For the first time this season there is a change at the top of the Union Leader/WGIR/WMUR Power Poll.

On the strength of its 27-24 non-league triumph over Exeter on Friday night, Winnacunnet moved from No. 3 to No. 1. The Warriors received each of the eight first-place votes.

Exeter, which had been No. 1 since the season began, dropped to No. 2.

“I was really wondering how we would do against a physical team,” Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said. “Souhegan was a finesse team. Bedford kind of finesse, but they were kind of tough kids, too. And West tried to be (physical). I was interested to see how we would stack up against a physical football team.”

Winnacunnet improved its record to 4-0 overall. The Warriors are 2-0 against Division II competition, and 3-0 against teams in this week's poll.

Winnacunnet received 217 yards rushing and three touchdowns from senior running back Ben Franzoso in the victory, but also turned in a strong defensive performance in the second half. Exeter had 316 yards of offense in the game, but was limited to 83 yards on 22 plays in the final two quarters. The Blue Hawks scored 21 of their 24 points in the first half.

“We did a much better job against the run in the second half,” Auffant said. “It's a good group of kids. I'm so happy for them — they work hard. Beating a program like Bill Ball's — they're a class program and I have a lot of respect for them.”

Winnacunnet is one of four Division II teams in this week's poll, which includes five teams from Division I (Exeter, Pinkerton, Manchester Central, Concord and Nashua South) and one from Division III (Souhegan).

Division II Bedford made the biggest jump this week. The Bulldogs moved from eighth to fifth following their 25-24 victory over Keene.

Bedford quarterback James Caparell passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns against the Blackbirds, who entered that game unbeaten. Caparell also carried the ball 11 times for 63 yards and a TD.

Pinkerton slipped from No. 2 to No. 3 even though it beat Salem 35-7 Saturday. Exeter defeated Pinkerton 24-20 earlier this year.

No team dropped out of the poll, although Nashua South fell from a tie for sixth to 10th after its 20-3 loss at Concord.

There will be two games between teams ranked in the poll this weekend; No. 7 Concord at No. 2 Exeter on Friday, and No. 5 Bedford at No. 4 Bishop Guertin on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Goffstown will play at Portsmouth on Friday; and Windham will be at Plymouth on Saturday. Each of those four teams received votes this week, but failed to make the top 10.

Winnacunnet will have to defeat Dover (1-3, 1-1 Division II) Friday night in Dover to hang on to the top spot. The Warriors also have two teams in this week's poll remaining on their schedule: at Keene (Oct. 12), and a home game against Bishop Guertin (Nov. 2).

“Our game against Exeter isn't a (Division II) game, but it's a big deal to people in this area,” Auffant said. “It's a rivalry that goes back to 1924. Now we have to get ready for the league,”