Division I

MERRIMACK (5-2)

at NASHUA NORTH (7-0)

WHEN: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Stellos Stadium.

LAST YEAR: Merrimack 32, Nashua North 24 (regular season); Merrimack 6, Nashua North 0 (Division I quarterfinals).

LAST WEEK: Merrimack 56, Portsmouth 21; Nashua North 49, Keene 6.

FYI: Great matchup of two teams that could see each other again in the playoffs, but for now it’s the last big test for North. The Tomahawks have plenty for the Titans to deal with, including QB James Dowling, receiver Devin Wood, tight end Jared Dyer, and running back Zach Twardosky. North, of course, has the dynamic Curtis Harris, who can always use help from teammates such as Jayden Espinal, Anthony Greene, Brian Mwangi, among others. The key in this one, though, will be which defense can stop the dynamic offense. For Merrimack, which can likely secure a playoff berth with a win, that means stopping Harris. Should be a good one.

NASHUA SOUTH (5-2)

at DOVER (2-5)

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Dover’s Dunaway Field.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

LAST WEEK: Nashua South 27, Spaulding 0; Exeter 38, Dover 0.

FYI: The Panthers are starting to round into form. Defensively, they’ve recorded two straight shutouts. Offensively, Chris Keefe is filling in nicely at quarterback for injured sophomore starter Mike Rutstein as he rushed for two scores and threw for another last week. The Compoh brothers, Jason and Josh, continue to be tough on both sides of the ball for the Panthers. Dover was without sophomore QB Darian Lopez-Sullivan last week, and they will definitely need him to have any shot at pulling off the home upset. South wants to move closer to a playoff berth,and a win will do that.

BISHOP GUERTIN (4-3)

at SPAULDING (2-5)

WHEN: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Spaulding HS in Rochester.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

LAST WEEK: Nashua South 27, Spaulding 0; Bishop Guertin 21, Winnacunnet 16.

FYI: The Cardinals need a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and are hoping quarterback Dylan Santosuosso can continue his upward trend that him throw for two scores and run for another last Saturday. Spaulding has some good skill players on offense, including among others quarterback Logan Gadbois and back Jacob King. The Red Raiders can certainly move the football and have given teams, including Merrimack on opening night, some trouble. This could be a tough road game for Guertin, especially if speedster Joey Lupo (finger) still can’t play.

Division II

MILFORD (6-1)

AT CONVAL (1-6)

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: CVHS, Peterborough

LAST YEAR: Milford 39, ConVal 6

LAST WEEK: Milford 49, Sanborn 0; Pelham 51, ConVal 6

FYI: Maybe the loss to Souhegan was the best thing that could have happened to the Spartans, who have rebounded nicely with an impressive win on the road at Kennett and last week’s victory over Sanborn. After giving up 88 points combined in Weeks 4-5, Milford has seemed to at least slow the bleeding. CovVal, which has scored two TDs since the Week 1 win over Kingswood, should go a long way in helping the Spartans lower their unhealthy 22.3 points allowed per game average. The return of Colton Burrows has done wonders, too.

MANCHESTER WEST (3-4)

AT SOUHEGAN (4-3)

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Sabers Stadium, Amherst

LAST YEAR: Souhegan 48, West 14

LAST WEEK: Saint Thomas 35, West 7; Hollis Brookline 27, Souhegan 7

FYI: The playoffs have basically begun for Souhegan, and that’s a familiar position to be in for coach Robin Bowkett’s club. It’s roughly the same scenario as a year ago for the Sabers, who not only qualified but then went up to Bow and beat the Falcons to earn a spot in the semis. One tough break, though, as wideout Reese Colby was lost with a collarbone injury last week. West doesn’t come in on a high exactly as the Blue Knights have dropped three of the last four (all by shutouts, by an aggregate 119-0). West does still own a shot at the playoffs, meaning backs Xavier Burpee and Brandon Lloyd should be fired up in this one.

ALVIRNE (6-1)

AT HOLLIS BROOKLINE (5-2)

WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.

WHERE: The Swamp in Hollis

LAST YEAR: Hollis Brookline 33, Alvirne 27

LAST WEEK: Alvirne 34, John Stark 7; Hollis Brookline 27, Souhegan 7

FYI: The last area kickoff of the weekend might be the best matchup in the state this week, with all due respect to North-Merrimack. The Broncos have not been tested since a one-point win over Souhegan in Week 3. Alvirne certainly closes with a challenging pair on the road at HB and then Milford. One at a time, though, for QB Kyle Gora and Co. Gora tossed three TDs last week, but if you don’t stop Alex Giuffrida in the running game, Alvirne can be merciless. Defensively, Hollis Brookline delivered an A+ effort last week. Linebackers Sal Fabbio and Quinn Connors are ball hawks, and watch for Sander Wimmer on the edge. The quarterback can play some serious outside linebacker.

Division III

MONADNOCK (5-2)

AT CAMPBELL (6-1)

WHEN: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: CHS, Litchfield

LAST YEAR: Monadnock 34, Campbell 16 (regular season); Monadnock 15, Campbell 12 (state finals)

LAST WEEK: Campbell 38, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough 6; Monadnock 18, Laconia 10

FYI: The Cougars saw one of the great team efforts in school history, in last year’s state title game, thwarted by a last-second Huskies’ field goal on one of the worst weather days you’ll find in mid-November at Wildcat Stadium in Durham. If ever there was a reason to get up for a Saturday afternoon game in October, avenging that defeat would be Step 1. Once a foregone conclusion that Campbell would roll into the playoffs, Keegan Mills and Co. are in a strange spot of needing a win to clinch a spot and control their own destiny in the last two weeks. And remaining on the schedule are the defending champs and unbeaten (7-0) Lebanon. For Monadnock, this is certainly must-win territory as five teams are in the mix for the four postseason spots. Most of the key pieces have moved on, but tradition and coaching seemed to have taken over.