The State of Football: Week 2
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
Let's start with an apology, because what you are about to read is something you've probably read here before.
It's time for New Hampshire Football Report's annual request to reduce NHIAA football from six to three divisions. Why should this be done? To improve the health of high school football in New Hampshire.
We're reminded of this issue each year when Division II teams more than hold their own against Division I opponents during the season's opening weekend. This year's count was five victories for Division II and four for Division I.
Our proposal is simple and easy to implement: Combine Division I with Division II (all Class L schools), Division III with Division IV and Division V with Division VI.
You can keep two leagues in each division if you like. You could group the teams by location to reduce travel or even use enrollment figures and keep things as they are.
This would produce increased interest in high school football during the postseason. It would also give us three state champions instead of what we have now, which is six league champions. Does being the best of nine teams really make you a "state champion?"
Would you have paid to watch Bishop Guertin play Nashua South for the Division I title last year? How about Souhegan vs. Plymouth for the Division II championship?
In our proposal two teams from each league (12 teams in all) would qualify for the playoffs. There would be crossover games in the semifinals, with the No. 1 seed from one league facing the No. 2 seed from the other. There would be plenty of incentive to win your league because it would result in a home playoff game.
The three state championship games would be played the following weekend at one location (think of the 50/50 possibilities). None of this would interfere with Thankgiving Day matchups.
In case these changes aren't put in place during the offseason we offer some advanced warning: You'll be reading a similar column at this time next year.
The Picks ...
Nashua South 27
Concord 6
The Panthers will probably get 200 yards passing and two touchdowns from quarterback Keith Farkas.
Manchester Central 14
Alvirne 13
Could Central go 0-2 against Division II opponents?
Nashua North 26
Manchester West 13
West's next three games are against Pinkerton, Londonderry and Central. All three are on the road.
Salem 21
Londonderry 20
The lesson here is don't celebrate until after your team converts the extra point.
Pinkerton 27
Manchester Memorial 20
Expect Pinkerton to bounce back from last weekend's loss to BG. Also expect Memorial to put a lot of points on the scoreboard this season.
Dover 23
Timberlane 21
Both teams are coming off losses against good Division I opponents.
Keene 21
Winnacunnet 20
The Blackbirds won with a late field goal last weekend. This weekend the difference will be a late touchdown.
Exeter 35
Spaulding 7
Rare occurance at Gill Stadium last Friday: Exeter won even though it didn't rush for a touchdown.
Bishop Guertin 42
Merrimack 14
Where are all the good players from Merrimack? Many of them are suiting up for BG.
Portsmouth 28
Bedford 6
Lots of teams throw the football, but not many throw it as well as Portsmouth.
Hanover 19
Goffstown 14
There are plenty of Division IV teams that could compete in Division III.
Pembroke 14
John Stark 12
Slight edge to the home team.
Con-Val 26
Milford 12
Con-Val avoids an 0-2 start.
Souhegan 32
Hollis-Brookline 14
Hollis-Brookline raised some eyebrows by beating Con-Val last weekend. A victory this weekend would really get people's attention.
Plymouth 36
Kingswood 14
Who remembers the last time Plymouth lost at home?
Monadnock 13
Lebanon 12
Life always gets easier after you play Plymouth on the road.
Kennett 33
Sanborn 7
Hard to picture Kennett losing at home.
Laconia 36
Merrimack Valley 22
Read somewhere last week that Laconia would have to win with defense this season. Some people know nothing about football.
Trinity 22
Bishop Brady 14
If you were among those who picked Trinity to win it all in Division IV this season, last weekend's 20-0 victory over Pelham probably didn't cause you to change your mind.
Epping-Newmarket 19
Mascoma 14
An Epping-Newmarket victory would end the program's nine-game losing streak.
Pelham 22
Somersworth 20
Who would have guessed that Pelham would be the only Division V team that failed to score last weekend?
St. Thomas 26
Kearsarge 14
This will be the first of three consecutive road games for the Saints.
Bow 14
Stevens 12
Late TD hands Bow another victory.
Winnisquam 20
Campbell 6
The more you hear about Winnisquam, the more there is to like.
Gilford 38
Farmington 8
Disappointing start for Gilford last weekend.
Franklin 21
Fall Mountain 0
Neither team scored a point last weekend.
Inter-Lakes 22
Raymond 19
Not sure anyone thought either of these teams would have a chance to be 2-0.
Newport 20
Newfound 8
Still not sure what to make of Division VI.
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Last week: 22-6
Record to date: 22-6
Roger Brown is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. His column, The State of Football, appears every Friday throughout the season.
