Nashua North players celebrate the game's first touchdown during their season opening 19-7 win over Bedford back on Sept.3 at Stellos Stadium. The two teams meet again in the Divison I quarterfinals Friday, also at Stellos. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Now things begin to get really interesting.

The high school football playoffs hit another level this weekend as five local teams are preparing for either a quarterfinal, semifinal, or even a championship game.

The Campbell Cougars will the team playing for a title on Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. Trinity of Manchester, at Souhegan High School — a designated neutral site.

Here’s a look at who else is playing when and where:

DIVISION I

Locally, Friday night has two games: No. 10 Windham at No. 2 Nashua North at 6:30 at Stellos Stadium, and No. 5 Bishop Guertin (8-2) at No. 4 Pinkerton (8-2) at 7.

The Cards and the Astros did not play each other this season, but Bedford and North, both in the West Conference, squared off in the season opener with the Titans winning 19-10. North had a bye last week, by virtue of winning the West Conference crown. In that Opening Night meeting, both defenses were dominant, North being held to one offensive TD but also had a defensive score. The Bulldogs are the only non-top eight team in the quarters, having knocked off No. 7 Windham, 28-0 this past Saturday.

Guertin won its first playoff game since 2014 last Saturday, 42-14 over Dover, keyed by QB Matt Santosuosso and the return of running back Charlie Bellavance. The Astros eliminated Spaulding, 35-20, in Derry.

On Saturday, No. 8 Merrimack (7-2, 7-3 overall) heads to Londonderry at 1 p.m. to take on the top ranked, defending champion Lancers (8-0, 8-1 overall). The two teams did not meet in the regular season. The winner gets the winner of the BG-Pinkerton game in the semis a week from Saturday.

Merrimack, though, had a great defensive performance in stopping Portsmouth-Oyster River, 14-6 in Friday night’s preliminary round game in Merrimack.

The other Division I quarterfinal pits No. 6 Timberlane at No. 3 Exeter,also set for Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner takes on either North or Bedford at the home of the higher seed on Nov. 19.

Timberlane, last year’s Division II champion but who moved back to Division I this year, beat Concord 20-14 in their prelim game.

DIVISION II

The one local team left here, No. 4 Souhegan (9-1) will hit the road on Saturday at 1 p.m. to face No. 1 Gilford-Belmont (9-1) in the Division II semifinals.

The Sabers, an offensive machine most of the season, took care of No. 5 Kennett, 49-7. on Saturday in Amherst. Gilford-Belmont went 9-0 this season, playing in the East Confernce, and did not face the Sabers this season.

Souhegan’s only loss was 28-21 to Pelham, and the Pythons (9-0) will host No. 3 Bow (9-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. in the other semifinal.

The winners will square off on Nov. 19 in the Division II title game which is scheduld to be played at Bedford High School’s Bulldog Stadium, time TBA.

DIVISION III

Welcome back to the finals, Campbell. This will be the Cougars first title game trip since 2018, when they lost to Monadnock.

The 10-0 Pioneers won the title in 2019, and lost to Pelham 50-14 in last year’s title bout. Pelham then moved up to Division II.

Campbell lost to Trinity 36-22 during the regular season, back on Sept. 30. It was the closest game the Pioneers played all season.

If you’re looking at trends, to get to the finals, the Cougars(8-2) went to Swanzey and bested Monadnock, 37-14, avenging an earlier 52-8 regular season loss, behind running back Scott Hershberger’s 276 yards and five TDs.

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