Souhegan's Ryland Raudelunas is one of three finalists for the Joe Yukica Award. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

There is no fear of the unknown for the Souhegan High School football team.

But there is respect. And curiosity.

The No. 1, 11-0 Sabers won’t be playing longtime Division II rival Plymouth in the title game Saturday at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. That’s because No. 2 Trinity of Manchester (10-1) had other ideas, hanging on for a 29-27 semifinal win last weekend.

While there’s so much familiarity with Plymouth, the Sabers have none with Trinity, as they have presumably never played each other in a varsity football game, at least not as long as Robin Bowkett has been the coach. The Pioneers won the Division III title in beating Campbell two years ago – ironically at Souhegan’s Calvetti Field, the designated neutral site – and then moved up to Division II in that off-season. They have not been on Souhegan’s regular season schedule in either season. They’ve met at times in the preseason Manchester Jamboree and have scrimmaged on the sub-varsity level before

Maybe, from the Souhegan standpoint, that’s a good thing.

“I think when you play a team a second time, it’s always hard to beat them a second time,” said Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett, whose team beat Plymouth 19-9 a few weeks ago. “It’s what adjustments are you going to make and what things are you going to show that you didn’t show the first time.

“With us not playing each other, it’s based on whatever we’ve got on film. We’ll game plan … Look, we’ve got great players, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. Saturday should be awesome.”

But obviously Sabers head coach Robin Bowkett is aware of how the Pioneers play. Service has thrown for nearly 1300 yards and 13 TDs, plus has rushed for over 900 yards and 12 scores at last look. His favorite receivers are Davey Durepo and Connor Bishop. All three are seniors, no big surprise. But there are only five other seniors on the team, so the Pioneers are fairly young.

“They’re a great team, obviously,” he said “I think it starts with their quarterback, Ollie Service, he’s a dude, one of the best players in the state. They fly around on defense, they have athletes on both sides of the ball, and good size up front. We’re going to have our hands full (on Saturday).”

Bowkett is ready for a team that can be wide open but also run the ball at you.

“They do a little bit of both,” Bowkett said. “They’ll run the shotgun with three wides, they’ll get into the ‘T’ a little bit. I think whatever they feel that gives them the advantage at the time or keeps the defense off-balance.

“But Ollie Service can beat you with his arm, beat you with his feet, dynamic athlete.”

It should be a good one on Saturday.

YUKICA FINALISTS

And then there were three for the prestigious Joe Yukica Player of the Year , and all three are still playing. Two are locals: Nashua South QB Cody Jackson, and Souhegan running back/linebacker Ryland Raudelunas. The third is going to be Jackson’s opponent tonight, Bedford running back Brody Helton.

Jackson has completed 182 of 239 passes for 2,587 yards and 29 TDs with just three interceptions in 11 games. He’s rushed for 485 yards and nine TDs as well as rushing for four two-point conversions and thrown for another. Jackson has also seen some limited time in the defensive backfield and had a game-clinching interception vs. Pinkerton in the last regular season game.

Raudelunas has been a leader on both sides of the ball for the Sabers, rushing for 1,497 yards and 17 TDs, plus 21 catches for 419 yards and eight TDs. Oh, and defensively he leads the Sabers with 62 tackles, plus he has two sacks and one forced fumble.

Helton has also been a two-way standout. He rushed or 1,347 yards and 16 TDs with just two fumbles. He has 11 catches for 156 yards and a TD, as well as 64 tackles (10 for loss) and three sacks. The award winner is slated to be announced on Thanksgiving Day.

DIVISION III VENUE CHANGE

The Division III title game between No. 2 Laconia and No. 4 Gilford Saturday was moved from its original listing of Bank of New Hampshire Stadium in Laconia to Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter.

What was the reason? Parking? Home field? The latter should not have been an issue; the two schools are about 10-15 minutes apart, and now their fans have to trek from that region to the seacoast rather than have a title game/rivalry game in their own back yard.

And incidentally, Stellos Stadium has been listed all season as the Division I championship site.