The State of Football: Week 2
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
One leftover thought from last weekend:
Give Exeter all the credit for digging deep in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, when it overcame a 13-point deficit to beat Nashua South 21-20, but perhaps no team looked better in defeat last weekend than the Panthers.
South made its share of first-game mistakes (to be expected), but it started a sophomore quarterback (Keith Farkas), played without several key players -- cramps limited running back David Zocco to one play in the second half -- and held Exeter's trademark running game to 4.18 yards per carry. That's a respectable number when you're playing the Blue Hawks.
"We lost because we made a lot of mental errors and you can't do that against a good team," Nashua South coach Scott Knight said. "They exploited all our mistakes, We even missed an extra point.
"We scrimmage these guys every year. We know they're good. They have more kids in their program than we do.
"We're very young and we're going to get better. No question."
Exeter's victory will do nothing to quiet those who believe all Class L schools should compete for one championship in football. Bishop Guertin, Dover and Alvirne are the other Division II/Class L schools that posted a victory over a Division I opponent during the season's opening weekend.
"We know that BG and Exeter are quality opponents," Knight said. "Years ago Dover was always a great Division I team. They're a good team. I'm not sure about all of those schools, but you know their top-tier teams can definitely hang with all of us."
THE PICKS ...
DIVISION I
Nashua South 27
Concord 14
South won't lose two in a row.
Londonderry 21
Salem 20
A non-league victory over Winnacunnet is a little more impressive than a non-league victory over Keene. Slight edge to the home team.
Manchester Central 20
Alvirne 6
The Broncos come up short in their attempt to win back-to-back games against Division I opponents.
Pinkerton 26
Manchester Memorial 6
Can't see the Astros opening 0-2.
Nashua North 28
Manchester West 13
The spread offense is alive and well in Nashua.
DIVISION II
Bishop Guertin 28
Merrimack 7
Maybe the Cards are as good as everyone says.
Dover 20
Timberlane 14
Best game on the Division II menu.
Winnacunnet 21
Keene 19
Or maybe this is the best game on the Division II menu.
Exeter 28
Spaulding 0
It's week two, and Exeter's in midseason form.
DIVISION III
Portsmouth 35
Bedford 6
The Clippers won with Mike Fransoso at quarterback last Friday. Tonight they'll win with Nate Jones behind center.
Con-Val 14
Milford 13
Early-season clash between two potential playoff teams.
Hanover 20
Goffstown 12
Goffstown played a Division II schedule last year, and a Division III team last weekend. Tonight they'll try their luck against a Division IV opponent.
Souhegan 34
Hollis-Brookline 7
Until someone proves otherwise, the Sabers look like the team to beat in this division.
John Stark 7
Pembroke Academy 6
The single-wing produces a victory.
DIVISION IV
Kennett 20
Sanborn 0
The Eagles are liking life in Divison IV.
Plymouth 35
Kingswood 0
Lenahan hits 300.
Laconia 36
Merrimack Valley 14
Some of us are already looking forward to next weekend's Laconia/Souhegan matchup.
Monadnock 14
Lebanon 13
There aren't a lot of games on the radio these days, but this is one of them (WSNI-FM 97.7).
DIVISION V
Trinity 36
Pelham 20
It's been a long time since Trinity was the class of its division.
Kearsarge 26
Bow 14
Last weekend's Kearsarge score (46-0 over Gilford) raised some eyebrows.
Somersworth 26
Epping-Newmarket 12
After this game, the Toppers will play four of their next five on the road.
St. Thomas 27
Stevens 14
Lenahan has a ways to go before he catches Wotton.
DIVISION VI
Campbell 21
Newfound 0
At this point, trying to predict the outcome of a Division VI game is like betting a maiden claimer.
Gilford 14
Fall Mountain 0
We're willing to give Gilford a second chance.
Mascoma 14
Farmington 6
Victory No. 1? This could be a game the Mascoma players never forget.
Franklin 20
Inter-Lakes 14
Inter-Lakes is the only NHIAA team that has yet to play a game.
Newport 14
Winnisquam 6
Offense was a problem for both of these teams last weekend. That trend may continue.
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Last week: 22-5
Record to date: 22-5
The State of Football, a commentary on New Hampshire high school football, will appear each Friday throughout the season.
