Bishop Guertin's Will Adams (23) tries to plow ahead while grabbed from behind by South's Justin Fish (1) during the first half of last Friday nght's game at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

We’ve had big games the last few weekends, and this weekend is no exception. Can Bishop Guertin get the upset at Bedford? Can Nashua South keep the train rolling vs. Memorial? And can Souhegan pass its first major test of the season in the Division II Battle of Unbeatens at Plymouth?

Read on:

TONIGHT

DIVISION I

MANCHESTER MEMORIAL (4-1, 5-1 overall) at NASHUA SOUTH (4-1, 5-1 overall)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Stellos Stadium in Nashua.

LAST WEEK: Winnacunnet 30, Manchester Memorial 27.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Panthers are jelling, with four straight wins after the Bedford loss, including an emotional comeback over Guertin led by the defensive effort of Colvin Levesque and the offense led by QB Cody Jackson. Usually no turnovers equals a win. Memorial lost a heartbreaker last week, and are led by QB Alex Sutherland, who rushed for 108 yards last Friday. It’s a tough two-week stretch for the Crusaders as they face Pinkerton next.

THE PICK: South 27, Memorial 19. Panthers shake off a natural letdown and take control in second half.

BISHOP GUERTIN (4-1, 5-1 overall) at BEDFORD (5-0, 6-0 overall)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Bedford’s Bulldog Stadium.

LAST WEEK: Nashua South 28, BG 24; Bedford 35, Nashua North 0.

LAST YEAR: Bedford 35, BG 13.

FYI: Interesting game because Cards coach Anthony Nalen won’t be nearby, serving a two game NHIAA suspension for an end-of-game ejection for arguing with game officials last Friday. BG, led by QB Nate Bowen, has the offense to keep up with the Bulldogs but can they get the stops they need defensively? Brody Helton and QB Bennett Matthews are tough to stop.

THE PICK: Bedford 35, BG 28. Bulldogs win the shootout.

NASHUA NORTH (2-4) at PORTSMOUTH-OYSTER RIVER (2-3)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Portsmouth HS.

LAST WEEK: Bedford 35, North 0; Portsmouth-OR did not play.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Titans return to the spot of a quarterfinal loss in 2023, and this is almost as important as they need a win following four straight losses They’ll try to contain an offense led by senior QB Andy Brown but have to find ways to score vs. a defense that after giving up 49 points to Manchester Central limited a good Winnacunnet team to 13 points.

THE PICK: North 18, Portsmouth-OR 16. Titans reeeeally need a win and pound QB Harrison Joshi straight ahead with some key Brady O’Connor passes to get it.

MERRIMACK (3-2) at DOVER (1-5)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Dover HS’ Dunaway Field.

LAST WEEK: Merrimack 44, Keene 26; Exeter 14, Dover 0.

FYI: The Tomahawks are hitting their stride, led by QB Maverick Torres, receiver Cayden Dine & Co., putting a combined 86 points the last two weeks on the road. They’ll have to defend against Green Wave QB Cooper Gagne, who can put up points but with the experience that was returning around him, this hasn’t gone as planned. A potential high-octane offense has been limited to 42 points – total. Ouch.

THE PICK: Merrimack 35, Dover 7. ‘Hawks have a great road stretch of 3-0 that likely puts them in the playoffs.

ALVIRNE (1-5) at TIMBERLANE (3-3)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Timberlane Regional in Plaistow.

LAST WEEK: Timberlane 29, Goffstown 14; Pinkerton 56, Alvirne 17.

LAST YEAR: Alvirne 48, Timberlane 20.

FYI: The Broncos took a big step two weeks ago with a win but had to face powerful Pinkerton right after. They’re paced by QB Ethan Dudley and back Mike Landmesser. Defensively the Broncos have to limit the efforts of Owls back Giovanni Recesso and the Timberlane running game.

THE PICK: Timberlane 28, Alvirne 21. Broncos compete well, fall just short.

DIVISION II

ST. THOMAS (4-2) at MILFORD (2-4)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Milford HS Stadium.

LAST WEEK: Trinity 39, St. Thomas 13; Souhegan 35, Milford 7.

LAST YEAR: St. Thomas 42, Milford 6.

FYI: The Spartans are hanging in there, led by the two-way play of Jayce Wilhemi and the quarterbacking of Jacob Hill. They’re near that middle tier of St. Thomas, which is led by the two-way play of Kenny Avery and QB Anthony Semprini.

THE PICK: Milford 28, St. Thomas 24. This week’s Upset Special.

SATURDAY

DIVISION II

SOUHEGAN (6-0) at PLYMOUTH (6-0)

WHEN: 1:30 p.m.

WHERE Plymouth HS.

LAST WEEK: Souhegan 35, Milford 7; Plymouth 48, Pembroke 0.

LAST YEAR: Plymouth 28, Souhegan 21 (regular season); Souhegan 36, Plymouth 7 (Division II semis).

FYI: Always a classic matchup, rock ’em sock’em (in theory) vs. finesse. But really, these teams can do everything. Souhegan this year has been buoyed by a great line and back Ryland Raudelunas; Plymouth is paced by 6-3 QB Cavan Sanborn and All-State running back Ben Valenti. The ‘Cats have scored 103 points the last two games, and you have to think they want to take it to the Sabers after being shocked at home in one-sided playoff game last year. But Sabers head coach Robin Bowkett will have his team ready.

THE PICK: Souhegan 35, Plymouth 32. Oh man is this a tough one. But doesn anyone have an answer for Raudelunas?

HOLLIS BROOKLINE (1-5) at PEMBROKE (0-6)

WHEN: 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Pembroke Academy.

LAST WEEK: Plymouth 48, Pembroke 0; ConVal 33, HB 14.

LAST YEAR: Pembroke 48, HB 0.

FYI: This won’t be anything like last year, these Cavaliers are better and head coach Pat Gendron has expectations he’s working to help his players, led by QB Steve Nieble, to meet. Pembroke has yet to score this season.

THE PICK: HB 35, Pembroke 7. Who cares if the Spartans score? The Cavs get their second win.

DIVSION III

LEBANON (3-2) at CAMPBELL (5-1)

WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Campbell HS in Litchfield.

LAST WEEK: Epping-Newmarket 28, Campbell 16; Lebanon 16, Kearsarge 6.

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Cougars want to get back to their winning ways and get their Brody Pinciaro offense back to being able to get some breakaway runs, etc. Lebanon is in the right division, trying to rebuild a program that hasn’t been the same since losing to Milford in the 2021 Division II semis and dropped down to III. Watch for Raiders junior back Jordan Findley, among others.

THE PICK: Campbell 28, Lebanon 14. Order is restored in Cougar Country.