After pulling out 76.2% of wins last year in the high school football picks, I consider myself a failure.

We all know that 80% is the true Mendoza line. So with one final swipe at 2018, I toss out the most sarcastic “thanks” to Tarek Rothe at Alvirne and Kip Jackson at Merrimack for continuously perplexing this prognosticator week after week.

The new me is all about the present, 2019. And while I’m constantly distracted at this time of year by the fact that only players on the losing end of the scoreboard come up with the dreaded September leg cramps, I will do my best to make up for a Nate Peterman-like performance with a huge season this time around.

Good luck to all the athletes. Stay healthy and remember to have fun.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Hollis Brookline at Milford: It’s tough on the first week of the season to find a game with true playoff implications.

Hollis Brookline’s jaunt to Milford tonight is the rare exception.

Victories in Division II South are going to be worth the price of gold in a recession. Get them when you can.

It’s Week 1, and I can only go by the look test. And Milford has the look of a steamroller.

There are big bodies, experience on the line, and fullback Junior Ughu is ripped, having streamlined his 225-pound-plus battering ram of a body.

The QBs in this one could each put up 400 yards of offense apiece as Gavin Urda and Sander Wimmer are big-play types, have been for years.

Got to go with KJ and Co. The Jones boys grind out a thriller.

Milford 34, Hollis Brookline 28

HONORABLE MENTION

Pelham at Alvirne: Again, every week in Division II South is going to matter.

Would I be surprised if these two met again in November? Absolutely not.

This might be the hardest-hitting game in the state, and it says here, it goes to the fina whistle. Coach Rothe can smile. I’m selecting the other guys.

Pelham 31, Alvirne 30.

AND THE REST

Portsmouth-Oyster River at Nashua South: On principle alone, I cannot endorse anything called a ClipperCat.

Seriously, isn’t Portsmouth a real city? They have to co-op? Nah, not gonna do it.

Jason Compoh and the Panthers get it done on their home turf.

Nashua South 32, Portsmouth 19

Merrimack at Spaulding: OK, here we go again. The folks on Exit 11 should be petrified. Longo loves the Tomahawks this week. I believe in the system. And I believe in the lack of depth on the Seacoast.

Merrimack 17, Spaulding 6

Nashua North at Winnacunnet: Part of me, in this East-West crossover of 2019, wants to just go with the team that doesn’t have to make the Friday night trek down 101.

Fear not Titans. I believe in you. One sage Granite State scribe noted that Curtis Harris might be the best player in the state. I’m not about to argue.

Nashua North 31, Hampton Beach High 21

Bishop Guertin at Exeter: The Blue Hawks are mighty tough at Bill Ball Stadium. And while the Cards were encouraging in the Queen City Jamboree, Exeter is a playoff lock.

Exeter 38, Guertin 16

Souhegan at St. Thomas: The Sabers have a pair of legit quarterbacks to fill the void. I’m not sure St. Thomas has the answer on its side.

Therefore, I will toss out the age-old “home-team-on-Saturday-afternoon” axiom.

Souhegan 29, St. Thomas 19

Somersworth at Campbell: The Cougars are so tough in Litchfield and I just get the feeling that Keegan Mills is poised for an historic three-sport senior year. This one is not a blowout. It’s a battle … for a half. And after that, it’s all Cougars.

Campbell 33, Somersworth 14

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