An assistant coach leaps into the throng of Bedford football players as they celebrated their Divison I quarterfinal win over Nashua North two weeks ago. The Bulldogs meet Londonderry fo rthe title today in Exeter. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Do the upstart Bulldogs have another amazing shutout in them?

We’ll find out today when the NHIAA Division I football season — as well as the fall sports season in general — comes to a close in Exeter.

That’s where No. 10 Bedford (9-3) will take on No. 1 Londonderry (10-0, 10-1 overall) in the state title game at Bill Ball Stadium.

The two teams did not meet during the regular season, but this promises to be an intriguing matchup whereas perhaps a month ago it wouldn’t have seemed that way.

While Londonderry is the defending champion and prohibitive favorite led by quarterback Drew Heenan, Bedford has stormed its way through three rounds of playoffs led by its incredible defense. The Bulldogs, led by middle linebacker Parker Bromley, have not allowed a point the entire postseason.

They now have a whopping seven shutouts on the season. Their playoff run — all their wins have come on the road — began three weeks ago when they beat Windham 28-0, then they upset No. 2 seed Nashua North 7-0 at Stellos Stadium before pasting Timberlane 32-0 in Plaistow last weekend.

The Lancers had a first-round bye and then beat Merrimack and then rival Pinkerton by indentical 21-7 scores.

Bedford will face a challenge in trying to contain Heenan, who has thrown for 1,374 yards and 17 TDs, plus has run for just over 400 yards with five rushing scores.

Londonderry beat Winnacunnet in last year’s final, and also had another recent championship in 2019. The year before that, Bedford claimed the crown, beating Pinkerton.

Newsletter