Five items on the New Hampshire football landscape:

1. Salem 67, Nashua North 54

When you set the school's single-game scoring record, like North did Saturday, you shouldn't lose -- and you certainly shouldn't lose by double digits.

Makes that reporter who said defense is what separates North from the rest of Division I look kind of silly.

2. Score Management Rule

Attended two games last weekend that used running time in the second half because the point differential was 35 points (or more). Don't like the rule? Be thankful you don't live in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference has a Score Management Rule that's better know as the 50-pont rule -- and it's controversial. The rule works like this: If a team beats an opponent by more than 50 points the winning coach must serve a one-game suspension the following week. 

It may not sound bad, but it's causing some strange things to happen. In one game last weekend a team led 49-0 at halftime and punted on first down throughtout the second half. So much for backups getting playing time.

So the question is this: Is it better to lose 63-0, or 49-0 when the other team stops trying?

3. Spider Men

UNH will attempt to collect its first Colonial Athletic Association victory when it faces Richmond on Saturday in Durham. UNH coach Sean McDonnell on the Richmond defense:

"Defensively I think it starts with three kids on that team. It starts up front with Martin Parker. He could be the best interior defensive lineman in the league. He's a big kid who can handle the interior people. He is physical. He can stop the run himself. He can get to the passer.

"I've always loved Eric McBride. We played against him when he was a freshman down there. As a linebacker in this league I don't think there are too many as good as he is. He's the leader of that defense.

"And the last guy back there is Justin Rogers. You just watch how athletic he is when he gets the ball in his hands, whether it's an interception, kick return or punt return. This is a team that relies on him to do a lot of things, and he's a good enough player to do them." 

4. Playing in the rain

Not sure when teams stopped playing football in the rain, but the wet conditions sure made a lot of teams postpone games Friday night. If there's concern for player safety or about a field being chewed up beyond repair perhaps rain is a valid reason for a postponement, but many teams do it to for no reason other than to gain a competitive advantage (a passing team would obviously prefer a dry ball, for example).

Were I a coach and could gain an edge i would postpone because of rain too, so maybe the NHIAA should adopt some sort of guideline just to keep things fair and square. Some states do not allow a game to be postponed because of rain just so no team will gain a competitive edge. Lightning yes. Rain no.

5. Bobcat tale

Bates ended a 24-game losing streak against Tufts by posting a 21-20 victory Saturday. It was the first time Bates beat Tufts since 1985. The following New Hampshire players made significant contributions in the victory:

• Brett McAllister (Exeter): 10 tackles, two sacks, two pass break ups
• Ted Durkin (Rye Beach, Governor's Academy): 10 tackles
• Tyler Kuehle (Plymouth): one sack, six QB pressures, three QB hits, one pass deflection
• Kyle Starr (Concord): interception, three tackles
• Andrew Kukesh (Exeter): five tackles, interception

Bates assistant coach Skip Capone said Matt Gaither (Tilton School) and Josh Chronopolus (Tilton School) were also key contributors..