Check out “First & 10″ in the print editions of the New Hampshire Union Leader today (Tuesday, Nov. 17). There, you’ll learn what Salem quarterback Matt Cannone said was the reason his team protected the football with great success in Sunday’s 44-28 Division I semifinal win over Pinkerton Academy of Derry.

Here are some additional comments from Salem’s Cannone and head coach Jack Gati, and Pinkerton head coach Brian O’Reilly.

Cannone on …

… Salem’s week of practice after losing the regular-season finale, 45-7, to Manchester Central
“The atmosphere at practice, there was definitely a different vibe going around. It was a little bit more focused. And I look for that (extra focus) this week, too. It’s the last week. We’re going to let it all out with the most intensity.”

… Salem’s success with the pass (5 of 10 for 137 yards, TD) against the Astros
“We knew when we go with motion they’d blitz their corners. And coach Gati does such a good job with the play-action pass that, if they brought their corners, we’d have that opportunity (to strike through the air).”

… Salem, for the first time, topping Pinkerton twice in one season
“We did it for coach Gati. We’re doing it for him, and the whole coaching staff, who, I think have made all the difference this year, out of everything we do.”

Gati on …

… his message to the Blue Devils after losing to Central
“After the game we said ‘Hey guys, we’ve got to wash this (away). We’re in the playoffs. We’re the top seed. You guys did the work to get to the top seed.’ And they forgot about it. We prepared for Pinkerton like any other big game.”

… Grant Field’s playing surface the day after Saturday’s heavy rain
“The field conditions weren’t bad. Our athletic director busted his tail. Dave Rozumek, he was out there raking, and getting rid of the puddles. I’ll tell you, he and the staff, the work crew, did a heck of a job. The field was not a factor, I don’t think.”

… Salem’s big-play ability against Pinkerton
“You can’t single out one person because so many guys took part in making big plays.

“Our defensive backs, our linebackers. We got a good rush with our (defensive) ends at the tail end of the game. All the way around. Special teams; our kick-off team did a great job, the punt game. It was a great team effort by everybody involved.”

O’Reilly on …

… Salem’s 2009 team
“We played them twice (this season). And both times, big plays. They’re a better team than we are. I can live with that. We’ve had their number over the years. We’ve beaten them many, many times (22-5 since joining Division I in 1985). But not this year.”

… Pinkerton’s 5-6 record (5-4 Div. I)
“You look at who we lost to. We lost to BG. We lost to Brockton (Mass.). We lost to (Nashua) North. We lost to (Manchester) Central. We lost to Salem twice. We beat everybody else. Relatively easily as a matter of fact. We are who we are. We’re a good 5-6 football team. We don’t deserve to be in the championship game for the sixth straight year.”

… Pinkerton’s season-long struggles to come from behind
“That’s something we were missing this year. We had that last year a lot, the ability to come back on teams in the fourth quarter. We have not played well in the second half this year against most of our opponents … That has not been our modus operandi this year.”

… the career of senior standout running back Eric Guinto
“When he played — and I don’t mean that as an insult; he was hurt — he had the ability to change the game around. This is the first playoff game that Eric has played in since his sophomore year when we won the championship (14-2 at Nashua South in 2007).

“So it’s been almost two years of ‘Where’s Eric?’ And it’s been unfortunate with the ACL (injury in 2008) and the concussion (this season).

“It was good to have him back (on Sunday). He gives us a dimension, but I wish I had him on a continuous basis. I wish I had him like Max Jacques … That kid’s never out of the game. Eric’s just had a tough career as far as injuries are concerned.”

The Week 12 Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll was released at noon today (Monday, Nov. 16).

Divisions III, IV and V crowned champions over the weekend. But, with one week remaining in the high school football season, the final poll placement for kings Souhegan of Amherst (Div. III), Plymouth (Div. IV) and Trinity of Manchester (Div. V) — yes, folks, Trinity — likely hinges on how Saturday’s title tilts unfold in Divisions I, II and VI.

Bishop Guertin of Nashua is No. 1 for the 11th straight week.

The Cardinals swept the six first-place votes for a Power Poll-record 11 weeks in a row. They’ll face Winnacunnet of Hampton for the Division II championship.

As always, let’s start by comparing the Week 12 Power Poll and my votes.

Continue to scroll down and you’ll find “3-and-out.”

Week 12 Power Poll
1. Bishop Guertin (11-0 overall, 9-0 Div. II / 6 first place) — No. 1

2. Salem (10-1, 8-1 Div. I) — No. 3

3. Nashua North (9-1, 8-1 Div. I) — No. 2

4. Plymouth (11-0, 10-0 Div. IV) — No. 5

5. Winnacunnet (8-3, 6-3 Div. II) — No. 8

6. Souhegan (10-1, 9-1 Div. III) — No. 6

7. Man. Central (7-4, 6-3 Div. I) — No. 7

8. Exeter (8-2, 7-2 Div. II) — No. 4

9. Portsmouth (9-2, 8-2 Div. III) — No. 10

10. Trinity (11-0, 10-0 Div. V) — NR

My votes
1. Bishop Guertin

2. Salem

3. Nashua North

4. Winnacunnet

5. Plymouth

6. Souhegan

7. Man. Central

8. Exeter

9. Portsmouth

10. Trinity

First down: PA is O-U-T
Pinkerton Academy of Derry was the No. 2 team in the preseason poll. Pinkerton’s 2009 campaign ends as an unranked team.

That’s a first, folks.

Pinkerton was ousted by Salem, 44-28, in the Division I semifinals. As a result, the Astros finish as a sub-.500 team (5-6 overall, 5-4 Div. I).

The loss snapped two streaks: (1) a five-year run of reaching the championship game, and (2) a 23-week run of appearing in the poll, which dates to its debut last season.

Look, the Astros weren’t a bad football team this season. They played the two toughest out-of-league games (BG and Brockton, Mass.), and reached the playoffs in the state’s most competitive division.

But, they did finish with more losses than wins. A top 10 team cannot fit this description.

Second down: Trinity cracks top 10
Trinity needed every one of its 11 wins — including a 41-7 Division V title-game victory over Bishop Brady — to officially enter the poll. After several weeks flirting with the chance to secure a ranking, the boys from Bridge Street did it.

Let the record show Trinity is No. 10 in the Week 12 Power Poll.

The Pioneers (11-0 overall, 10-0 Div. V) celebrated their first football championship since the glory days of 1988, as a Division I program. And yes, it can be argued that no team from Division V should be in the state’s top 10. The level of competition is not the same as the large-school leagues.

Regardless, Trinity has arrived. Considering the well-documented Division I struggles of the program earlier this decade, it’s a tremendous feat.

Third down: Final test
It’s up to Winnacunnet. And it’s that simple.

If we’re to have a fight for the top ranking in the season’s final poll, the Warriors (8-3 overall, 6-3 Div. II) must pull the upset against Bishop Guertin. Otherwise, it’s hard to imagine BG doesn’t close the deal and finish as the state’s top-ranked football team.

The Warriors beat Seacoast rival Exeter, 17-10, in the Division II semifinals. The victory was their fifth straight, and it lifted them to their best-ever ranking (No. 5).

Can this club climb higher, and bump the Cardinals from the top branch?

Noontime on Monday, Nov. 16. Three state champions were crowned over the weekend — all of whom appear in the Week 12 Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll, which was just released.

That’s right. Division V champion Trinity of Manchester finally cracked the top 10. The Pioneers join fellow champions Plymouth (Div. IV) and Souhegan of Amherst (Div. III).

Bishop Guertin of Nashua enters Saturday’s Division II title game with the state’s No. 1 ranking.

BG swept the six first-place votes for the 11th consecutive week.

Check back momentarily for “Power Poll: 3-and-out.”

Here’s New Hampshire’s top 10 for Week 12:

Week 12 Power Poll
1. Bishop Guertin (11-0 overall, 9-0 Div. II / 6 first place) — No. 1

2. Salem (10-1, 8-1 Div. I) — No. 3

3. Nashua North (9-1, 8-1 Div. I) — No. 2

4. Plymouth (11-0, 10-0 Div. IV) — No. 5

5. Winnacunnet (8-3, 6-3 Div. II) — No. 8

6. Souhegan (10-1, 9-1 Div. III) — No. 6

7. Man. Central (7-4, 6-3 Div. I) — No. 7

8. Exeter (8-2, 7-2 Div. II) — No. 4

9. Portsmouth (9-2, 8-2 Div. III) — No. 10

10. Trinity (11-0, 10-0 Div. V) — NR

Honorable Mention
Pinkerton (5-6, 5-4 Div. I)

Bumped
Pinkerton

The forecast for inclement weather tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 14) forced a change in plans for the eight slated high school football playoff games around the state. As a result, WGAM Sports Radio switched its “Super Saturday” coverage to “Super Sunday” — and added an extra hour to the show.

Here’s the press release from on-air personality and Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll voter Mike Mutnansky:

With the NHIAA moving eight high school playoff games this weekend, Sports Radio WGAM will still have lives scores, interviews and highlights from across the state as part of their “Super Sunday” coverage noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, November 15.

Fans can listen on the air at 1250-AM Manchester, 900-AM Nashua and free online at http://fnlnh.com, or http://wgamradio.com.

In addition fans can get live scores and updates via Twitter by following us at http://twitter.com/WGAMFNL.

Due to the forecast for inclement weather, the eight postseason football games scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 14) have been moved to Sunday (Nov. 15) by the NHIAA.

Pat Corbin, the NHIAA executive director, issued this release just before noon today (Friday, Nov. 13):

Due to the impending heavy rains scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, 2009 all playoff football games scheduled for tomorrow are postponed to Sunday, November 15, 2009.

Many of us can recall the horrific rains of last year and the untold damage that was done to many of our facilities not to mention the lack of crowds to watch these championship student athletes.

I understand the challenges this places on people and schools but I believe we owe it to our participants and fans to make the best opportunity possible available to them. I have checked four different forecasts and all indicate an 80 – 100% chance of rain all day on Saturday.

The start times will remain the same – i.e. 1:00 pm. Tonight’s BG/Alvirne game will be played as scheduled.

I apologize again for the inconveniences this will cause but we feel that we need to go with the weather predictions at this time.

Wondering what’s going on at the eight high school football playoff games slated for Saturday (Nov. 14)? Tune in to WGAM Sports-Radio.

Here’s the press release from on-air personality and Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll voter Mike Mutnansky:

Sports Radio WGAM will have lives scores, interviews and highlights from across the state Saturday as part of their “Super Saturday” coverage noon-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14.

Fans can listen on the air at 1250-AM Manchester, 900-AM Nashua and free online at http://fnlnh.com, or http://wgamradio.com.

In addition fans can get live scores and updates via Twitter by following us at http://twitter.com/WGAMFNL

The Week 11 Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll was released at noon today (Monday, Nov. 9). Specific regular-season outcomes in Divisions I, II and III created some change in the latest poll.

Much of it makes me wonder. Or, when you check out my ballot, perhaps you’ll wonder what I was thinking.

Either way, this week’s top 10 should create some debate. And that’s a great thing.

One area where there’s still no argument is at the top of the poll.

Bishop Guertin of Nashua is No. 1 for the 1oth straight week. The Cardinals swept the six first-place votes for a Power Poll-record 10 weeks in a row.

Here’s the comparison between the Week 11 Power Poll and my votes. Then there’s “3-and-out.”

Week 11 Power Poll
1. Bishop Guertin (10-0 overall, 8-0 Div. II / 6 first place) — No. 1

2. Nashua North (8-1, 7-1 Div. I) — No. 4

3. Salem (9-1, 7-1 Div. I) — No. 2

4. Exeter (8-1, 7-1 Div. II) — No. 3

5. Plymouth (10-0, 9-0 Div. IV) — No. 5

6. Souhegan (9-1, 8-1 Div. III) — No. 6

7. Man. Central (7-3, 6-2 Div. I) — No. 10

8. Winnacunnet (7-3, 5-3 Div. II) — No. 7

9. Pinkerton (5-5, 5-3 Div. I) — No. 9

10. Portsmouth (9-1, 8-1 Div. III) — NR

My votes
1. Bishop Guertin

2. Salem

3. Nashua North

4. Exeter

5. Man. Central

6. Winnacunnet

7. Plymouth

8. Souhegan

9. Portsmouth

10. Trinity

First down: Week 11 voting strategy
How can Salem still earn the No. 2 vote on my ballot? The team was beaten badly by Manchester Central, 45-7. The 38-point setback ended the possibility of a perfect season for the Blue Devils.

Subsequently, how can Central rank lower on my ballot than Salem?

As I wrote last Tuesday in the New Hampshire Union Leader, we’ve reached the point where head-to-head results can’t be the only factor in ranking teams. Many of these teams have beaten each other.

Therefore, it’s about body of work with me.

One game — including Salem’s terrible blowout loss to close the regular season — does not make a campaign. I still believe Salem is the state’s second-best team.

Besides, if Salem isn’t No. 2, who is?

The poll says Nashua North. But the Titans were dismantled by Salem, 54-33, in Week 7.

Exeter? The Blue Hawks were roughed up by BG, 42-0.

Central? This team was No. 10 in the poll last week. Jumping all the way to No. 2 is hard to justify.

If you look closely at my ballot, you’ll notice teams from the same division are ranked in order of their postseason seeds:

– Salem (No. 1 seed in Div. I, No. 2 vote) ranks higher than Nashua North (No. 2 seed, No. 3 vote) and Central (No. 3 seed, No. 5 vote).

– BG (No. 1 seed in Div. II, No. 1 vote) rankes higher than Exeter (No. 2 seed, No. 4 vote) and Winnacunnet (No. 3 seed, No. 6 vote).

– Souhegan (No. 1 seed in Div. III, No. 7 vote) ranks higher than Portsmouth (No. 2 seed, No. 9 vote).

Again, body of work. These teams earned their playoff seeds based on how they played throughout the season. This week, it’s the most objective way to rank them as well.

Second down: One more chance?
Trinity of Manchester is still undefeated — and still a poll outsider.

The Pioneers qualified for their first championship game since 1990 (Class L). The program hasn’t won a state title since 1988 (Div. I).

Can Trinity (10-0 overall, 9-0 Div. V) crack the top 10 with a title-game victory this Saturday over Bishop Brady of Concord?

Third down: Pinkerton in the poll?
Pinkerton Academy of Derry did not receive a vote on my ballot for the first time in the brief history of the Power Poll.

At this time, I just don’t see the Astros as a top 10 team.

And, quite frankly, I’m surprised the other voters disagree.

The Astros not only remain in the top 10 after their second consecutive loss to a fellow Division I playoff team (Nashua North, 23-14). They didn’t even drop. They’re still No. 9.

There comes a point when a team’s number of losses becomes too difficult to overlook. The Astros, overall, are a 5-5 football team. While two of those losses came against BG and Brockton, Mass., having a five-loss, .500 team in the top 10 makes no sense to me.

Bishop Guertin of Nashua will host its Division II semifinal against Alvirne of Hudson on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., according to BG athletic director and head football coach Tony Johnson.

The move was made to avoid a scheduling conflict at Stellos Stadium, also the home field for Nashua North. The Titans will host Manchester Central in a Division I semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m., the normal start time for NHIAA football playoff games.

It’s noon on Monday, Nov. 9. We’ve reached the postseason in all six divisions, and the Week 11 Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll was released a short time ago.

Bishop Guertin of Nashua beat down Exeter on Saturday night, 42-0. The Cardinals clinched the No. 1 playoff seed. And they’re still the state’s No. 1 team.

BG swept the six first-place votes for the 10th consecutive week.

Check back in a bit. Three items about the new rankings — also known as “Power Poll: 3-and-out” — will be posted.

Here’s New Hampshire’s top 10 for Week 11:

Week 11 Power Poll
1. Bishop Guertin (10-0 overall, 8-0 Div. II / 6 first place) — No. 1

2. Nashua North (8-1, 7-1 Div. I) — No. 4

3. Salem (9-1, 7-1 Div. I) — No. 2

4. Exeter (8-1, 7-1 Div. II) — No. 3

5. Plymouth (10-0, 9-0 Div. IV) — No. 5

6. Souhegan (9-1, 8-1 Div. III) — No. 6

7. Man. Central (7-3, 6-2 Div. I) — No. 10

8. Winnacunnet (7-3, 5-3 Div. II) — No. 7

9. Pinkerton (5-5, 5-3 Div. I) — No. 9

10. Portsmouth (9-1, 8-1 Div. III) — NR

Honorable Mention
Alvirne (5-5, 4-4 Div. II)
Londonderry (5-4, 5-3 Div. I)
Trinity (9-0, 8-0 Div. V)

Bumped
No teams dropped from the top 10 Londonderry

SALEM — Manchester Central 45, Salem 7.

That’s right, folks. The Little Green unloaded on previously unbeaten Salem tonight (Friday, Nov. 6) at Grant Field. Gang Green scored the game’s first 45 points, and played virtually the entire fourth quarter with a running clock.

The victory earned Central (7-3 overall, 6-2 Div. I) the final berth in the Division I postseason, which begins next week. The Little Green are the No. 3 seed based on tiebreakers involving playoff-bound Nashua North (7-1, 6-1) and Pinkerton Academy of Derry (5-4, 5-2), which play tomorrow afternoon.

Salem’s quest for perfection is over. The Blue Devils are still the No. 1 seed. But they enter the postseason 9-1 overall and 7-1 in league action.

Tailback Mike Cavanaugh was immense for Central. He had 124 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He also converted a pair of two-point runs.

Central scored on the game’s first drive. It drained 7-minutes, 32 seconds off the clock. Cavanaugh capped the 15-play, 68-yard march — which included two fourth-down conversions — to give Central a 6-0 lead.

The lead grew to 17-0 at halftime. Salem had four second-half fumbles, including three in the third quarter, that ended any chance of a comeback.