DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Winnacunnet vs. Bishop Guertin

• When and where: Saturday (1:30 p.m.) at Nashua's Stellos Stadium.
• Team records: Third-seeded Winnacunnet is 8-3 overall, 6-3 in Division II. Top-seeded Bishop Guertin is 11-0 overall, 9-0 in Division II.
• Regular-season result: Bishop Guertin won 35-6 in Hampton.
• Noteworthy: Winnacunnet is attempting to win its first state championship since 2000, when it beat Exeter (10-9) in the Division II championship game. ... Bishop Guertin has advanced to the Division II championship game in each of the last six seasons. BG beat Winnacunnet for the title in 2004, and also won the championship in 2005, 2006 and 2008. ... BG has a 115-39 record under coach Tony Johnson. Winnacunnet has a 35-30 record with four playoff appearances since Ron Auffant became the program's head coach in 2004. ... Winnacunnet reached the championship game by beating second-seeded Exeter 17-10 in the semifinals. BG knocked off fourth-seeded Alvirne 38-0 in the other Division II semifinal. ... Both teams run an option offense. BG's top threats are running back Adam Hall and quarterback Steve Cuipa. Hall scored four touchdowns when BG beat Winnacunnet during the regular season. ... BG has outscored its opponents 481-57 this season. Nine of BG's 11 opponents failed to score more than seven points. The Cardinals have posted five shutout victories, and haven't allowed a point in the last 12 quarters. ... Winnacunnet's Steve Cronan is a run/pass threat who is among the best quarterbacks in the state. He's complimented by split end Harry Knowles and a stable of running backs that includes Jason Busfield, Mike Trainor, Brett Lago and Brett Taylor. ... Winnacunnet has outscored its opponents 320-169 and has won five games in a row since its regular-season loss to BG.
  

                                                               -- Capsule compiled by Roger Brown

Coming Thursday: Division I capsule preview