Caden Zalenski (22) leads the Milford High School football team into today's Division II championship game vs. Timberlane at Derry's Pinkerton Academy. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The big day for the Milford High School football team has finally arrived: Championship Saturday.

Today will be the No. 3, 8-2 Spartans’ first title game appearance since 2004 when they go up against the No. 1, 11-0 Timberlane Regional Owls at 1 p.m. at Pinkerton Academy in Derry.

It’s not exactly David vs. Goliath, as Milford fell just 21-14 just three weeks ago in Plaistow in the final regular season game, one in which they led 14-7 early in the fourth quarter.

But the Owls are the clear favorites. As for history, they won Division II titles in 1982 , 1999, and 2001, and it’s their first title game appearance in 20 years. The Spartans own crowns in 1976,’77, ’78, ’79 (the Paul Lavigne-coached glory years), 1984 and in 2003. Timberlane dropped down two years ago from Division I to II. They lost to eventual champion Souhegan in last year’s semifinals.

The Spartans have been led by the two-back combo of seniors Caden Zalenski and Logan Barnhill, plus junior QB Charlie Urda. Timberlane, meanwhile, is paced by backs Dom Pallaria and Dan Post, both of whom ran for over 100 yards in the first Milford game. Pallaria rushed for 132 yards and three TDs in the Owls’ 34-7 semis win over St. Thomas last weekend.

“They’re like a two-headed dragon,” Milford coach Keith Jones said of the Owls’ backs. “They line up right next to each other and you really don’t know who’s going to get the ball; they’re both good. Same problem I’m sure teams have with us with Barnhill and Zalenski.

“It’s tough. They’re big kids that don’t play defense and it seems like they’re always coming right at you.”

The Owls have pointed to this game for awhile.

“This is something we have talked about since Day 1,” Owls coach Kevin Fitzgerald told the Lawrence Eagle Tribune. “We knew we had a good group coming back. This is a group that stayed local to the program. They are very confident right now, and they deserve to be.”

Fitzergald also said his team needed to prepare well “for a good Milford football team. They played very well (in Plaistow) a few weeks ago.”

Like the Owls, Milford also relies on its running game. But Timberlane linebackers Cooper Kelly and Camden Zambrowicz held St. Thomas to just 62 rushing yards in the semis.

Meanwhile, Jones feels this is a team that deserves to be in the finals.

“Why not us?” Jones said. “These kids are relentless, nothing fazes them. They don’t get down on themeselves, they don’t get down on their teammates. They face adversity and do the best they can. … This group of kids is awesome.”

DIVISION I

The day’s other title game will pit East Conference champion Winnacunnet (11-0) vs. South Conference champ Londonderry (10-1) at Exeter’s Bill Ball Stadium at 1 p.m.

Unlike the Division II game, the two teams didn’t face each other during the regular season. The Lancers will be seeking their second title in the last three years while the Warriors will be seeking their first crown since they beat Pinkerton in 2017.