Five topics on the New Hampshire football landscape:

1. Salem runs to record

Which New Hampshire high school team turned in the top performance last weekend? Salem, which ran for 431 yards in a 65-20 victory over Manchester Memorial. The Crusaders are 0-3, but whenever a team scores 65 points --- regardless of the competition -- it looks like a misprint.

The 65 points Salem scored is a school record for points scored in a game. The old mark of 64 points was set when Salem beat Somersworth, 64-0, in 1971.

2. Spaulding has reason to smile

Yes, the Red Raiders are 0-3, but it's unlikely any team is happier that the fourth week of the season is here. Spaulding opened with a 35-7 loss against Division I Concord, and then had to play Division II heavyweights Exeter (35-0) and Bishop Guertin (35-0).

Here's one thing not working in Spaulding's favor: Each of its three losses came at home. The Red Raiders will play five of their seven remaining regular-season games on the road.

3. Footnotes from Durham

• Through three games, former Plymouth Regional standout Mike Boyle leads the University of New Hampshire with 20 receptions for 268 yards. Boyle has three receiving touchdowns and has scored a team-high 24 points.
  
• Sophomore quarterback R.J. Toman has thrown nine touchdown passes in three games. UNH has also allowed nine TD passes through the air.
  
• UNH will meet in-state rival Dartmouth on Saturday (noon) in a game that can be seen live on WMUR-TV (Channel 9). UNH has won the last 10 games in the series, which resumed in 2000,

4. It's not Alabama/Auburn, but it's close 

UNH/Dartmouth won't be the only rivalry game played Saturday. Winnacunnet will play a Division II game at Exeter in what may be the fiercest high school rivalry in the state. Winnacunnet handed Exeter its only regular-season loss last year, when the Warriors beat the Blue Hawks on their home field.

5. Rising stock

No team has grabbed our interest more than Londonderry, which is off to a 3-0 start with victories over Winnacunnet (26-13), Salem (28-14) and Concord (33-12). The Lancers were a bit of a mystery during preseason because of an offseason coaching change (Jon Rich replaced Tom Sawyer), but now have to be included in the discussion when talking about teams that could be at home for the Division I semifinals.

We'll know more about the Lancers after they play Pinkerton at home Oct. 4.