Pinkerton takes over top spot in final NHHSSports Football Coaches Poll
The Pinkerton Academy football team rolled to a Division I championship on Saturday and now the Astros finish up the year ranked at the top of the NHHSSports Coaches Poll for the first time.
The Pinkerton Academy football team rolled to a Division I championship on Saturday and now the Astros finish up the year ranked at the top of the NHHSSports Coaches Poll for the first time.
Pinkerton received all 13 first-place votes to move up to the top spot, following a 42-7 win over Londonderry in the D1 title game. The Lancers also moved up, finishing at No. 2 in the final poll of the 2024 season.
Bedford, which had held the top spot in all of the previous 10 polls, dropped to No. 3 after falling to Pinkerton in the D1 semifinals, while Exeter came in at No. 4 after dropping to Londonderry, also in the D1 semifinals.
Alvirne rounded out the top five, as the Broncos reached the D1 quarterfinals for the first time before losing to Bedford. Nashua South came in at No. 6 after also reaching the D1 quarterfinals; the Panthers were knocked out by Londonderry.
Souhegan, the Division II champions, moved back into the poll, finishing the year at No. 7 after beating Pelham in the title game. Salem, which fell to Windham in the D1 preliminary round, came in at No. 8, while the Jaguars, who lost to Pinkerton in the quarterfinals, were No. 9.
Pelham rounded out the top 10 for the final poll of the year.
Here is this week’s NHHSSports Football Coaches Poll. These are the top 10 football teams in the state, with overall record, first-place votes/points (T=tie) and previous ranking.
- Pinkerton (11-2), 13/130, 3rd
- Londonderry (8-4), 111, 4th
- Bedford (10-1), 104, 1st
- Exeter (10-1), 97, 2nd
- Alvirne (7-4), 62, 8th
- Nashua South (8-3), 58, 6th
- Souhegan (10-2), 50, NR
- Salem (7-3), 33, 5th
- Windham (4-7), 28, NR
- Pelham (10-2), 16, 10th
Dropped out: Plymouth, Manchester Memorial.
Others receiving votes: Campbell (11-0), 15; Manchester Memorial (8-4), 8, 9th; Concord (4-6), 3; Plymouth (10-1), 1; Bishop Guertin (5-5), 1.
The coaches poll is voted on by football coaches from around the state. This will be the final poll for the 2024 season.
