Midseason report: Division I football

This grand experiment given to the state by the NHIAA’s football committee has made for some heated conversation off the field, outdone only by what’s taken place on the field.

This week’s slate of games should top what’s happened in an already interesting season. Three of this week’s games will feature the top two teams in the North, West and East conferences, and all three games are between a team from the old Division I and the old Division II.

The downside? If all holds to form, those six teams will all play each other again in their respective conference championship games, potentially meaning that a handful of the best teams in the division will be out in the first round.

Who is the favorite? Where does everyone else fall? Find out below, where each of the 20 teams in the division are ranked, based on record, strength of schedule (SOS), points scored per game (PS) and points allowed per game (PA). The * denotes the current division leaders.

Team rankings

The Conundrum

20. Manchester West (0-6, SOS: T7; PS: 20; PA: 19).

As it stands right now, this team shouldn’t be in Division I, but what is really wrong with West is not a problem the NHIAA can fix. Its a job for the city of Manchester, and with Hooksett students potentially on the way to Pinkerton, it could become an even bigger problem.

Wait until next year

19. Manchester Memorial (1-5; SOS: 1; PS: 9; PA: 20).

18. Salem (1-5; SOS: T7; PS: 19; PA: 8).

17. Timberlane (1-5; SOS: T12; PS: 17; PA: T12).

16. Alvirne (1-5; SOS: T2; PS: 16; PA: 16).

A note on each team: Memorial scores a lot of points, but gives up even more. In the Crusaders five losses, they’ve allowed 53, 42, 69, 61 and 45. Salem has its third coach in three years in Robert Pike, but he seems to be in it for the long haul, and the Blue Devils have been competitive at times this season. Timberlane has a lot of talent, including sophomore Tyler Furey, just not enough to keep up with the likes of Nashua South, Bishop Guertin and Exeter. Alvirne coach Mark Phillips has already started to change the culture in Hudson, as the Broncos have been in just about every game. It’s only a matter of time before he has them in the mix.

Better than record

15. Nashua North (1-5; SOS: T7; PS: 18; PA: 14).

A lot more was expected of the Titans, but injuries and an off-the-field issue derailed the season. North got in the win column last week, needing overtime to beat Timberlane. Had it not been for last-second losses to Dover and Winnacunnet, the Titans could be looking at finishing the year with a winning record rather than fighting for respectability.

Little engines that can

14. Goffstown (2-4; SOS: T12; PS: 14; PA: 15).

13. Dover (2-4; SOS: T10; PS: 15; PA: 17).

Goffstown’s prospects for this season did not look good as the smallest school in the division, but the Grizzlies have held their own. In fact, Goffstown could be 4-2 and tied for first in the South Conference with Pinkerton if not for a two-point loss to Londonderry and a one-point loss to Manchester Central. Dover is the smallest team in the division, dressing under 30 players for varsity games, and the lack of depth has cost the Green Wave at times. The Wave are surviving thanks to some talented players, like quarterback Derek Stegman and running back Eric Waddington, who also plays every snap on defense and special teams.

One in, one out

12. Merrimack (3-3; SOS: T16; PS: 4; PA: 18).

11. Winnacunnet (3-3; SOS: T10; PS: 10; PA: T12).

10. Londonderry (3-3; SOS: T2; PS: 11; PA: 11).

9. Spaulding (3-3; SOS: 6; PS: 13; PA: 10).

Four teams for two playoff spots, one each in the South and East Conference. Right now, Londonderry and Spaulding are the two teams that are in, thanks to head-to-head wins. After going 0-11 last year, Merrimack’s offense has flourished under new coach Dante Laurendi; its defensively where the Tomahawks still have plenty of room to grow. Winnacunnet was one of the favorites going into the year, but back-to-back losses to Spaulding and Keene left the Warriors needing a lot of help to make the postseason. Londonderry looks poised to make a return to the postseason, thanks in part to running back Dennis Bishop. Spaulding’s dual threat of Trey Scott and Tyler Snow should have the Red Raiders in the postseason for the second time in three years. They’ll play their biggest game of the year on Friday, when the Raiders host first-place Exeter.

Realignment casualties

8. Manchester Central (4-2; SOS: T16; PS: 6; PA: 9).

7. Keene (4-2; SOS: T12; PS: 12; PA: 2).

After losing its first two games to Concord and Pinkerton, Manchester Central has turned its season around to get back in the playoff hunt. The Little Green had a brush with history two weeks ago, when Jesiah Wade rushed for 556 yards in a win over Merrimack, setting a state single-game record and the 12th best performance ever nationally. Keene was 1-2 after three weeks, but a three-game winning streak has helped keep the Blackbirds postseason hopes alive. They’ll make the trek to Dover this week before hosting Nashua South the following Friday.

Contenders

6. Exeter (4-2; SOS: T2; PS: 7; PA: 7).

5. Pinkerton (4-2; SOS: T2; PS: 5; PA: 5).

4. Bishop Guertin (5-1; SOS: T12; PS: 8; PA: 6).

3. Nashua South (6-0; SOS: 19; PS: 3; PA: 4).

After losing two straight to Bishop Guertin and Nashua South, Exeter got back on track last week with a huge win over Alvirne. The Blue Hawks, who had scored just 20 points in the two losses, put up 55 on the Broncos. They have another big game Friday at Spaulding, where a loss could mean having to go back to Rochester for the East Conference championship. Despite last week’s loss, Pinkerton appears to have the South Conference title wrapped up, thanks to its head-to-head win over Londonderry earlier this year. While the spotlight certainly isn’t on the Astros, they should finish the regular season at 7-2.

South gets the slight edge over Bishop Guertin because of the records, although the Cardinals will have a say in that on Friday. For the first time in a decade the Panthers and Cardinals will play, and this game, which kickoffs at Stellos Stadium at 7 p.m., has more meaning than any Turkey Bowl ever did. The winner will all but wrapup the top spot in the West Conference, while the loser has Keene breathing down its neck.

Favorites

2. Bedford (6-0; SOS: 20; PS: 2; PA: 1).

1. Concord (6-0; SOS: T16; PS: 1; PA: 3).

The argument could be made that South, or even Bishop Guertin, belong here, but these two teams have been the most impressive all year. When Manchester Memorial scored 14 points against Bedford last week, it was the first the Bulldogs had been scored upon since Week 1. Bedford has the top defense in the state, averaging 4.3 points allowed per game. Meanwhile, Concord has been the best offense, putting up 45.8 points each week, and in the first five games, the Crimson Tide ended each one with a running clock. And by the way, both are pretty good on the other side of the ball.

So who is the favorite? Whoever wins their head-to-head matchup at 7 p.m. Friday at Memorial Field in Concord. The winner will likely take the North Conference crown, and will be the clear-cut favorite in Division I.