Division I

Champion: Salem 28, Nashua North 21

Championship summary: The New England Patriots have always been a team known for taking an opponents greatest strength away (Marshall Faulk in their first Super Bowl win being one example) and forcing the other team to try and beat you another way. Nashua North succeeded in this strategy last weekend in limiting Salem's ability to run the football but the Blue Devils overcame the Titans by turning to veteran QB Matt Cannone in the red zone. Cannone's touchdown throws to Darren Brown, Kyle Henrick and Mike Lorenz gave the school its first state title since 1995 and capped off another great Division I championship game.

Game of the year: Too many to choose from. This was a wide open division as evidenced by two pretty good football teams (Londonderry and Nashua South) missing out on the playoffs all together. The candidates for game of the year; The title game, Nashua North over Manchester Central in the semifinals, North's wild 56-49 victory over rival Nashua South and Central's 20-14 victory over South in September, which was a big upset at the time. You know it was a tough year for Nashua South when they are mentioned twice in the games of the year category and barely dropped both contests.

Player of the Year: Max Jacques of Salem (109 rushing attempts for 1,638 yards)

Runner-up's: Mike Cavanaugh of Manchester Central, Jerrickson Frederick of Salem, Andre Williams of Nashua North, Keith Farkas of Nashua South and Alex Lambert of Londonderry.

Coach of the year: Too tough to call. Sound like a cop out? Let me state the case. Jack Gati of Salem led his team to the title and deserves the award. Nashua North head coach Jason Robie brought his team within minutes of the title and did this with a young team that didn't make the tourney a year ago. Londonderry coach Jon Rich's team made the biggest improvement from early in the season until the end and had his team in it until the final week. Likewise you saw Ryan Ray take a Manchester Central team that struggled out of the gate and turned them into a team no one wanted to face come November.

Let's just call it a good year for coaching in Division I.

 Mike Kelley scored three touchdowns, and the Bishop Guertin Cardinals won their fifth Division II title in the last six years, defeating Winnacunnet 31-0 on Saturday at Stellos Stadium in Nashua. Kelley, who sat out last week's D-II semi-final game against Alvirne, scored a touchdown on a run, on a catch, and also on a punt return. This, however, was a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate.

 The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter of play. Winnacunnet had two good scoring chances in the first frame, with the first coming on the game's initial drive. It was fourth down and five on the BG 35 yard line. Rather than going for it, the Warriors elected to punt the ball away. Their other scoring chance came two possessions later. This time it was third down and eight for Coach Auffant's squad at the Guertin 43. Winnacunnet receiver Harry Knowles ran a slant pattern, was wide open. Quarterback Steve Cronan hit him right in the hands, but Knowles dropped the ball, and the Warrior's chance at a 6-0 lead.

 Division I

 (2) Nashua North at (1) Salem

 Previous meeting: Salem won 54-33

 Box score: http://www.nhsportspage.com/football/game_stats.php?Ateam_id=483&Hteam_id=486&game_id=6426

 The scoreboard operator might actually be icing down their elbow after this one. Points will be in abundance Saturday as both teams have been suspect on defense and can flat out score points. Let's put it this way; if one team jumps out to a quick 21-0 lead you can rest assured it isn't over. 21 points might not get you the lead at halftime.

 Salem's 54-33 victory over Nashua North back in mid-October was done without Titans all-state running back Andre Williams playing. He'll be available Saturday and it was his game winning touchdown that sealed the semifinal victory over Manchester Central. A game that saw dueling key fumbles in the games final minutes.

 These teams mirror each other more than any of the other games on tap this weekend. They can run the football extremely well (Salem a little better than North) and also can throw the ball effectively as well (North a little better than Salem). Each team gets points off special teams and both have every right to believe they'll win the title on Saturday.

 Max Jacques should be the player of the year within the division (and we'll hand out year end awards next week..although I think I just spoiled one of the bigger awards) but it was Jerrickson Frederick who carried the load last weekend in the closer than it looked win over Pinkerton. With a star running back 1 and 1a system Jack Gati's team is able to get both backs enough carries to where they get their rhythm and at the same time are able to get a needed break for stretches. Salem rumbled for 592 yards in the first meeting so don't expect coach Gati to try and re-invent the wheel. The Titans are going to have to show Salem they can stop the run and if cheat enough guys up into the box QB and Players lounge member Matt Cannone can hit you with the deep ball or a quick slant.

 Salem's defense has been led by Alex Sobrado and Darren Brown and they go into this one knowing they need only hold the Titans under 30 to give themselves a great chance to win.

 Nashua North has to feel like if they were able to score 33 on Salem without their best offensive player well, they have a good shot to break 50 with him. Williams returns and he'll work alongside Dylan Brodeur and QB Brandon Karkhanis to keep the scoreboard moving.

 Expect a lot of fireworks with more back and forth action than a tennis match. No lead early on will be big enough to knock the other team out.

 Division III

 (2) Portsmouth (who's coverage is sponsored by the Law offices of Jason M. Sullivan (www.sullivanlawnh.com) at (1) Souhegan

 Previous meeting: Souhegan won 49-6.

 Box score: http://www.nhsportspage.com/football/game_stats.php?Ateam_id=502&Hteam_id=504&game_id=6521

 One of the two championship games we'll preview today that will be a repeat of the 2008 finals. These two teams have matched up since that afternoon last November but I'm not sure we learned any more than we already knew about how they match up. Portsmouth played without five starters including QB Nate Jones in a blowout loss to Souhegan a month ago as sophomore Billy Lane was forced to make his debut at the position under some pretty trying circumstances.

 Souhegan exorcized their only demon last weekend by throttling Milford (who lost all-state running back Josh Ibarra only minutes into the game) by the final score of 37-0. Line play will again be the key as the Sabers have enjoyed a district advantage in the trenches the past three meetings. Nate Jones is the best passer in the division but won't be able to do much damage if he's constantly on his back. Portsmouth has the ability to score very quickly and because of that this is a team that never feels like they are out of it. Portsmouth will need to be able to run the ball and allow their defense some time to catch their breath. If Souhegan's offensive line is on the field enough in the first half to wear down the Clippers defensive front this could be a long day for Portsmouth.

 Division I Semifinals

 (4) Pinkerton Academy at (1) Salem

 Previous meeting: Salem won 24-7

 Box score: http://www.nhsportspage.com/football/game_stats.php?Ateam_id=481&Hteam_id=483&game_id=6434

 Not a whole heck of a lot of momentum going into this one for either side. Salem was beaten badly by Manchester Central (your resident sleeper in this tourney) 42-7 in a game where your immediate thought was ‘Did Salem rest everyone for the playoffs in a meaningless game?'. The answer seems a little muddled, players were in fact rested but head coach Jack Gati described his team physically as beaten throughout the game and this was the concern about the Blue Devils going into the season. One season finale does not a season make and so Salem goes into this one with two key factors in their favor; home field advantage and the knowledge that they beat the Astros earlier in the season. Does the Pinkerton defense have the pedigree to stop the likes of Max Jacques and Jerrickson Frederick? Well Pinkerton did have the 3^rd best defense in the division during the season but this is a team that has given up over 300 yards on the ground in consecutive losses to Central and Nashua North. The key in this game may be whether they can move the ball through the air with QB Ryan Simpson. If Salem jumps out to an early lead they have the ball control team to eat the clock and limit Pinkerton's chances with the ball so if Salem jumps on Pinkerton early watch out, it could be lights out but if the Astros keep it tight they have the playoff experience to pull this one out.