Bishop Guertin back A.J. Holmes will be a key this year for the Cardinals running game as they open up Saturday night vs. Nashua South. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Here’s a capsule preview of this weeked’s local high school season-opening high school football games:

FRIDAY

DIVISION I

BEDFORD AT NASHUA NORTH

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Nashua’s Stellos Stadium.

LAST YEAR: Bedford 45, Nashua North 0

FYI: The Bulldogs were at a different level last year; will that be the case again? Running back Brody Helton will be the center of their offense, while the Titans will have some keys back, including back/receiver/corner Luke Peters. Darius Sisay may be their QB until John Canaway gets cleared after knee surgery last year, as of our last look.

THE PICK: North 17, Bedford. Let’s go with the upset, the Titans just need to win the battle up front.

ALVIRNE AT MANCHESTER CENTRAL

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Manchester’s Gill Stadium.

LAST YEAR: Alvirne 44, Manchester Central 7.

FYI: The Broncos have some key players back as seniors, including multi-purpose player Shawn Boudreau, QB Charlie Crawford, and tight end Ryan Rochileau. They have some players who should help them in games against equal competition, which one might see Central as. The Little Green have 13 seniors back, including fullback Remy Content and tailback Trevor Wong. You can bet the returnees will remember what happened in last year’s opener, also at Gill, that set the tone for the Broncos’ path to the playoffs.

THE PICK: Alvirne 21, Central 20

Broncos prevail again, but it’s a battle.

MERRIMACK AT HINGHAM (Mass.)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Hingham, Mass.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: Merrimack is trying to bounce back from a rare non playoff season and senior quarterback Sahil Mujawar has noticeably improved and more comfortable in his role. Hingham went 3-8 last year but made the Mass. Division III playoffs, albeit with a quick exit. They have 50 in the program, with seniors Alex Levy (tight end/LB), linemen Ryan Gibbons and Andy Ross, plus running back Ryan St. Croix leading the way.

THE PICK: Merrimack 26, Hingham 16

Hingham looks like it has players, but not numbers. ‘Hawks do well in these out-of-state games.

DIVISION II

ST. THOMAS at SOUHEGAN

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Souhegan High School

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Sabers for the first time in several years won’t have a QB named Jain, but they should be bolstered by the return of Brayden Hickman, who can catch throw,run and tackle. The Saints have some back from last year’s playoff team and this could be an even matchup.

THE PICK: Souhegan 33, St. Thomas 28. Sabers offense rules at home.

KINGSWOOD AT HOLLIS BROOKLINE

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: HBHS Stadium turf field.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Cavaliers are in rebuild mode but they’ve got the right coach to do it in Milt Robinson, and he has a QB back from last year, Jacob Velez, that should help plus key newcomers Sam Bruneau (line) and Paul Gehan (RB). The Knights have moved up to Division II even though they failed to reach the Divsion III playoffs last year. But they have seven starters on offense back, including quarterback Garrett Burke and running back Serafin Argamante, plus five on defense. Reportedly they have four returning starters up front, which might be tough for the Cavs.

THE PICK: Kingswood 22, Hollis Brookline 14. Still a competitive start for HB.

SATURDAY

DIVISION I

NASHUA SOUTH AT BISHOP GUERTIN

WHEN: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Stellos Stadium.

LAST YEAR: Bishop Guertin 37, Nashua South 20.

FYI: These may not be the high powered Cards of a year ago, and these may not be the young, inexperienced Panthers of the same season. The Cards could be more of a running team with A.J. Holmes and Hudson Schmitt behind four returning linemen, while the Panthers are a year older and wiser led by keys like Sam Levine, receiver Josh Tripp, and Colin Levesque. They match up better physically. It’s going to be a big night, as BG will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its 2004 championship team, and it’s also the program’s “Black Out Cancer” night.

THE PICK: South 26, BG 21. Just a feeling that the Panthers are a different team.

DIVISION II

MILFORD at PLYMOUTH

WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Plymouth Regional High School.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Division II runner-up Panthers have eight starters back on both sides of the ball and are onen of the top contenders this year. Milford,meanwhile, hopes to improve on last year’s 3-6 mark with new coach Max Morelli and sophomore QB Brady O’Connor who seems poised. But this is not the easiest way to start calling new era,that’s for sure.

THE PICK: Plymouth 30, Milford 13. Tough matchup for rebuilding Spartans.

DIVISION III

LACONIA AT CAMPBELL

WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Campbell High School.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Cougars are the most powerful team in the revamped Division III, really the last contender standing after Trinity moved up to Division II this year and Pelham did the same a few years ago. What makes them so powerful? A nuceleus that includes two of the area’s best football players, Scott and Nick Hershberger. Laconia, meanwhile, has moved down to Division III and will try to bounce back from a 3-5 season and graduation of 15 seniors. Watch for junior running back Jacob Tryon to try to get things going for the visitors.

THE PICK: Campbell 35, Laconia 6. Cougars start off as expected.