Pinkerton's Jimmy Knudsen (4) and Bentley Blais (13) try to help out Joseph Osanya (10) who is tackled by Nashua South's Kayden Doubleday (79) during a game last month. The Astros come to Nashua today to play in the state title game vs. Bedford at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – And then there was one. There is one more game left in the 2025 New Hampshire high school football season, and that will take place today at Stellos Stadium. But no, no local teams will be playing.

It will be No. 1 Bedford (11-0) vs. No. 3, defending champion Pinkerton (8-3) for the Division I state championship.

The two teams did not meet in the regular season. Bedford pretty much cruised through the regular season to capture the West Conference, it’s toughest game perhaps a 35-28 win over Bishop Guertin. That was its only win by single digits.

The Bulldogs, who are led by senior quarterback Bennett Matthews, running back and Yukica Player of the Year running back Brody Helton, cruised by Winnacunnet 44-13 and then pulled away from South 35-21 to reach the finals after having a first round bye.

The ‘Dogs will be seeking their fifth title, all in Division I. They won back-to-back crowns in 2022-23 over Londonderry. They beat Exeter in 2016 and then the Astros in 2018 in the teams’ only previous title game matchup.

The Astros are led by quarterback Aiden McDonald, plus skill players like backs Brady Spellman, Joseph Osanya and Ryson Michaud. They lost three straight late in the season, one a non-league game to Andover (Mass.), but then to Manchester Memorial and the regular season finale to Nashua South. They led 21-7 late in the third quarter vs. South but fell 25-21 in Derry.

The Astros bounced back, however, with two dominant performances. They beat No. 6 Windham 34-6 and then No. 7 Salem 28-0 in the semis to reach today’s game.

The Astros are seeking their 13th outright title – they were co-champions with Exeter back in 1958 in Division III – over the last 40 years. They won their first outright state title, beating Salem for the Division I crown,in 1985. They beat rival Londonderry 42-7 to win last year’s championship.