It’s Championship Dayfor local high school football.

No, not in Division I, as that title game will be Thanksgiving Weekend, something that could really be avoided.

But that’s a topic for another day. You may be reading this as the games are being played or just before. Head to Derry to catch No. 4 Souhegan vs. No. 2 Pelham in the Division II title game, or zip down Amherst Street and make a right on Boston Post Road and watch what many feel would be a Campbell Coronation as the No. 1 Cougars take on No. 2 Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough in the Division III title game.

That would be your chance to see, for the final time, Scott and Nick Hershberger play. All Scott has done is become the state’s all-time career rusher, well over 5,000 yards, a lot of those gained with his fullback twin brother blocking for him. They’ve made history already, and a win Saturday would be two titles in their four years together. That’s special.

Souhegan, meanwhile, is a fabulous story. Last season the Sabers arguably had the best running back in the state in J.J. Bright, who right now is killing it at Phillips Exeter, and the division’s best QB in Romy Jain, who also went on to prep school. Yeah, bit of a rebuild, right?

Guess again. The Sabers upset unbeaten Plymouth in last weekend’s semifinals, returning the favor after the Bobcats had done the same to them last year. It was Plymouth’s first playoff loss at home since 1999. While Jain was a classic pro-type dropback QB, Souhegan junior Michael Fiengo won the job in camp with his running style. Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett, a former Saber QB himself, is one super coach who was smart enough not to put a square peg into a round hole. All Fiengo did was run/throw for a combo of five TDs in the semis.

And it’s an interesting story that Souhegan is taking on Pelham, who beat the Sabers handily in the title game two years ago. But Pelham is now coached by former Saber assistant and player Justin Hufft, who is the school’s AD who had to take over the program after the recently-hired John Trisciani abruptly resigned. Football isn’t boring, is it?

It’s been an interesting fall. Nashua South did a complete turnaround in Division I, starting out 7-0 but the Panthers lost three of their next four, their only win coming in the playoffs first round vs. Bishop Guertin, which had a good year but had half its lineup on the sideline in walking boots with crutches. But next season both teams should be strong again. South lost to Londonderry in the quarterfinals as the Lancers were just bigger and better. The weight room, coach Scott Knight’s favorite place, will be full in the off season no doubt.

Division I plays its title game next Saturday, a week later than II and III because there’s an extra round of playoffs. So really, why the non-league game for a nine game slate? Well, because there are 21 teams, so they need the extra week to play eight while teams play out of state or division for the ninth.

We think there’ll be a local in next year’s Division I final; we haven’t had won since Nashua North’s title in 2020.

But this is Championship Day for the Division II and III locals. You’ll know when you turn on the Patriots on Sunday whether the area has one or two football champions. That day of the North title we had two, North and Souhegan winning on the same day.

Let’s see if that’s the case today.

And then that is it for the fall sports season.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on X @Telegraph _TomK.