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FOOTBALL FRIDAY: It’s a packed slate for local games

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Oct 6, 2023

Bishop Guertin running back Cody Szymansky breaks into the open field last Saturday night vs. Timberlane. BG is at Pinkerton tonight. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

There’s high school football aplenty tonight, the most of the entire season as all the locals have Friday games and not a one is playing on Saturday.

Here’s a capsule look at the Friday FootballFest:

FRIDAY

DIVISION I

LONDONDERRY (3-1, 4-1 overall) at NASHUA NORTH (3-2)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Nashua’s Stellos Stadium.

LAST WEEK:Londonderry 21, Windham 14; Bedford 45, Nashua North 0.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Titans are reeling from that stinging defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs. The Lancers are tough to prepare for, as they used four – yes, four – quarterbacks in last week’s win over the Jaguars: Sam Ogden, Alex Villa, Conor Williams, and Cam Brutus.

PREDICTION: North 21, Londonderry 20. Could go either way; Windham played LHS tough last week, tied at 14.

WINDHAM (1-3, 2-3 overall ) at MERRIMACK (1-3, 2-3 overall)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: MHS Student Memorial Field.

LAST WEEK: Londonderry 21, Windham 14; Merrimack 27, Bonny Eagle 14.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: It’s a must win for both teams. The Tomahawks were hungry for a win last week, and senior leader Garron Brown’s performance (3 TDs) showed it. Windham hasn’t won since it routed Alvirne three weeks ago, and while the Jags with Billy Dipietro able to run and throw at QB, the Jags go as their big back Tiger An goes.

PREDICTION: Windham 26, Merrimack 18. The Jags just seem to have a little more offense, but this is a tough call either way. Pretty evenly matched.

BISHOP GUERTIN (2-2, 3-2 overall) at PINKERTON (5-0)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: PA’s Alumni Field, Derry.

LAST WEEK: Bishop Guertin 58, Timberlane 14; Pinkerton 34, Concord 7

LAST YEAR: Pinkerton 14, BG 12 (Division I quarters).

FYI: Certainly some eyebrows were raised when the Cardinals had well over 400 yards of total offense and Mike MacMahon threw for 357 yards in a near perfect attack last week. But expect the Astros to do what the Owls really didn’t, which was rush MacMahon like crazy and try to disrupt that rhythm. The Astros love to run the ball and have a good back in Caden Michaud. They can also hold the ball for awhile. Tough matchup.

PREDICTION: Pinkerton 30, Bishop Guertn 14. Close for a while, then Astros pull away.

ALVIRNE (1-3, 2-3 overall) at CONCORD ( 1-3, 2-3 overall)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Concord’s Memorial Field

LAST WEEK: Salem 21, Alvirne 10; Pinkerton 34, Concord 7

LAST YEAR: Concord 56, Alvirne 7

FYI: The Broncos were competitive against unbeaten Salem last week, and Concord was shorthanded but still faced tall task vs. Pinkerton, gettng a good game (61 yards) rushing from Jackson Borkush and 88 yards passing from Colby Nyhan Aidan Mills continues to have an impressive season for the Broncos, who were missing a banged up QB Shawn Boudreau for the most part a week ago.

PREDICTION: Concord 21, Alvirne 14. Another tough call, would still be a big win for the Broncos on the road if they can get it.

DIVISION II

MILFORD (1-4) at HOLLIS BROOKLINE (0-5)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: HB Stadium.

LAST WEEK: Milford 32, Manchester West 0; John Stark 62, Hollis Brookline 6.

LAST YEAR: Milford 42, Hollis Brookline 7.

FYI: It’s just been a tough year for the Cavs, whose numbers simply can’t help them compete at the Division II level. Milford, meawhile, showed it can be solid with its win, led by arguably its best player, back Cade Cloutier.

PREDICTION: Milford 40, Hollis Brookline 6. Spartans will secure the win and then have mercy.

SOUHEGAN (4-0, 4-1 overall) at HANOVER (3-1)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Hanover HS

LAST WEEK: Souhegan 45, Plymouth 0; Hanover did not play.

LAST YEAR: Souhegan 28, Hanover 6.

FYI: The Sabers rebounded from a loss to Timberlane that doesn’t even count in the standings nicely; they still have tons of skill and talent with Romy Jain and J.J. Bright leading the way. Hanover did allow HBD to move the ball early, and the Bears at home will see where they stand with this one.

PREDICTION: Souhegan 30, Hanover 12.

DIVISION III

CAMPBELL (5-0) at MONADNOCK (2-3)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Monadnock Regional in Swanzey.

LAST WEEK: Campbell 6, Trinity 0; ConVal 26, Monadnock 8

LAST YEAR: Monadnock 52, Campbell 8 (regular season); Campbell 37, Monadnock 14 (Division III semis).

FYI: Expect the unexpected with these two long standing rivals, as last year’s split results showed. The Huskies were blanked offensively last week, their only score coming on a kickoff return, but they could have been rusty after having to forfeit the week before vs. Trinity due to a staph infection issue, and haven’t won in a month.They can still finish 5-4 and make the playoffs (they will get a forfeit next week vs. Kearsarge, which apparently has opted out of rest of its varsity season).

PREDICTION: Campbell 24, Monadnock 12. Cougars have Scott and Nick Hershberter, Huskies don’t.