Division I title is there for the taking
Division I Semifinals
No. 4 Salem at No. 1 Pinkerton Academy
- When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Pinkerton Academy in Derry.
- Team records: Pinkerton Academy is 8-2 overall, 7-1 in Division I. Salem is 6-4 overall, 5-3 in Division I.
- Regular-season result: Pinkerton Academy won 38-31 in Derry.
- Noteworthy: Pinkerton has been the most consistent team in Division I this season, and you could argue that Salem has been the most unpredictable team in the division. The Blue Devils, who won last year's Division I title, began the season ranked No. 8 in New England by ESPN Boston, but had to beat Londonderry last weekend to qualify as the No. 4 seed. ... Pinkerton won the regular-season meeting when Salem running back Max Jacques was stopped at the Astro 1-yard line as time expired. Jacques rushed for a game-high 118 yards on 21 carries in that game. Salem also received three TDs (two rushing) from running back Jerickson Fedrick. Salem quarterback Matt Cannone was 6 of 10 for 117 yards. Pinkerton's Kevin Davies scored twice and made a game-high 12 tackles. ... Pinkerton's only Division I loss came against Nashua North (33-7). The Astros also dropped a non-league game against Brockton, Mass. (21-14). ... Salem has scored at least 41 points in five of its eight Division I contests. ... Pinkerton is 3-1 at home this season, and will be at home for the Division I championship game if it wins this semifinal.
No. 3 Nashua South at No. 2 Nashua North
- When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Nashua's Stellos Stadium.
- Team records: Nashua North is 6-4 overall, 6-2 in Division I. Nashua South is is 6-4 overall, 5-3 in Division I.
- Regular-season result: Nashua South won 38-21 in Nashua.
- Noteworthy: Offensively, these teams mirror each other in terms of style and personnel. ... Each team plays its home games at Stellos Stadium, so there is no true home-field advantage. ... Nashua South has a 2-1 record against teams in the Division I playoffs. The loss came against Pinkerton (23-14). ... Nashua North is 1-2 against teams in the Division I playoffs. North's victory came against Pinkerton (33-7). ... Nashua South running back Derek Paradis rushed for 227 yards on 29 carries when South beat North during the regular season. He also caught two passes for 32 yards. North quarterback Brandon Karkanis completed 12 of 21 passes for 169 yards in the loss. ... One Nashua team has reached the Division I championship game in each of the last three years. South lost to Pinkerton in 2007, beat Pinkerton in 2008, and North lost to Salem last year. ... This is the second of three meetings between these teams this season. They will also meet on Thanksgiving.
- -- Capsule compiled by Roger Brown
Coming Wednesday: Division II capsule previews
