Bishop Guertin football coach Anthony Nalen won't be able to coach Friday's game vs. Bedford due to his ejection last Friday. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Bishop Guertin High School athletic director Ryan Brown confirmed on Wednesday what was a somewhat foregone conclusion, that Cardinals football coach Anthony Nalen would have to sit out Friday night’s much anticipated contest at Bedford.

“He won’t be coaching,” Brown said via text message.

Why? Nalen, game officials announced at the end of last Friday’s tough loss vs. Nashua South, was ejected from the contest – after it was concluded. Nalen was angry with the officials and expressed his feelings to them while the players from South and BG were shaking hands and multiple flags flew in confusion.

One of the situations that Nalen was upset with came late in the game during BG’s attempt at a game-winning drive when top receiver Rocco Roy had to leave the game for an apparent equipment issue, and wasn’t immediately allowed back in despite the fact the Cards had run a play, spiking the ball to stop the clock.

Brown told The Telegraph late yesterday it still hadn’t been determined who would be the designated head coach in Nalen’s absence. Nalen, a former quarterback, has basically been the key voice in the offense while the team’s defensive coordinator is Jermaine McKenzie.

GAME RESCHEDULED

The final scheduled regular season game for Nashua North football, a non-league contest vs. out-of-state opponent Dracut (Mass.), has been moved to Thursday, Oct. 30 at Stellos Stadium at 6:30 p.m.. It was orginally slated for Oct. 31 at Stellos at 6:30.

The reason for the move is that Stellos could possibly be the site of two Division I girls soccer quarterfinal playoff games.

With the Nashua North and Bishop Guertin girls soccer teams in the upper echelon of Division I, it’s a good possibility barring an upset or if one or both get first round byes they would be quarterfinal hosts. Ironically, the 11-1 Titans and 12-1-1 Cardinals, who met in the quarters a year ago, meet today at 4 p.m. at Stellos in a much anticipated regular season matchup.

The North football game, though it doesn’t count in the standings, will be of interest as it marks the return of former South and UNH standout Trevor Knight to Stellos. Knight is in his second year as the Dracut High head football coach.

NIGHT PLAYOFF GAMES

Sources and a couple of reports have said that the NHIAA Division I playoffs will all be on Friday nights – with the exception of the Saturday, Nov. 29 championship game that is slated to be at Stellos.

That would be the first round on Nov. 7, the quarterfinals on Nov. 14, and the semifinals on Nov. 21. Most prelim games in the past were on Fridays, and some but not all quarterfinals. Semis were usually played on Saturday afternoons. This is allegedly for Division I only.