DIVISION IV CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
No. 2 Hanover vs. No. 1 Laconia

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Laconia High School.
Team records: Laconia is 10-0. Hanover is 9-1.
Regular-season result: Laconia won 24-7 in Hanover.
Last state championship: Hanover (2005). Laconia (1999).
Noteworthy: Laconia enters this contest as one of three unbeaten teams in the state (Plymouth and Pelham are the others), but the only team that hasn't come close to losing. The Sachems have won every game by at least 14 points and have outscored their 10 opponents 359-54. Laconia hasn't allowed more than seven points in a game since August (a 49-19 victory over Lebanon) and has outscored its last five opponents 195-7. ... Hanover has won eight in a row since losing to Laconia and is seeking its fourth state championship in the last seven years. The Marauders won the Division IV title in 2002, 2004 and 2005. ... Laconia advanced by beating fourth-seeded St. Thomas 34-7. Running backs Christian Birt and Robert Moss each scored two touchdowns in that victory. Birt has rushed for 1,193 yards and 17 touchdowns on 130 carries. Moss has gained 833 yards and eight TDs on 110 rushing attempts. ... Hanover needed some late magic to pull out a 22-19 victory over third-seeded Kearsarge in the semifinals. Kearsarge fumbled the ball away with 1:30 to play, and Hanover took advantage when freshman quarterback Sam Carney hooked up with Syracuse-bound wingback Carl Cutler for a 6-yard TD pass with 33.9 seconds left. ... This Laconia team holds the school record for points scored in a season. The previous record of 324 was set by the 1999 team, which beat Souhegan to win the program's last state title.