my laptop had a #1 that just said “STEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!”, and rightly so after stopping favored Trinity 7-0. Paul Silva and company almost pulled off another stunner at Gill Stadium, but the Cougars eeked out an 8-0 win to secure a rematch with Monadnock. Take nothing away from Campbell, who had to win this thing with duct tape and imagination after Keegan Mills went down, but what a run from Stevens.

6. REMEMBER THIS NAME – CARLOS WASHINGTON JR

The UNH Running back busted off a 93 yard TD run Saturday against Albany to secure a 24-10 win over the Great Danes (under-rated mascot). Washington Jr is just a red-shirt freshman, but he’s already shown the home-run hitting ability that makes Wildcat fans salivate. I can’t wait to watch this dude tote the rock for the next 3 season. Speaking of UNH…

5. SHOUT OUT TO THE UNH MEN’S SOCCER TEAM!

America East champs! 5-0 over UMBC! That’s like 400-0 in football! UNH is building a new soccer facility, and both the Men’s and Women’s teams are outstanding. Let’s hope for a deep NCAA run in the playoffs for UNH Futbol.

4. CODY PARKEY HAD FOUR DOINKS

Look at this nonsense - you know how hard it is to hit the uprights 4 times? My man might be cut by the time you read this, luckily the Lions looked like the Browns of old in this game so the Bears were able to hang on.

3. THE PLYMOUTH BOBCATS GAVE MATT CORSETTI THE OLD “NO SELL” DURING THE POST GAME

Did Corsetti know about Plymouth’s running bit? He looked a little confused when the whole team was kneeling after their win over Souhegan on Saturday, which is normally reserved for Dave Haley. Plymouth beat what was arguably the hottest team (outside of Plymouth that is) in D2 in Souhegan, and the Bobcats do NOT celebrate until they’re hoisting a trophy at Wildcat Stadium. 

2. JEN CHICK RUTH IS GOING TO BE INSUFFERABLE THIS YEAR IF DUKE IS GOING TO BE THIS GOOD

I normally start watching college hoop around March 1st, but even I’m hearing about how this Duke team might not just run the table, but might embarrass everyone in D1 while doing it. Luckily, if I know Coach K, they’ll lose a 2nd round game to FGCU or someone they should beat by a million.

1. ALLLLLLLVIIIIRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEE!!!!

How about the first two playoff wins in program history punching your ticket to Wildcat Stadium?!?!? Beating Milford twice was no easy feat, but Beating St Thomas on turf is downright difficult. The Broncos got a late TD run from Kyle Gora with 23.9 on the clock to punch their ticket to Durham. Alvrine will be underdogs against defending champ Plymouth, but at this point, who’s going to bet against them?!?

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: 3 “we undefeated” dances are in play for Pete Tarrier, What’s going on with the C’s?, Not a fan of how cold it’s getting, Spaulding Bowling season starts soon

Justin McIsaac writes the Top 10 every week (usually). He has 1,000 jobs, including radio color commentary for UNH Football, Producer of "NH Today with Jack Heath", HS play by play for MOSN, The McIsaac On Sports Network, college play by play for Dartmouth, St Anselm’s, UNE, Harvard, and whoever else will cut the check. Follow him on Twitter: @justin_mcisaac