Reimello Hyde will be a huge key for Merrimack in tonight's first round Division I playoff game vs. Portsmouth-Oyster River at MHS Student Memorial Field. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

The first step toward what will be an interesting high school football playoff season begins tonight and Saturday with locals competing in three divisions.

In the 13-team Division I playoff, there are two first round games involving locals. Tonight No. 8 Merrimack (6-2, 6-3 overall) will host No. 9 Portsmouth (5-3, 5-4 overall) at 6:30 p.m.

Also tonight, in Division III, No. 3 Campbell (7-2) will visit No. 2 Monadnock (8-1) at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, still in Division I, No. 5 Bishop Guertin (7-2) will host No. 12 Dover (3-5, 4-5 overall) at 2 p.m.at Stellos Stadium. In Division II, No. 4 Souhegan (8-1) will host No. 5 Kennett (6-3).

Meanwhile, the Titans of Nashua North, seeded No. 2 as the 9-0 West Conference champions, have a bye and will take on the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 10 Bedford (5-3) at No. 7 Windham (6-2) next Friday night at 6:30 p.m.at Stellos.

There are two regular season games tonight involving locals in Division I, which seeded the eight non-playoff teams. Alvirne (0-9) will host Goffstown (0-9), so one team will at least be able to claim a win in 2022.

Nashua South (2-7) will visit Salem (2-6), also at 7 p.m.

Here’s a look at your playuoff games:

DIVISION I PRELIMS

NO. 9 PORTSMOUTH-OYSER RIVER at NO. 8 MERRIMACK

The Clipper-Bobcats knocked off Timberlane last week, 14-7, robbing the Owls of an East Conference title, with QB Aidan Thomas throwing two TD passes, including a 56-yarder to Gunner Jackson. The ClipCats defense also held a fairly potent Owls offence to just 137 yards.

All is food for thought for the Tomahawks, who last week decided the strategy would be to go right at Bedford’s defense with running back Reimello Hyde carrying the football a whopping 47 times.

It will be interesting to see the strategy tonight, as ‘Hawks QB Trent Jackson can definitely do some damage if that’s the route they want to go.

“They (the ClipCats) present several challenges,” Tomahawks coach Kip Jackson said. “Well coachdand have good athletes at all levels on offense and defense.

“On defense they are very physical, very athletic and do a great job of getting to the ball. On offense, they have a multifaceted attack with a QB (Thomas) who can run/pass,several backs who all run downhill and athletes on the perimeter.”

And that’s why Jackson feels the Tomahawks are in for a game. The win over Timberlane was a shocker; but Portsmouth-OR has won its last three in-state games.

“A really good game that has improved as the season has gone on,” Jackson said. “Very big challenge for our team.”

NO. 12 DOVER at NO. 5 BISHOP GUERTIN

It certainly looks like the Cardinals should be a solid favorite, but there are a couple of red flags. One is the fact Guertin has been fighting the injury bug all year. The other is the fact Dover can throw the football – see QB Ryder Aubin’s five TD passes and 425 yards in the air in taking Timberlane to overtime in a 48-42 loss two weeks ago. The Cards have had trouble at times this season defending against the pass.

But it certainly looks like Dover would just as equally have a hard time stopping Guertin QB Matt Santosuosso’s running and even the Cards air game. Ethan Labbe has also run well for Guertin. Santuosso is a key defensively at safety as is defensive end/linebacker Jakob Baker at getting to the quarterback.

“It will pose some challenges as far as (Dover) in the pass game,” Guertin coach John Trisciani said. “The biggest thing for us is to try to get healthy.

“The pass game is really concerning. Their coach (Eric Cumba) is really good, he has an unbelievable reputation as far as X’s and O’s and trying to out-formation you. … I’ve coached against Dover and they usually have a trick play here or there. You just have to make sure your guys are real disciplined. The teams we’ve struggled against at times, it’s been in the air. We have to do a good job in pass coverage and getting after the passer. … What they did to Timberlane is pretty alarming.”

DIVISION II QUARTERFINALS

NO. 5 KENNETT at NO. 4 SOUHEGAN

The Sabers, with QB Romy Jain and running back J.J. Bright, among others, are explosive offensively. That usually – with the exception of the loss to Pelham – is enough to carry them through so many games. It will pose problems for the Cooper Santuccio-led Eagles defense.

Brody Nagle has played well at QB for the Eagles, and his top target is all purpose player Tyler Walcott. Evan Koroski can run well for Kennett.

“Kennett is big and physical on offense,” Sabers coach Robin Bowkett said. “Two big backs, they have a good scat back type (Walcott) that can make ou miss, and balance that out through the air with very effective pass game.

“Defensively they have some guys that can be really disruptive and can make plays. They are aggresive, physical, and run to the ball really well.”

The Eagles have been playing playoff games in their mind for the last couple of weeks, as they were blanked 10-0 by Bow back on Oct. 7 to fall to 3-3, and basically had to win out to get in – and did just that.

“It will be a big challenge but we’re excited to have the opportunity,” Coach Scott Stearns told the Conway Daily Sun. “It’s a whole new season, everyone is 0-0.”

DIVSION III SEMIFINALS

The meeting in Litchfield back on Oct. 8 was a disaster for the Cougars, a 52-8 game in which Huskies running back Jack Lorenz rushed for over 300 yards and five touchdowns. No, those numbers are not typos. But Lorenz had switched from the line to the backfield. Monadnock also has a 1,000-yard rusher in Ethan Brown who scored 17 TDs. Any question as to how Mondadnock will try to attack the Cougars?

Meanwhile, Campbell has its own 1,000 yard rusher in sophomore Scott Hershberger – an amazing 1,772 yards and 22 TDs.

Ds — but he was held down by the Huskies in that first meeting. Campbell has tried to diversify its offense a bit, with the legs and arm of QB Jackson Kanaley and a couple of other backs in the rotation.

“I’m optimistic that if we can get the Campbell football team that’s played the last couple of weeks, there’s nobody in the division that can stop us,” Campbell coach Glenn Costello said. “We’ve kind of jelled.

“I don’t think the game was lopsided from an Xs and Os standpoint. The Lorenz kid had a day. … On that day, the Monadnock kids wanted it more than our kids, for whatever reason. Now that it’s real, I’m guessing you’ll get a different attitude and energy from the Campbell football players.”

Monadnock agrees.

“They’re not as bad as what we made them look, I’m telling you that right now,” Monadnock coach Rob Lotito told the Keene Sentinel this week. “They’re a good football team and they’re angry. They’re coming up here angry and we know that. … We’re not going to take this thing lightly whatsoever.”