FOOTBALL FRIDAY: A capsule look as BG-North the key game
Nashua North hopes to get some big ;plays out of Dylan Noble vs. BG on Saturday. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)
The Game of the Week this weekend is obviously Nashua North vs. Bishop Guertin on Saturday. But there are other games on the docket as well, so here’s a capsule look at the entire weekend schedule:
TONIGHT
DIVISION I
NASHUA SOUTH (2-1, 3-1 overall) at KEENE (1-3)
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Keene’s Alumni Stadium.
LAST WEEK: Nashua South 48, Nashua North 34; Windham 17, Keene 0
LAST YEAR : South 22, Keene 0
FYI: The Blackbirds have had a little bit of an unsettled year, as head coach Shawn DeCost, who is from Nashua, missed a game for what was termed by official “a personal problem” . He’s back, and the ‘Birds are hoping home field advantage and to get quarterback Brayden French untracked. But look for them to also try to control the ball on the ground to keep it away from the South attack.
THE PICK: South 40, Keene 6. The Panthers are purring and the ‘Birds are struggling.
MANCHESTER CENTRAL (2-2) at ALVIRNE (0-4)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Alvirne HS.
LAST WEEK: Concord 41, Alvirne 17; Central 49, Portsmouth-Oyster River 35.
LAST YEAR: Alvirne 35, Central 14.
FYI: The Broncos have used wins over the Little Green as a launching pad to playoff years the last two seasons, but this is different; Central has a chance to get over .500 for the first time in ages. The Little Green are not the same team that lost to North on opening night, it seems. QB Drake James and Trevor Gray have been a combination and backs Miguel Crus and Gibril Djuma are threats. Alvirne got its offense untracked a little last week, led by senior QB Ethan Dudley threw two TD passes last week and Aaron Lavoie has been a spark on defense for the Broncos.
THE PICK: Central 35, Alvirne 14. Different year, different result.
MERRIMACK (1-2) at GOFFSTOWN (0-4)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Goffstown HS.
LAST WEEK: Bedford 42, Goffstown 3; Merrimack did not play.
LAST YEAR: Goffstown 20, Merrimack 19.
FYI: Let’s see how Merrimack responds getting back at it in conference, but QB Maverick Torres and Cayden Dine will be tough for the Grizzlies to handle, especially on the fast turf. Goffstown is paced by QB Shane Lynn and back Hunter Long.
THE PICK: Merrimack 28, Goffstown 14. The Grizzlies won’t be a pushover, but Merrimack’s offense will get untracked.
DIVISION II
HOLLIS BROOKLINE (0-4) at JOHN STARK (1-3)
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: JS Regional in Weare.
LAST WEEK: Milford 22, John Stark 12; Pelham 50, Hollis Brookline 0
LAST YEAR: John Stark 34, Hollis Brookline 8
FYI: This is the first of three straight legit chances for the Cavs to pick up a win, they just need to hold down Stark’s A.J. Bellen defensively and get the ball in the hands of junior Cole Duncan on offense.
THE PICK: John Stark 28, HB 21. Cavs come close; but they’ll get there the following week.
MANCHESTER WEST (3-1) at MILFORD (2-2)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Milford HS.
LAST WEEK: Milford 22, John Stark 12; Souhegan 33, West 0.
LAST YEAR: West 47, Milford 0
FYI: The Spartans are definitely better than the team that got pummeled in Manchester last year; Jace Wilhemi has been a force on both sides of the ball and QB Jacob Hill is finding his groove. The bad news is the Blue Knights badly need to bounce back from last week’s disaster vs. the Sabers.
THE PICK: West 32, Milford 16. Spartans give it a fight but Knights pull away in fourth quarter.
HANOVER (2-2) at SOUHEGAN (4-0)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Souhegan’s Calvetti Field.
LAST WEEK: Souhegan 33, West 0; Hanover 40, ConVal 0
LAST YEAR: Souhegan 37, Hanover 0
FYI: One might think this could be a competitive matchup, except the Bears suffered a 55-7 road loss at the other top team in the division, Pelham. The Sabers just keep rolling on offense led by Ryland Raudelunas; the Bears are paced by QB E.J. Frechette.
THE PICK: Souhegan 40, Hanover 13. Too much Saber offense.
SATURDAY
NASHUA NORTH (2-2) at BISHOP GUERTIN (3-0, 4-0 overall)
WHEN: 4 p.m.
WHERE: Stellos Stadium.
LAST WEEK: Nashua South 48, Nashua North 34; Bishop Guertin 42, Salem 28.
LAST YEAR: Bishop Guertin 43, Nashua North 42.
FYI: Remember last year’s classic at North Field? Nashua North-BG football is pure entertainment, and this should be the same. The Cards put up 500-plus yards of offense on Salem, led by QB Nate Bowen and a bevvy of backs; North got its offense untracked vs. South with Brady O’Connor throwing for three TDs. The lines on both sides should have a good battle; BG needs to be aware North linebacker Jack Krulikowski. The game is a late afternoon affair rather than night due to a special evening dance at BG.
THE PICK: BG 40, Nashua North 32. Another classic, because that’s what these two do.
CAMPBELL (4-0) at GILFORD (3-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Gilford HS.
LAST WEEK: Campbell 26, Somersworth 22; Gilford 28, Inter-Lakes 0.
LAST YEAR: Campbell 50, Gilford 14 (regular season); Campbell 50, Gilford 22 (semis).
FYI: The Cougars are breathing sighs of relief after escaping a classic battle at Somersworth; will it be just as tough this week? It will if Golden Eagles QB Mark Uicker is able to move the ball the way he did vs. the Lakers. Lucas Raleigh is tough on both sides of the ball. Campbell, though, has had a lot of contributors and Brody Pinciaro is really coming into his own. Homecoming Night for Gilford.
THE PICK: Campbell 35, Gilford 28. Another close one on the road, but the good news is the Cougars have three home games the rest of the way.


