NHIAA DIVISION I PREVIEW

The League: Pinkerton Academy (3,331 enrollment), Nashua South (2,287), Salem (2,263), Manchester Memorial (2,165), Manchester Central (2,159), Nashua North (2,054), Concord (1,877), Londonderry (1,827) and Manchester West (1,309).

Defending Champion: Nashua South. The Panthers defeated Pinkerton Academy, 33-32, in last year's championship game.

Top Story Line: Can anyone join Nashua South and Pinkerton Academy at the top of this division? The Panthers and Astros have met in each of the last two championship games. Pinkerton won the 2007 contest, and Nashua South prevailed in overtime last year.

Player to Watch: Pinkerton wingback Eric Guinto rushed for 713 yards on 73 carries during an injury-plagued junior season. If healthy, he's the No. 1 big-play threat in the division.

Game to Watch: Pinkerton at Nashua South (Oct. 24). These teams could meet in the postseason. If they do, this regular-season matchup may decide which team gets to play that game at home.

Noteworthy: No one should be surprised if Nashua South and Pinkerton meet in the Division I championship game for the third consecutive season. Pinkerton returns Guinto, quarterback Ryan Simpson and some veternans on the offensive line. Junior Keith Farkas returns for his second season as South's starting QB. Farkas completed 17 of 21 passes for 262 yards in last year's championship game.  ... "We're gonna be fine," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "I have a good football team. If we stay away from injuries I'd say for the sixth straight year we'll be in the championship game." ... Salem may be a team that's capable of reaching the title game. Salem quarterback Matt Cannone, a junior, completed 49 of 102 passes for 820 yards and five touchdowns last season. Running back Max Jacques, another junior, ran for 815 yards on 154 carries as a sophomore. ... The other challengers in this division include Londonderry and Manchester Central. Nashua North and Manchester Memorial also looked good in the preseason. ... "South, Central, Salem and Londonderry -- there's no such thing bad team there," O'Reilly said. "The question with Salem is how good is his defense going to be?"

                                                                                                              -- Roger Brown