Nashua North's Jack Peters grabs the jersey of Bishop Guertin's Matt Santosuosso during last year's game. The two teams tangle again tonight at Stellos Stadium for the West title. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – How wild is the West?

We’ll all find out at Stellos Stadium tonight at 6:30, when Nashua North (7-0) hosts Bishop Guertin (6-1) in a game in which the winner will be able to claim the Divison I West Conference title and a first round bye in the playoffs that are set to begin in two weeks.

“You can probably argue that it’s almost like the playoffs have begun,” Guertin coach John Trisciani said. “That’s what you want, you want to be playing meaningful games in October.

“It’s a good test to kind of figure out where we’re at and time to make some adjustments and hopefully continue to improve for when the playoffs really start.”

“We’re obviously extremely excited about it,” North coach Chad Zibolis said. “We knew this one was eventually going to come and this one was big on the calendar. They’re (BG) as legit as can be.”

Trisciani knew that this game would mean something when last year’s was such a close 26-25 game with both teams junior top heavy. But he knows besides health the Titans have another huge advantage.

“They are,” he said, “way faster than we are. … They are very fast.”

But in some aspects – not all, mind you – the teams are mirror images. Both have dynamic senior running quarterbacks, Derek Finlay for Nashua North, and Matt Santosuosso for Bishop Guertin, and their offenses revolve around them. And both have an extremely disruptive senior defensive player, defensive end Toby Brown, Jr. for North and end/linebacker Jakob Baker for Bishop Guertin.

“(Finlay) is as similar to our quarterback as you can possibly be,” Trisciani said. “From a skill standpoint and a toughness standpoint. Toby and Jakob have a little bit different body types, but both are starting tackles … And what’s similar is the motor, the effort, they can impact the game in a lot of ways. It’s nice to see, as a fan of high school football it’s really fun to watch.”

“Toby’s a big strong player, he makes things happen, just like (Baker),” Zibolis said, noting he’s equally amazed at Baker’s motor.

Zibolis said he definitely didn’t envision North being undefeated at this point – perhaps like Guertin, a loss or two. They beat Bedford 19-7 in their opener scoring just one offensive TD, and their other closest game after that has been 28-13 over Keene, in which they survived late on the road. Last Friday the Titans made a huge statement in blowing out Merrimack 49-7.

Zibolis feels the lines are still adjusting, but the team has persevered. Besides the play of Finlay and Brown, the Titans have incredible speed at linebacker with senior Jack Peters and at running back with Jordyn Raisanen-Andino. That really gives them a big play edge over the Cards.

“The kids have bought in,” said Zibolis, in his first year as the Titans head coach after several seasons as their offensive coordinator. “And we’ve stayed healthy, which is huge.”

Yet BG can’t say the same.

“We’ve had to play some kids in some different positions,” Trisciani said. “We’ve shown some resiliency, ability to bounce back after a tough loss (Londonderry).”

But this isn’t the team Trisciani expected. The Cardinals have been hit hard by injuries to starters, really wiped out at the linebacker position. Running back/linebacker Charlie Bellavance has been unable to play (hamstring, etc.) most of the season, and when he has tried, he’s had to pull out. Trisciani expects him to try to give it another go tonight.

“Each week there’s a little bit of hope some of the guys can come back,” Trisciani said. “As a head coach it’s probably something you go through during the season, probably somewhere around that midway point – but I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s a test for all the coaches. … You don’t really have much choice but it’s each week, who do you have.”

Filling in well has been running back Ethan Labbe, who wasn’t even in the top group of running backs or linebackers but now plays both and doesn’t come off the field. “He’s been one of the biggest highlights of the season,” Trisciani said, and Zibolis offered praise for what Labbe has done as well.

North hasn’t been hit with starter injuries, more to a few depth pieces, Zibolis said. “They’ve (BG) had some injuries, but they’ve done a good job, especially beating Bedford with the amount of injuries they’ve had,” Zibolis said, saying his team needs a clean game in what is a rivalry game with high stakes.

“It’s not the same as North-South where the kids all know each other, etc.,” Zibolis said. “But it’s still a city game, and with the records what they are,the stakes are high. It’s a big huge game, and the kids know it’s a big, huge game.”

Because of the injury woes, the bye would be huge for Guertin. “In some ways, it would be a massive advantage,” Trisciani said, “and then you have the chance to go on a run and host a few playoff games. … But at the same time, we’re trying not to put too much stock in the game because if you do lose, there’s still a scenario that potentially could be pretty favorable. You don’t get that first round bye but these are high school kids. … sometimes teams with a bye, they come back and they’re a little flat.”

Zibolis said basically the same thing about the risks of a bye, adding “We just play each week, no matter who’s in front of us.” But don’t let that fool you. Both teams want this one badly.

“If we could win, and win the conference two years in a row,” Trisciani said, “I think that’s something we’d be really excited about.”

SENIOR NIGHT FOR NORTH

The Titans, with this their last regular season home game, will be having senior night. Zibolis said the presentations, etc. will begin around 5:15 and then the teams will have an hour pre-game warmup. Kickoff should still be close to 6:30, perhaps 6:35, he said.

The game will be televised live in Nashua ETV.