Football underdog is a role Plymouth Regional rarely plays.

Maybe in Week 3?

“Maybe?!” cried dean of Granite State grid coaches Chuck Lenahan, whose Bobcats host defending Division IV champion and No. 10-ranked Trinity of Manchester in Saturday's 1:30 p.m. showdown of 2-0 teams. “Trinity's got such a size advantage on us. It's scary.”

Downplaying Plymouth's chances in any game is a staple of Lenahan pre-game interviews.

“He's got a very good team up there,” said first-year Trinity head coach Steve Burns, aware Lenahan, in his previous 41 seasons at the helm, led Plymouth to 29 title games and 18 championships.

Burns also knows about 6-foot 4-inch Kyle Reisert, a 195-pound end-turned-wingback. Fullback Brandon Goodale and quarterback Collin Sullivan didn't go unmentioned, either.

Topping Trinity's list of stars is QB Carmen Giampetruzzi and power back Ryan Carrier. They helped the Pioneers beat the Bobcats, 30-14, in last year's final. It followed an improbable 12-7 Week 4 road win.

“The effort it took to steal that victory …,” Burns said of the stunner that snapped Plymouth's 40-game home win streak.

Giampetruzzi, then a sophomore, tossed 80- and 48-yard touchdowns in the final 4-plus minutes. The Pioneers were forced to attack through the air; Lenahan's linemen stuffed the run.

“Well, they manhandled us during the championship game,” the dean said.

Lenahan is 336-69-1 in his career. But he is 0-3 against Trinity.

“I'll promise you this: We'll be there,” Lenahan said. “We'll give it a shot. We'll come to play.”

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NO. 1 Exeter (2-0, 1-0 Div. I) this week prepared to host No. 2 Manchester Central (2-0, 1-0 Div. I) tonight at 7 while dealing with the Tuesday death of Exeter sophomore tight end/linebacker Cody Brackett, 16.

The Union Leader reported Wednesday that Brackett's death remains under investigation, but police said foul play was ruled out.

Exeter athletics director/head coach Bill Ball and school district superintendent Michael Morgan did not reply to messages left by the Union Leader, but earlier this week, Ball told Seacoastonline.com, “We're leaning on each other, and everyone is going through the (grieving) process together. I can't say enough about (Brackett's) infectious smile and great way with people.”

Calling hours for Brackett are today from 4-8 p.m., with the first half-hour reserved for the Exeter football team.

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STAR QBs Lucas Luopa of Keene (2-0, 1-0 Div. II) and Connor Benjamin of Goffstown (1-1, 1-0 Div. III) will not play when their teams collide Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The head coaches agreed to treat the non-league game in Goffstown as a bye for all starters.

Keene head coach John Luopa said “confusion and miscommunication” during the scheduling process led to the matchup materializing. Luopa took the bye in past years, when rival Brattleboro, Vt., couldn't compete.

“I imagine we're going to take some heat for this, but we're trying to do what's right for both programs,” Luopa said. “Both have aspirations of being in the playoffs. Your league games are the ones that count.”

“That sums it up,” Goffstown head coach Justin Hufft said. “We have pretty severe number problems, and some injuries we're already dealing with, at this point.”

The gripe here isn't with the coaches. It's with these optional post-Week 1 non-league games.

Revamped divisional alignment for next season, thankfully, eliminates open dates — and such contests.

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WINDHAM (2-0) hosts Hanover (2-0) Saturday at 1:30 in another key Division IV duel. Hanover opened the season with consecutive shutouts.

Windham head coach Bill Raycraft said film shows Hanover is playing classic bend-but-don't-break defense. The question for Windham is whether fullback Kevin Cooney, wingback Danny Cannone and QB Joe Lorenz can lead the offense to the end zone.

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Marc Thaler covers high school football for the New Hampshire Union Leader & Sunday News. He co-hosts the “N.H. Sports Show” Saturday morning on WGIR-AM 610 and the Seacoast's 96.7. Send e-mails to mthaler@unionleader.com and follow him on Twitter: @marc_thaler.

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