Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
GOFFSTOWN — The Cougars are heading back to high school football’s Division III postseason.
A late-game defensive stand inside its 30-yard line propelled ConVal of Peterborough to the 21-19 winner-take-all triumph at Goffstown today (Saturday, Oct. 31).
The reward for winning: ConVal clinches the No. 3 playoff seed. The Cougars (5-4 overall, 5-3 Div. III) play No. 2 Portsmouth (8-1, 7-1) next Saturday in the state semifinals.
ConVal quarterback Jon Queen had a 1-yard rushing touchdown. He also tossed 80- and 48-yard scoring strikes to Terry Ellis.
QB Brandon Shea, and running backs Sean McGarry and Jake Staffiere (game-high 131 rushing yards) hit paydirt for Goffstown, which closed its season 3-6 overall and 3-5 in league play.
The Cougars made the program’s first playoff appearance in 2007. Now it’s two times in three seasons.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
LONDONDERRY — Matt Charest converted a game-winning 32-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining in regulation tonight (Friday, Oct. 31) at chilly Lancer Park.
The clutch kick lifted Londonderry to a 31-29 win over defending champion Nashua South, officially eliminated from playoff contention. But the kick didn’t clinch the fourth-and-final Division I playoff berth for the Lancers.
That’s because Manchester Central defeated Pinkerton Academy of Derry tonight at Gill Stadium, 21-10.
Londonderry, which finished its regular-season slate tonight, is 5-4 overall and 5-3 in Division I. Central, which closes its regular-season campaign next week at Salem, improved to 6-3 overall and 5-2 in league action.
So here it is: If Central wins next week, it clinches the playoff berth. If Central loses, the Lancers head to the second season.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
This weekend marks the conclusion of the Division III regular season. Here’s a look at the possible playoff scenarios.
What we know: Souhegan of Amherst (6-1 Div. III), Portsmouth (6-1) and Milford (5-2) have clinched playoff berths.
The postseason begins Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for ConVal of Peterborough (4-3) and Goffstown (3-4). The teams go head-to-head, at Goffstown High School, for the final playoff berth.
Now, if Goffstown wins and Hollis/Brookline (3-4) beats Pembroke (2-5), there’s a three-way tie at 4-4 between CV, Goffstown and H/B.
Goffstown clinches based on the first tiebreaker: Record against teams involved in the tie.
The Grizzlies would be 2-0. H/B is 1-1. CV would be 0-2.
As for playoff seeding …
– Souhegan clinches the No. 1 seed with a win Saturday at John Stark (1-6). That means the winner of Friday’s Milford-at-Portsmouth game clinches the No. 2 seed. If Goffstown wins its game, here’s the setup:
1. Souhegan (7-1)
- Milford/Portsmouth
- Milford/Portsmouth
4. Goffstown (4-4)
– Based on head-to-head outcomes earlier this season, if Souhegan, Portsmouth and CV win:
1. Souhegan (7-1)
2. Portsmouth (7-1)
3. CV (5-3)
4. Milford (5-3)
Less likely, but still possible, Portsmouth can clinch the No. 1 seed. It requires Souhegan to lose, and the Clippers to win.
– If Souhegan loses, and Portsmouth and CV win:
1. Portsmouth (7-1)
2. Souhegan (6-2)
3. CV (5-3)
4. Milford (5-3)
– If Souhegan loses, and Portsmouth and Goffstown win:
1. Portsmouth (7-1)
2. Souhegan (6-2)
3. Milford (5-3)
4. Goffstown (4-4)
Even less likely, but still possible, Milford can clinch the No. 1 seed. It requires Souhegan to lose and Milford to win. If this happens, Souhegan, Milford and Portsmouth all finish 6-2.
Milford clinches based on the first tiebreaker: Record against teams involved in the tie.
Milford would be 2-0. Souhegan is 1-1. Portsmouth would be 0-2.
With the top seed established, the No. 2 seed is determined based on the head-to-head game between Souhegan and Portsmouth. Souhegan owns the tiebreaker.
So, the seeding would be:
1. Milford (6-2)
2. Souhegan (6-2)
3. Portsmouth (6-2)
4. CV/Goffstown winner
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
This weekend marks the conclusion of the Division IV regular season. Here’s a look at the possible playoff scenarios.
What we know: Plymouth (7-0 Div. IV) and Laconia (6-1) have clinched the Nos. 1 and 2 playoff seeds, respectively. Plymouth closes at Sanborn of Kingston (0-7). Laconia closes with Monadnock of Swanzey (2-5).
Hanover (4-3), Kennett of Conway (4-3), Kingswood of Wolfeboro (3-4) and Merrimack Valley of Penacook (3-4) remain in the postseason hunt.
On Friday, MV hosts Hanover and Kingswood hosts Kennett.
Assuming heavily favored Plymouth and Laconia win (solely for the purpose of posting final regular-season records) …
– Wins for Hanover and Kennett set the seeding like this:
1. Plymouth (8-0)
2. Laconia (7-1)
3. Hanover (5-3)
4. Kennett (5-3)
– Wins for Hanover and Kingswood set the seeding like this:
1. Plymouth (8-0)
2. Laconia (7-1)
3. Hanover (5-3)
4. Kingswood (4-4)
– Wins for Kennett and MV set the seeding like this:
1. Plymouth (8-0)
2. Laconia (7-1)
3. Kennett (5-3)
4. MV (4-4)
What if Kingswood and MV win, creating a four-team tie at 4-4?
We go to the first tiebreaker: Record against teams involved in the tie.
MV and Kingswood would be 2-1. Hanover and Kennett would be eliminated with 1-2 records.
MV beat Kingswood this season, 31-28, so the seeding would look like this:
1. Plymouth (8-0)
2. Laconia (7-1)
3. MV (4-4)
4. Kingswood (4-4)
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
This weekend marks the conclusion of the Division V regular season. Here’s a look at the possible playoff scenarios.
What we know: Trinity of Manchester (7-0 Div. V) has clinched the No. 1 playoff seed. Bishop Brady of Concord, Bow and Pelham (each 5-2) have clinched playoff berths. But the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 seeds haven’t been determined.
On Friday, Pelham hosts Epping-Newmarket (0-7). On Saturday, Brady hosts Stevens (1-6), and Bow plays against Trinity at Gill Stadium.
Based on head-to-head regular-season results involving Bow, Brady and Pelham …
– A win for Brady, combined with losses by Bow and Pelham, sets the seeding like this:
1. Trinity (8-0)
2. Brady (6-2)
3. Bow (5-3)
4. Pelham (5-3)
– A win for Pelham, combined with losses by Bow and Brady, sets the seeding like this:
1. Trinity (8-0)
2. Pelham (6-2)
3. Brady (5-3)
4. Bow (5-3)
– A win for Bow, combined with losses by Brady and Pelham, sets the seeding like this:
1. Trinity (7-1)
2. Bow (6-2)
3. Pelham (5-3)
4. Brady (5-3)
What if two teams win, and one team loses?
– If Brady and Pelham win, and Bow loses:
1. Trinity (8-0)
2. Pelham (6-2)
3. Brady (6-2)
4. Bow (5-3)
– If Brady and Bow win, and Pelham loses:
1. Trinity (7-1)
2. Brady (6-2)
3. Bow (6-2)
4. Pelham (5-3)
– If Bow and Pelham win, and Brady loses:
1. Trinity (7-1)
2. Bow (6-2)
3. Pelham (6-2)
4. Brady (5-3)
What if all three teams win, therefore finishing 6-2?
We go to the first tiebreaker: Record against teams involved in the tie.
All three would be 1-1.
So we go the second tiebreaker: Road record win percentage.
Bow would be 4-0 (1.000). Brady and Pelham would each be 3-1 (.750), setting the seeds like this:
1. Trinity (7-1)
2. Bow (6-2)
3. Pelham (6-2)
4. Brady (6-2)
And lastly, what if all three teams lose, therefore finishing at 5-3? The fourth tiebreaker is needed here.
All three teams are 1-1 in head-to-head play, the first tiebreaker. And all teams would finish with a road record win percentage of .750 (3-1 records), the second tiebreaker. The teams would also finish with identical .500 home record win percentages (2-2 records) in the third tiebreaker.
The fourth tiebreaker — wins on the road, regardless of class — settles things. Bow has four, while Brady and Pelham have three apiece. The seeding would be:
1. Trinity (8-0)
2. Bow (5-3)
3. Pelham (5-3)
4. Brady (5-3)
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
Pinkerton Academy of Derry has two key regular-season clashes remaining on its Division I slate.
And the Astros will be without senior playmaker Eric Guinto. He suffered a concussion in his team’s 41-21 win at Nashua South last Saturday (Oct. 24), according to Cheryl Guinto, the running back’s mother.
“It’s a doctor’s decision. He won’t play until after Nov. 8, which means he misses the end of the regular season,” Cheryl Guinto said today (Tuesday, Oct. 27).
Cheryl Guinto said she took her son, on Saturday night, to Massachusetts General Hospital; he was experiencing symptoms associated with a concussion. She said he has a follow-up appointment at MGH on Tuesday (Nov. 3).
“He’s out until Nov. 8, as of right now. But he’s going back to the doctor’s before Nov. 8,” Pinkerton head coach Brian O’Reilly said. “Experience tells me one of three things will happen: (The doctor) will leave (the initial order) the way it is, he’ll say (Eric) is all set to go, or (Eric) will have to wait (even longer to play). But what he’s got right now is a preliminary report.
“The only thing that seems pretty simple to me right now is he’s not playing this week,” he added. “And I’ll certainly plan on him not playing the following week.”
On Pinkerton’s first offensive play from scrimmage against South, the 5-foot 8-inch, 160-pound touchdown threat raced 64 yards to the end zone. He dragged a South defender along the right sideline for the final 25 yards.
Only playing the first half, he rushed for 137 yards (TD) on 10 carries. He also caught one pass, a 29-yard TD reception.
Pinkerton (5-3 overall, 5-1 Div. I) plays Manchester Central (5-3, 4-2) Friday at Gill Stadium. Kick-off is 7 p.m. The Astros close the regular season at home against Nashua North (7-1, 6-1) on Nov. 7.
Last year, Guinto’s season ended prematurely — also against Central. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and miniscus in his left knee, which required offseason knee reconstruction. The Little Green won the Week 9 game a year ago, in Derry, 24-21.
So what does this news mean for the 2009 Astros?
“I’ve been down this road before (competing without injured athletes). This is of no concern to me at all. None. No concern at all,” O’Reilly said. “The next kid comes in and we go the way we go.
“This is not a team built around one kid,” he added. “We’re not counting on one kid at all.”
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
The Week 9 Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll, released just before noon today (Monday, Oct. 26), is practically identical to last week’s rankings.
There’s just one exception. Swap Division II Winnacunnet of Hampton for Division I Nashua South in the poll’s No. 9 slot.
Winnacunnet (5-3 overall, 3-3 Div. II) torched Timberlane of Plaistow on Friday, 40-14. South (4-4 overall, 2-4 Div. I) was rocked by Pinkerton Academy of Derry on Saturday, 41-21.
Other than the change at No. 9, the remaining nine teams in the poll are the same. And those squads are slotted in the same spots.
If you’ve long since grown tired of seeing Bishop Guertin of Nashua atop the poll, news isn’t any better this week. The Cardinals, 42-19 winners over Keene on Saturday, are No. 1 for the eighth straight week. They have swept the six first-place votes for a Power Poll-record eight weeks in a row.
Here’s the comparison between the Week 9 Power Poll and my votes. Then there’s “3-and-out.”
Week 9 Power Poll
1. Bishop Guertin (8-0 overall, 6-0 Div. II / 6 first place) — No. 1
2. Salem (8-0, 6-0 Div. I) — No. 2
3. Exeter (8-0, 7-0 Div. II) — No. 3
4. Nashua North (7-1, 6-1 Div. I) — No. 4
5. Pinkerton (5-3, 5-1 Div. I) — No. 5
6. Plymouth (8-0, 7-0 Div. IV) — No. 6
7. Souhegan (7-1, 6-1 Div. III) — No. 7
8. Londonderry (4-4, 4-3 Div. I) — No. 8
9. Winnacunnet (5-3, 3-3 Div. II) — NR
10. Portsmouth (7-1, 6-1 Div. III) — No. 10
My votes
1. Bishop Guertin
2. Salem
3. Exeter
4. Pinkerton
5. Nashua North
6. Plymouth
7. Souhegan
8. Londonderry
9. Winnacunnet
10. Trinity
First down: Nashua North still No. 4?
Nashua North clinched the program’s first Division I playoff berth with Friday’s wild 49-48 overtime win over Londonderry. Congratulations to the Titans for punching one of four postseason tickets.
But this group should no longer be ranked fourth in the state. The Titans are No. 5 at best.
Why, you ask? How could the team win — and drop in the poll?
It’s simple. This title-contending team doesn’t play defense.
North surrendered 103 points in its previous two games prior to Friday’s OT win. The Titans beat Nashua South, 56-49, in Week 6. The Titans lost to Salem, 54-33, in Week 7.
Add 48 points allowed to Londonderry this past week. The three-week total balloons to 151 points.
The Titans have a bye in Week 9, which means they have two weeks to prepare for Pinkerton, the team that’s No. 4 on my ballot.
North’s defense needs to show it can get off the field — before the opposition enters the end zone.
Otherwise, it’s one-and-done for this talented offensive team in the second season.
Second down: Cardinals come from behind
OK, so it wasn’t a last-minute, comeback victory for top-ranked Bishop Guertin. But BG did fall behind for the first time this season.
Keene took a 6-0 lead over the Cardinals on Saturday. The brief six-point deficit for the Cards snapped a streak of 28 consecutive quarters this season (seven full games) without trailing in a contest.
Third down: What’s the diff?
Fourteen points. That’s the point-total differential between No. 8 Londonderry (20 points) and No. 9 Winnacunnet (six).
By comparision, the largest differential among teams in the top eight is nine points. It’s between No. 5 Pinkerton (38) and No. 6 Plymouth (29).
What’s my point?
Winnacunnet and No. 10 Portsmouth (five points) hardly have a stranglehold on the poll’s last two rankings. Strong finishes for some squads could land them in the top 10.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
It’s noon on Monday, Oct. 26. The Week 9 Union Leader/WGAM/WMUR Power Poll was just released.
Bishop Guertin of Nashua continues to cruise along as the No. 1 team.
The Cardinals swept the six first-place votes for the eighth straight week.
Check back in a bit for “Power Poll: 3-and-out.” I’ll list and discuss three things regarding the new rankings.
Here’s New Hampshire’s top 10 for Week 9:
Week 9 Power Poll
1. Bishop Guertin (8-0 overall, 6-0 Div. II / 6 first place) — No. 1
2. Salem (8-0, 6-0 Div. I) — No. 2
3. Exeter (8-0, 7-0 Div. II) — No. 3
4. Nashua North (7-1, 6-1 Div. I) — No. 4
5. Pinkerton (5-3, 5-1 Div. I) — No. 5
6. Plymouth (8-0, 7-0 Div. IV) — No. 6
7. Souhegan (7-1, 6-1 Div. III) — No. 7
8. Londonderry (4-4, 4-3 Div. I) — No. 8
9. Winnacunnet (5-3, 3-3 Div. II) — NR
10. Portsmouth (7-1, 6-1 Div. III) — No. 10
Honorable Mention
Man. Central (5-3, 4-2 Div. I)
Trinity (8-0, 7-0 Div. V)
Bumped
Nashua South (4-4, 2-4 Div. I)
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
A high-powered offense is fun to watch. In the last few weeks, we’ve certainly seen our share of scoring strikes.
But if you ask me, it grows old very quickly. Nothing beats a dominant display of defense.
That’s where Pinkerton Academy of Derry comes into play. There isn’t a Division I team playing better on the defensive side of scrimmage right now than the Astros (5-3 overall, 5-1 Div. I).
Pinkerton beat defending champion and bubble team Nashua South yesterday (Saturday, Oct. 24) at soggy Stellos Stadium, 41-21. And the game wasn’t even as close as the 20-point difference makes it seem.
This tilt was all Astros.
Days before the game, Pinkerton head coach Brian O’Reilly told me the game plan was to keep South junior quarterback Keith Farkas from hurting his team through the air.
As a sophomore, Farkas was a definite factor in South’s 33-32 overtime title-game win at Pinkerton. While then-senior David Zocco stole the show with five touchdowns, Farkas completed 17 of 21 passes for 253 yards.
Farkas completed 16 of his final 18 pass attempts in last year’s final. He hit five different receivers. Seven completions moved the chains at least 15 yards.
In the first Pinkerton-South tilt since the 2008 title game, Pinkerton’s defense shut down South’s talented signal caller and, by extension, the team’s point-producing spread offense. Farkas completed 6 of 21 passes for 63 yards, though 49 came on a late TD toss.
Earlier in the week, O’Reilly said the key to containing Farkas wasn’t by generating a pass rush. Pinkerton’s coach actually chuckled at the question, explaining that in high school football, the most difficult thing to do is effectively — and consistently — rush the QB.
Instead, the burden was on his secondary to blanket South’s receivers. Take away the QB’s weapons.
Mission accomplished.
Yes, Pinkerton allowed 21 points. But the defense allowed just 14 (a blocked punt led to South’s first score).
If you’re like me, and you love good defense, make plans for Friday night.
Pinkerton, which has allowed the second-fewest points in league play (137) visits Manchester Central, the team that ranks first in the category (127).
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
NASHUA — The Nashua North Titans punched their first playoff ticket.
North played in its third consecutive shootout in Division I action last night at Stellos Stadium. The Titans, 1-1 entering such tilts, topped Londonderry in overtime, 49-48.
Trevor Rancourt made the game’s most important play. The senior blocked Londonderry’s extra-point attempt in OT. That opened the door for North, which ran right through it.
Andre Williams (23 carries for 99 yards, 3 TDs) scored from 4 yards out to knot the game at 48-all. And Anthony Guidice capped a 7-for-7 night kicking extra points to send the Titans into celebration mode.
The Lancers — like Nashua South and Salem before them — moved the ball on North’s defense. Sean O’Gorman (17 carries for 196 yards, 2 TDs) and Joey McLaughlin (18 carries for 109 yards, TD) paced the rushing attack. Alex Lambert scored four times (three rushing).
North, which has a bye in Week 9, improved to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in Division I. Londonderry dropped to 4-4 overall and 4-3 in league play.
Look for the story in the Saturday (Oct. 24) print edition of the New Hampshire Union Leader, and on UnionLeader.com.
