The Auburn Pitts Presents Pete Tarrier's Power Poll Ballot

1. Pinkerton...the Astros faced some adversity on Friday night in Merrimack, fumbling 4 times in the 1st half and trailing at the break, 26-21 before turning things around in the 2nd half of an eventual 42-32 win.  It's another challenge this week for Pinkerton as they play host to a tough Winnacunnet team on Friday night in Derry.  We'll have video coverage of the game on NH Sportspage with Justin McIsaac and Jen Chick on the scene.

 

2. Goffstown...the much anticipated showdown with fellow unbeaten Bedford is finally here.  It's a Saturday afternoon game in Goffstown and we'll have the NH Sportspage video camera there to bring you all the highlights.  Both teams have been dominant so far this season and come in 5-0.  The winner puts themselves in the drivers seat for the top spot in the North conference.

 

3. Bedford...Bedford has played in big games like this before.  That might be an advantage for the Bulldogs as they head into Goffstown to face a team which is new to this kind of super hyped up atmosphere.  Both teams boast high scoring offenses and stingy defenses.  As a Goffstown resident I can tell you there's a buzz in town for this one!  If you can't get to the game you can listen to the broadcast on ESPN NH...1250AM-Manchester area...900AM-Nashua area...or from anywhere on the TuneIn Radio app by searching ESPN NH.

 

4. Exeter...once again the Blue Hawks simply found a way to win by edging Salem on a TD run by QB Kyle Ball in the final seconds.  The 14-10 final score proved these 2 teams are really even heading into the 2nd half of the season. At 5-0, Exeter has all but locked up 1st place in the D1 East conference.  Their next 2 games are very winnable at Portsmouth and home vs Dover before things get tough again at Merrimack and then home vs Pinkerton in the regular season finale.  

 

5. St Thomas...I moved the D2 Saints up to #5 because I really believe they are a Top 5 team in the state regardless of their division.  The one thing you could hold against St. Thomas is their schedule.  They play in a conference where no other team is over .500 and their out of conference schedule only includes 1 team that currently has a winning record, Trinity at 3-1 right now.   That said, I still think they could hang with the best teams in D1 which is why I have them 5th.

 

6. Salem...the Blue Devils are 3-2 after the loss to Exeter last week and will likely be battling it out till the final day of the regular season for a playoff spot.  Their conference, D1 South is the toughest top to bottom in all of NH High School football with 5-0 Pinkerton, 3-2 Timberlane and Merrimack and a better than their record indicates 2-3 Londonderry to contend with.

 

7. Bishop Guertin...I thought BG was going to coast to the top of the D1 West standings...until I saw Nashua North beat Manchester Central last week.  The Cardinals play at winless Memorial on Friday night before they "host" the Titans(Stellos Stadium in Nashua is home to both schools) in a game that could determine the only team from the conference to make the playoffs.  That should be an interesting contrast of styles as the wide open passing game of BG goes up against a dominating front 7 of North.  

 

8. Windham...the Jags answered the bell against a surging Souhegan team on Saturday with a 21-7 win.  Windham is now 5 and 0 and after a bye this weekend travels to winless Pelham in 2 weeks.  After that the defending champs host Milford on October 24th before finishing the regular season on the road at Monadnock.

 

9. Timberlane...bigtime bounce back win for the Owls who went out to Hampton and came home to Plaistow with an impressive 24-13 win over Winnacunnet last Friday night.  Timberlane is now sitting at 3-2 on the season with Dover next up this weekend.  Then it's back into the fire as they travel to Pinkerton on Friday October 16th.

 

10.Winnacunnet...at 2-3 it was tough keeping Winnacunnet in my Top 10.  Here's why I chose to do so.  The Warriors 3 losses have all come to consistently in the Power Poll teams....Salem by only 5 points in Week 1, Exeter on a last second FG just last week and then Timberlane.  I have to think the post-Exeter hangover/letdown had something to do with their performance vs Timberlane.

 

Just missing the cut...Nashua North, as I mentioned earlier I was really impressed with the Titans who have a pair of good running backs in Devin Leonard and Jordan Buckmire and a ferocious defense led by a bunch of big and fast linemen and linebackers.