The State of Football: Week 4
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
Last November, minutes after Exeter High School had beaten Bishop Guertin in the Division II championship game, an Exeter player was asked if he had just experienced the most satisfying victory of his career.
Without hesitation, the player shook his head from side to side and said, "Beating Winnacunnet."
Not even Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant completely understands the rivalry between Exeter and Winnacunnet, teams that are scheduled to meet at Exeter's Eustis Field on Saturday (1:30 p.m.).
"At the barber shop people say, "I don't care if you win another game, just beat Exeter," Auffant said. "I've had people tell me they'd rather beat Exeter than win a championship. I'd take the championship, but that's the mentality around here."
Few know the emotions this rivalry can stir better than Bill Ball, who is in his 16th season as Exeter's head coach. Ball and his Blue Hawks absorbed a 28-26 loss to Winnacunnet during the regular season last fall, but beat Winnacunnet, 28.6, in the Division II semifinals.
"It's always the biggest game of the year -- there's no getting around that," Ball said. "It's the one game you remember."
Other than the desire to beat one another, these teams appear to have very little in common this season. Exeter is 3-0 overall (2-0 in Division II) and has held its three opponents to a total of 20 points. Winnacunnet is 0-3 overall (0-2 in Division II) and surrendered 41 points in the first half of last Friday's game against Dover.
Junior running back Jason Busfield has run for 430 yards in three games and is the big-play threat in Winnacunnet's option attack, Exeter quarterback Andrew Kukesh has completed 12 of 25 passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns. He also leads the team in rushing (220 yards on 32 carries).
"I think they're athletic," Ball said. "Busfield is a threat every time he touches the ball. They've played three pretty good football teams (Londonderry, Keene and Dover). After kickoff it comes down to execution."
Auffant said finding a way to score against Exeter's defense is his No. 1 concern. The Blue Hawks haven't allowed a point in more than nine quarters.
"Defensively they're very sound," Auffant said. "They win a lot of games defensively. Can we score enough points to be in the game against them? That's the question.
"Last year we were a slight underdog. This year we're a big-time underdog. We have to have our best effort."
THE PICKS ...
Concord 21
Nashua North 20
Crimson Tide picks up its first Division I victory of the season.
Londonderry 27
Manchester West 13
Next weekend's game against Pinkerton will answer any remaining questions about the Lancers.
Nashua South 21
Manchester Central 19
South is a handful when it's at full strength.
Merrimack 14
Manchester Memorial 7
It's usually safe to pick against the team that allowed 65 points the previous weekend.
Pinkerton 20
Salem 14
The Astros don't have a soft opponent left on their schedule.
Keene 14
Alvirne 6
The Broncos can play defense, but Keene may be the most improved team in Division II.
Bishop Guertin 28
Timberlane 14
This will be Guertin's first Division II test.
Dover 35
Spaulding 7
The Red Raiders have given up 35 points in each of their three games.
Exeter 24
Winnacunnet 14
Wet conditions will only help the Blue Hawks.
Souhegan 36
Bedford 0
Next week the Sabers will face a team (Portsmouth) that likes to throw the ball as much as they do.
Con-Val 28
Pembroke 13
Con-Val coach Greg Leonard said junior Barry Powers may be the best noseguard in the state. He may be right.
Portsmouth 28
Goffstown 6
Portsmouth split end Mike Montville has caught five touchdown passes in three games.
John Stark 20
Hollis-Brookline 13
The Generals even their record after an 0-2 start.
Plymouth 28
Milford 12
Have to give the Spartans credit for keeping Plymouth on their schedule.
Hanover 27
Kennett 20
These teams each have a legitimate chance to make the Division IV playoffs.
Merrimack Valley 26
Kingswood 14
If Merrimack Valley prevails it will have won six of its last seven games, dating back to last year.
Laconia 34
Lebanon 6
Sachems bounce back from their non-league loss against Souhegan.
Monadnock 7
Sanborn 6
One of these teams is going to be celebrating its first victory.
Bishop Brady 20
Somersworth 6
Somersworth struggled against Pelham, and the Toppers will likely struggle against Bishop Brady as well.
St. Thomas 26
Bow 13
Still think the Saints are the class of Division V.
Stevens 27
Epping-Newmarket 12
After this weekend, Epping-Newmarket will be the only team in the state that still hasn't played a home game.
Trinity 19
Kearsarge 14
Best game on the Division V menu.
Cambell 20
Inter-Lakes 7
Belated congratulations go out to the Lakers, who picked up the program's first victory last weekend against Mascoma.
Winnisquam 13
Fall Mountain 7
Neither team has scored more than seven points in a game this season.
Franklin 29
Farmington 12
Franklin extends its winning streak to three games.
Gilford 20
Newfound 6
It's been feast or famine for Gilford, which scored 31 points in its victory and failed to score in its two losses.
Newport 27
Mascoma 14
Perhaps Newport is the team to beat in this division.
___
Last week: 21-5
Record to date: 64-16
The State of Football, a commentary on New Hampshire high school football, will appear each Friday throughout the season.
