Rumor is these teams have met in big games before. You may see each of these pairings again in November.

Gilford (4-0) will play at Pelham (5-0) on Nov. 2. The Golden Eagles and Pythons appear to be the best Division V has to offer, and this contest will likely determine which team will be at home for the championship game.

The regular season will be puntuated with a contest between Pinkerton Academy (5-0) and Nashua South (4-0).on Nov. 3. By then the contender-or-pretender argument about Nashua South will have been settled.

The game is sure to have playoff implications and it will be the end of a grueling stretch for South, which must face Manchester West, Salem. Londonderry and Pinkerton on consecutive weekends. The Purple Panthers may be the final hurdle between the Astros and an unbeaten regular season.

The Picks ...

DIVISION I
West 21
Concord 7

One very good football team is not going to make the Division I playoffs. This is a game West can't afford to lose.

Londonderry 28
Nashua North 6

One very good football team is not going to make the Division I playoffs. This is a game Londonderry can't afford to lose.

Nashua South 28
Central 13

Yes, South is for real.

Pinkerton 27
Memorial 7

No team has been more impressive this season than the Astros.

DIVISION II
Alvirne 21
Goffstown 20

The Broncos are one team that's happy about the first-half being over. Talk about a front-loaded schedule.

Bishop Guertin 35
Merrimack 6

Can't envision Merrimack picking up its first victory here.

Dover 20
Spaulding 12

After earning a playoff berth last year, didn't expect the Red Raiders to struggle like they have this season.

Exeter 27
Timberlane 14

Speed is always a difficult opponent. This won't be an easy one for the Blue Hawks.

Winnacunnet 27
Keene 21

Will Keene be the team that moves to Division I next season?
 

DIVISION III
Con-Val 28
Milford 20

A Milford victory would really make a mess of the Division III playoff picture.

John Stark 28
Kingswood 0

John Stark has very little margin for error.

Pembroke 8
Kennett 7

Flipped a coin and it came up Pembroke.

Plymouth 35
Merrimack Valley 0

It won't happen, but it would be interesting to see how Plymouth would fare in Division II.

Souhegan 20
Portsmouth 14

Have a feeling this game might come down to the final possession.

DIVISION IV
Hanover 28
Fall Mountain 0

There's a chance Hanover could still play host to the Division IV championship game.

Stevens 36
Hollis-Brookline 6

Who says there's not much passing in high school football?

Kearsarge 14
Laconia 13

This could easily be the best game in the state this weekend.

Monadnock 20
Lebanon 13

This could be the first of three consecutive Monadnock victories.

St. Thomas 28
Somersworth 7

Saints avoid a three-game losing streak.

DIVISION V
Bow 22
Bishop Brady 14

Maybe the Green Giants belong in Division V after all.

Pelham 36
Epping 0

Epping has been shut out three times. Pelham has won four games by shutout.

Franklin 36
Farmington 6

Franklin gave up 131 points in its first three games, and none in its fourth.

Gilford 26
Newport 20

For what it's worth, Newport plays four of its final five games at home.

Newfound 15
Winnisquam 6

Bears make it two wins in two weeks.

NON LEAGUE
Salem 26
Xaverian 14

Xaverian is not Everett.

Trinity 22
Campbell 13

The Pioneers belong in Division IV.

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Last week: 22-2
Record to date: 107-23 

The State of Football, a commentary on New Hampshire high school football, will appear each Friday throughout the season.