The State of Football: Week 1
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
The opening week of the high school football season is upon us. The Week 1 schedule features a mix of league games (Divisions IV, V and VI) and non-league contests (Divisions I, II and III).
The non-league games will be eliminated next season, when NHIAA football shrinks from six divisions to three. We've been critical of the non-league games in the past, primarily because they counted for nothing in the standings. They made it seem like the regular season didn't start until a week after it really did.
That said, there is one non-league game we'll miss: Pinkerton Academy vs. Brockton. Although the game didn't help or hurt the Astros in the Division I standings, it was a matchup between two of the top programs in New England.
The Pinkerton-Brockton game was really New Hampshire vs. Massachusetts, and even Londonderry residents -- some of them anyway -- pulled for the Astros when they met the Boxers. As one Division I assistant coach said before last year's game, "This is the only time I ever root for Pinkerton."
At any rate, with the utmost confidence ... this week's selections:
Hanover 20
John Stark 13
Division IV is gonna be one tough league this season.
Trinity 36
Kingswood 6
Kingswood coach Chip Skelly will tell you that his team should be competing in Division V.
Winnisquam 13
Raymond 6
Not sure how things are going to play out in Division VI this season.
Monadnock 20
Stevens 14
Stevens program is still dealing with the loss of assistant coach Aaron Robar.
Sanborn 27
Pelham 26
From a competitive standpoint, the Pythons are back where they belong.
Concord 27
Hollis-Brookline 14
Since you asked, Concord is my darkhorse in Division I.
Exeter 28
Dover 7
These teams will be in the same division and the same conference a year from now. Lots of speed in that Exeter backfield.
Portsmouth 26
Londonderry 20
Division III Clippers nearly knocked off Central in their opener last year. This year they get the best of a Division I opponent.
Central 35
Timberlane 14
Owls will likely be missing some key pieces because of injuries.
Goffstown 21
Memorial 20
Division III strikes again.
Nashua North 20
Alvirne 13
Broncos are in Division III this season, but will be grouped with North, South, BG and Keene in Division I next year.
Keene 28
Salem 14
Been touting the Blackbirds in the preseason, and will continue to do so -- until they lose.
Bedford 21
Milford 20
Bulldogs get off to a good start in Division II.
Manchester West 14
Merrimack Valley 13
Could make a case for either team.
Merrimack 27
Con-Val 14
Tomahawks spoil Ryan McCartney's debut as Con-Val's head coach.
Nashua South 21
Spaulding 13
Red Raiders have started the season with a new head coach in each of the past four years.
Souhegan 22
Winnacunnet 21
Wonder what Mike Beliveau's philosophy is on going for two late in a game? He'd be wise to share that philosphy with his staff before kickoff.
St. Thomas 21
Kennett 19
Gonna be at this game Saturday, so hoping some of those fine Kennett fans will bring me some peanut butter fudge from Zeb's.
Laconia 20
Windham 19
Another Division IV game that's tough to call.
Plymouth 26
Lebanon 14
It's still tough to beat the Bobcats at home.
Newfound 22
Bishop Brady 16
Bears certainly know how to win on the road.
Campbell 26
Newport 20
If you're in the neighborhood, this one might be worth checking out.
Gilford 25
Farmington-Nute 6
The Brad Archer era gets off to a good start.
Franklin 34
Mascoma 13
Gotta believe Franklin will be in the hunt for a playoff berth again this year.
Kearsarge 26
Bow 13
Gotta believe Kearsarge will be in the hunt for a playoff berth this year as well.
Somersworth 28
Epping-Newmarket 14
Toppers have too much offense for the Blue Devils.
Pinkerton 28
Bishop Guertin 13
Undoubtedly the marquee game on this week's menu.
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2011 record: 227-55
The State of Football appears each Friday throughout the high school season.
