The Panthers have listened to what head coach Scott Knight has been preaching this season. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Nashua High School South football coach Scott Knight has been doing things he hasn’t done in the last few years.

He was pouring over the Division I high school football standings, trying to see where his team might fall point-rating wise when the playoffs begin in two weeks, and who might be in his respective bracket, etc.

And why not? This is the first time the Panthers have been in the postseason since 2020. Plus, tonight at Bedford at 7 p.m., they’ll be playing in their biggest non-North regular season game since that time — a battle of 7-0 unbeatens, Panthers vs. the two-time defending Division I champion Bulldogs.

“This has big ramifications,” Knight said. “We have Goffstown week nine we’re going over to a hostile environment with a conference title on the line.”

There’s another thing on the line for the Panthers – in their own minds. It’s how they’ll be perceived.

“We really just either play well, and show that we belong that upper echelon,” Knight said. “That’s what we want to do. We have some lofty goals, and we can’t achieve those unless we play at a high level. That’s going to take attention to detail a little bit more, we’ve got to do things a little bit better, we still have to clean some stuff up.”

Still, the Panthers have rolled.

“We haven’t approached things any differently,” Knight said. “Same meetings, same lifting, same practice schedule. Just a different opponent, and this opponent poses some different problems than some of the other opponents. And probably some more problems.”

Bedford is certainly the best team the Panthers have faced all year. Knight knows the difference with Bedford.

“They’re not one-dimensional in any way,” he said. “They’re like 60-40 run pass, and are effective at it. They have different types of threats. (Running back Brody) Helton’s a threat, any time to bounce one outside; the (receiver Bennett) Matthews kid is super elusive, real, real shifty, does some really good things with the ball. All their kids can catch, have great hands, real good ball skills. They’re good up front, pretty sound. (Connor Flaherty) he’s a dude, a big kid, he’s 6-5 and gets off the ball pretty good.

“They fly around on defense, they have good team speed – and they expect to win.”

He refers to the Pinkerton game, in which the Bulldogs had to rally to beat the Astros. “Their backs were against the wall, and they found a way,” Knight said. “That’s their culture, you know?”

Clearly the Panthers have made the progression from taking their lumps as young players to giving them. Knight looks at the two teams, which of his players would be a fit at Bedford, which of Bedford’s kids would be a fit at South, and which South kids would be a fit at Bedford. “It’s pretty even,” Knight said. “I look at our kids and we’ve got a 6-3 receiver, (Josh) Tripp, who can burn. I don’t think too many teams have a quarterback that can run like Cody (Jackson). There’s (Kyle) Emmons, and (back) Sammy Levine’s no slouch, he’s 200 pounds. And we have some linemen that can get off the ball. We’re big in the right places, good speed. … I like our secondary, I like our pass rush. Can we stop the run? I think we’ve done a decent job this year.”

Knight knows that Bedford’s senior QB, Jack Maye, is dangerous. “He’s pretty good,” Knight said. “He’ll keep the play alive with his feet and keep his eyes downfield. That could be pretty dangerous. … He’s looking to throw.”

Meanwhile, Knight is watching the standings, the results, enjoying the fact his team has a future beyond the final regular season game.

“There’s a strong chance we could see (Bedford) win or lose,” he said. “The way I look at the bracket, we’re not going to see Exeter or Londonderry….assuming things play out. On our side, we’re looking at potentially Pinkerton, Salem, and Bedford. …”

While Knight says it’s been business as usual all week, he said his players have a little extra step to them with a big game ahead.

“They talk about it, they’re excited,” Knight said. “Really excited. Which I’m really glad about. It’s not like they’re nervous, or thinking we overachieved to get to here. … They have some of their own expectations, and they’re pretty high.

“They’re going to do fine. I know we belong.”