Top Five Football Games in 2023

At times, the 2023 football season was unpredictable, and thanks to that, it led to some exciting games throughout the regular season and playoffs.

The following are the five best games I saw in person this year. There were many others that I wasn’t able to attend, and if you’d like to share yours, please feel free to do so in the comments.

No. 5: Salem 33, Windham 28 (Sept. 23)

Both offenses did what they wanted in the first half, as Windham and Salem went into the locker room tied at 21. In the second, the Blue Devils’ defense was able to make some stops and Nolan Lumley and Kevin Todisco combined on a long touchdown pass to clinch the win for Salem.

No. 4: Bishop Guertin 56, Dover 42 (Nov. 4)

Points, points and more points for the Cardinals and Green Wave in this preliminary-round game … and that was with no one scoring in the final seven-plus minutes. Bishop Guertin quarterback Mike MacDonough threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two more, while Dover quarterback Ryder Aubin 215 yards passing and two scores and added three touchdowns on the ground. Cody Szymansky caught 10 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals.

No. 3: John Stark 30, Milford 27 (Sept. 2)

John Stark trailed 27-6 after Milford scored on the opening drive of the second half, but the Generals were able to come back for the victory. John Stark’s defense held the Spartans in check the rest of the way, while the offense went on a couple of long touchdown drives and converted its two-point conversions to rally for the program’s first win over Milford.

No. 2: Plymouth 21, Souhegan 20 (Nov. 11)

When these teams played in Amherst in the regular season, Souhegan rolled to a 49-6 win. When they played in Plymouth in the playoffs, the Bobcats got their revenge. Plymouth was able to use its ground game to control time of possession in the second half and upset the Sabers in the Division II semifinals.

No. 1: Nashua North 21, Bishop Guertin 17 (Sept. 16)

For the second year in a row, this game is at the top of the list. While this wasn’t as crazy as least year’s finish, it did come down to the wire. After going ahead on a 35-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Canaway to Luke Peters, North was trying to hold on for the win. On fourth-and-goal, Peters came up with an interception of Bishop Guertin’s Mike MacDonough to clinch the win for the Titans.