Bishop Guertin quarterback Nate Bowen was off to the races for a TD during Saturday night's win over Merrimack at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Everything’s relative, but in Year Three of the Anthony Nalen coaching era at Bishop Guertin, the points are continuing to flow.

Offense has never been a problem for the Cards under Nalen. Mike MacDonough set school passing records in Nalen’s first year, and a sophomore unknown, Nate Bowen, became a QB who looked like he had been on varsity for three years.

“He’s going through his progression, and he’s seeing … he took a couple of big hits, we’re really happy with his development and where he’s at,” Nalen said of Bowen.

And this year he and the Cardinal machine keep on purring, 83 points in two games after Saturday night’s 48-8 win over Merrimack. We’ll see if that trend continues next Friday night at Keene. But Nalen has now had a good couple of years and a third off-season to get his message and style cemented in the program.

“This is the third year, and everything’s better after a year,” Nalen said, “from understanding who your players are, motivating them, to where the offense is at. This obviously when you envision what you want, to be able to go out and do what we did in that first half is what you want every time, but obviously you don’t get that every time. But that’s the goal. Where we’re at right now is a pretty good spot, but the consistency in the second half has to pick up.”

Otherwise, Nalen said, the Cards won’t win many games when they get into the meat of the schedule that the Souths and Bedfords of the league. But the leads have been so big at the halves of both games, it’s likely hard to keep that going.

But the comfort level Bowen has is obvious.

“There’s some continuity now with Nate,” Nalen said. “Being able to distribute (the ball) to guys he knows. …. I think Nate was excited he had his guys out there tonight.”

MERRIMACK HAS STRUGGLED

One thing the Tomahawks have had problems with is obvious after they’ve allowed 48 points in each of their first two games: defense.

“We’ve been concerned going into (the season),” Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. “We can hold up on the perimeter. The interior of our defense, we have to be more violent, we have to play with better pad level, we have to clean some things up.”

SOUTH LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK

The Panthers, after a disappointing loss to Bedford in their home opener, host Goffstown on Friday night and will certainly want to get their mojo back.

“I told the guys, it’s a learning opportunity for us,” South coach Josh Porter said. “Rather it happen now, let’s clean up. Regular season for me is how can we improve week-to-week, and be playing our best ball when it matters the most. That (Bedford) is a damn good football team, hopefully we get another crack at them down the road if things shape up that way. But we’ve got to be better.”

Bedford coach Zach Matthews echoed Porter’s thoughts about making sure his team is at its best in November.

“For us, this is merely our second game,” he said after the 34-14 win. “Last year we got undefeated in the regular season and got our (butts) handed to us in the semifinals. And Pinkerton won the title and lost three games in the regular season. It’s not about where we’re at right now, it’s where we’re at at the end. … We’re working to be ready for November, and playing our best football in November.”

FISH SHINING EARLY ON

Nashua South junior Justin Fish is playing well in both the offense and defense, and is one of QB Cody Jackson’s key targets.

“He’s one of our key guys for sure in the offense,” Porter said. “He’s been playing well, he had a good off-season and we’re expecting big things from him the rest of the year. He came on last year as a sophomore and this year he’s back, he’s getting to play defense after couple of guys graduated. He’s been a big-time player for us for sure.”

Members of the Bishop Guertin 1975 Division II championship team were honored at halftime of Saturday night’s game vs. Merrimack at Stellos Stadium. Fifty years ago the Cards beat Somersworth 14-7 for the title. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

COMING UP

This weekend, Nashua North looks to get off to a 3-0 start at Merrimack but the ‘Hawks are just looking to avoid an 0-3 start….Something has to give for Milford and Hollis Brookline. The two teams battle Friday at Milford, and they’ve started the season going scoreless through the first eight quarters. That should change, likely for both…Campbell has its annual night game this Friday, which also happens to be its home opener as well as a rematch of last year’s Division III title game vs. Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough. Kickoff is 7 p.m.in Litchfield.

Souhegan (2-0) hosts John Stark, which it beat in last year’s quarterfinals, while in Division I, Alvirne (0-2) will welcome back former Broncos coach Matt Lee, whose Windham team is also 0-2. The Jags lost 28-0 to Pinkerton and also 28-6 to Malden (Mass.) Catholic. MC has started its season playing New Hampshire teams as South opened up with a shootout win in Malden.