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Friday Football Feast: The big fella gets serious this week

By Hector Longo - Sports Writer | Sep 20, 2019

My weekly therapy session, otherwise known as this picks column, will be subjugated this week.

I will not lament about my unwavering inability to figure out Alvirne.

I won’t whine about Joey Lupo and the Cardinals taking out their frustrations with my constant doubt of them on the South Panthers. Did you guys know I coached football one year at BG? True story. Pretty sure it was the fall of 1993. Can you name the Cardinals head coach that year (Answer below)?

By the way, I was potentially the worst football assistant coach in the history of the place, but I digress.

The real message here is simply one of admiration. This week, the Milford High Spartans kick off the local participation in the “New Hampshire Tackles Hunger” program. Many, or most, schools participate (see below). You simply will not find a more noble cause than feeding the hungry among us, especially children. So if you’re heading to Milford or any one of these games, step up, donate and feel good about what you are doing.

All right, on to the action, coming off a ho-hum 6-2 and a 13-3 mark for the early going.

Game of the Week I

Souhegan at Alvirne: Sabers’ coach Robin Bowkett called it a “title fight.” And it should carry the weight as a bigtime event.

Look at the D-II South standings. Two 2-0s (Souhegan and Milford) and six 1-1s.

If the Austin Jain/Luke Manning two-headed attack can move to 3-0, it’s a huge step forward. If Kyle Gora can untrack the Broncos offense after a tough week at St. Thomas, the picture muddles even further.

This one is as plain as day. Remember, Alvirne is involved. Check out Longo’s pick and know the team he selects has absolutely no chance. Sorry Tarek.

Broncos 21, Sabers 18

Game of the Week II

Merrimack at Exeter: Stick with the convoluted logic here for a second. I might have downplayed Exeter’s 2-0 start, but when BG KO’d South on Saturday night, it lent credence to the Blue Hawks’ opening-night win over the Cards.

I watched Merrimack hang 49 on Dover Friday night and walked away thinking, are the Tomahawks really that good?

My thought process here is that Merrimack will be like a fine wine and get better with age.

For now?

Blue Hawks 31, T’Hawks 17

And the Rest

Keene at Nashua South: Must-win time for Keene at 0-2. Are they getting South at the right time? Are the Panthers in doubt after last week’s loss?

I say they’re a tad more focused and a lot angrier than they were on Saturday night.

Panthers 26, Blackbirds 4&20 (24 for you non-nursery rhyme types)

Nashua North at Dover: I know this is going to sound crazy, but Dover did a lot of good things at Merrimack. The Wave is young and will improve. North’s Dante Laurendi has his hands full, protecting against complacency to go with the long bus ride.

Still, I feel North has enough.

Titans 27, Wave 21

Pelham at Milford: Sticking with my previous two thoughts on these teams.

Pelham is a playoff team. And Milford is a potential state title contender.

Sparty 29, Pythons 19

Hollis Brookline at ConVal: Sneaky tough place to play for the Cavs, who flat-out can score. Get your track shoes on ConVal. First team to 50 wins.

Cavs, 51, Cougs 45

Newport at Campbell: Morning start, long trip for Newport and the usual Cougar meat-grinder ready and waiting when the bus rolls in.

Campbell gets a step up the competition ladder and handles it swimmingly.

Cougs 36, Tigers 6

Portsmouth at Bishop Guertin: Time for the transitive law of mathematics to kick in here.

If Guertin beats South and South tops Portsmouth then Guertin defeats Portsmouth.

Or in simpler terms, I will never pick a team called the ClipperCats.

Cards 24, BobClips 16

Quiz answer: I coached for Kevin Bradley at BG.

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