By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

What do Division V football and the American League East have in common?

More times than not, each turns into a two-team race. The AL East has the Red Sox and Yankees, and Division V has Bishop Brady and Franklin.

Bishop Brady hasn't lost a regular-season game since the NHIAA went to five divisions in 2004, The Green Giants have won the last two Division V titles - they were upset by Bow in the 2004 semifinals - and beat Franklin in the championship game each time. Franklin's only losses in the last two years came against Bishop Brady.

Here's the good news for the rest of Division V: Bishop Brady graduated 12 seniors from last year's team, and Franklin lost nine offensive starters and eight on defense.

"I don't think it will be a two-team race this year," Epping coach Rich McFadden said. "Gilford is a team that has really impressed me. I think you'll see more teams fighting for playoff spots."

Gilford, which is in its fourth season as a varsity program, finished 5-4 last year and should have plenty of offensive firepower. Senior Colby Athanas is in his third year as the team's starting quarterback, and 220-pound junior tailback Eric Dean will likely be the team's primary ball carrier.

High school previews: Division V.