Roger Brown's First and 10: Playoffs really start tonight

By ROGER BROWN
New Hampshire Union Leader
October 31. 2013 10:14PM

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The situation couldn't be any clearer. The winner of tonight's game between Manchester Central (6-2) and Bedford (7-1) will qualify for the Division I playoffs. The loser will not.

Bedford, the No. 2 team in the Union Leader/WGIR/WMUR Power Poll, has been ranked among the top teams in the state since a Week 1 victory over Pinkerton Academy of Derry. No. 6 Central played its way into the poll by winning six straight after an 0-2 start.

"Pressure makes the good fold and the great focus — that's always been one of my favorite quotes," Bedford coach Kurt Hines said. "To know we have to win, that's good pressure. Like I told my kids, (Central has) the exact same amount on the line that we do."

Bedford, which will be at home tonight, has allowed the fewest points among Division I teams this season (67). Central has scored at least 33 points in five of its six victories, although none of those wins came against a team that currently has a winning record.

Tonight's winner will face No. 1 Concord (8-0) in next week's Division I North championship game.

"It goes without saying the playoffs start Friday," Central coach Ryan Ray said.

Bedford's biggest challenge tonight may be containing Central running back Jesiah Wade, who is closing in on his second consecutive season with more than 2,000 yards rushing. The Little Green, however, likely will have to have some success through the air to prevent the Bulldogs from paying extra attention to Wade.

"Wade is their biggest weapon," Hines said. "He's definitely a threat and someone we have to wrap up, but when we did a good job shutting down Concord's run (in a 34-27 loss), they hurt us with the passing game.

"It's going to be a terrific fight."

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NO. 5 Keene (6-2), Spaulding of Rochester (5-3) and No. 9 Exeter (5-3) are the other Division I teams that can secure a playoff spot with a victory tonight. Keene will host Alvirne of Hudson (7-1), Spaulding will be at Dover (2-6) and Exeter will meet Nashua North (3-5).

Besides Concord, No. 3 Pinkerton (6-2), Londonderry (4-4) and No. 4 Nashua South (7-1) are the Division I teams that already have earned an invitation to the postseason.

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THERE'S one playoff berth still up for grabs in Division II, and it will go to Merrimack Valley of Concord (7-1) if the Pride defeat No. 10 Plymouth (7-1) on Saturday. Merrimack Valley also will qualify if Trinity of Manchester (6-2) defeats St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover (6-2) tonight.

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THE WINNER of Saturday's game between Mascoma Valley of Canaan (5-2) and Newport (5-2) will earn the second playoff spot in Division III West and face Stevens of Claremont (5-2) in the conference championship game. Mascoma, which will be playing at home, has won three in a row and has scored 157 points in those three games.

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NHIAA football fans can help the "Tackles for Hunger" program by donating a non-perishable food item this weekend. There will be collection points at all football games played tonight and Saturday.

Roger Brown covers high school football for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. He can be reached at rbrown@unionleader.com. Follow him on Twitter: @603sportsmedia.

NH High School Football Grid Chart
DIVISION I
Team	OA	PF	PA	This Week	Last Yr.
EAST CONFERENCE
Exeter	5-3	219	151	Nashua North, Friday, 7	38-0
Spaulding	5-3	204	175	At Dover, Friday, 7	10-31
Winnacunnet	5-3	212	196	At Nashua South, Friday, 7	DNP
Dover	2-6	168	280	Spaulding, Friday, 7	31-10
Timberlane	1-7	131	239	B. Guertin, Friday, 7	13-42
NORTH CONFERENCE
Concord	8-0	357	114	Goffstown, Friday, 7	DNP
Bedford	7-1	301	67	Central, Friday, 7	DNP
Man. Central	6-2	263	211	At Bedford, Friday, 7	DNP
Man. Memorial	1-7	188	339	West, Friday, 7	29-14
Man. West	0-8	56	385	At Memorial, Friday, 7	14-29
SOUTH CONFERENCE
Pinkerton	6-2	305	125	At Merrimack, Friday, 7	DNP
Londonderry	4-4	220	233	Salem, Friday, 7	21-13
Merrimack	3-5	217	328	Pinkerton, Friday, 7	DNP
Goffstown	3-5	186	233	At Concord, Friday, 7	DNP
Salem	2-6	161	219	At Londonderry, Friday, 7	13-21
WEST CONFERENCE
Nashua South	7-1	268	141	Winnacunnet, Friday. 7	DNP
Keene	6-2	216	93	Alvirne, Friday, 7	DNP
Bishop Guertin	5-3	179	158	At Timberlane, Friday, 7	42-13
Nashua North	3-5	134	192	At Exeter, Friday, 7	0-38
Alvirne	1-7	148	254	At Keene, Friday, 7	DNP
DIVISION II
Team	OA	PF	PA	This Week	Last Yr.
EAST CONFERENCE
Portsmouth	7-1	341	164	Hanover, Friday, 7	DNP
Merrimack Valley	7-1	242	136	At Plymouth, Sat., 1:30	DNP
St. Thomas	6-2	264	137	At Trinity, Friday, 7	0-38
Pembroke	3-5	183	243	At Monadnock, Friday, 6:30	DNP
Kingswood	1-7	151	261	Kennett, Friday, 7	12-37
NORTH CONFERENCE
Plymouth	7-1	317	102	Merr. Valley, Saturday, 1:30	DNP
Kennett	4-4	146	184	At Kingswood, Friday, 7	37-12
Laconia	3-5	154	304	Milford, Friday, 7	DNP
Lebanon	3-5	146	183	At Kearsarge, Friday, 7	DNP
Hanover	1-7	117	212	At Portsmouth, Friday, 7	DNP
SOUTH CONFERENCE
Windham	7-1	252	151	Sanborn, Friday, 7	DNP
Trinity	6-2	270	169	St. Thomas, Friday, 7	38-0
Milford	5-3	268	158	At Laconia, Friday, 7	DNP
Souhegan	2-6	171	219	Hollis/Brookline, Friday, 7	35-13
John Stark	1-7	60	294	ConVal, Saturday, 6	DNP
WEST CONFERENCE
Monadnock	8-0	333	131	Pembroke, Friday, 6:30	DNP
Sanborn	5-3	211	153	At Windham, Friday, 7	DNP
Kearsarge	2-6	61	208	Lebanon, Friday., 7	DNP
H/Brookline	2-6	150	155	At Souhegan, Friday., 7	13-35
ConVal	0-8	21	294	At John Stark, Saturday., 6	DNP
DIVISION III
Team	OA	PF	PA	This Week	Last Yr.
EAST CONFERENCE
Bishop Brady	3-4	207	200	Franklin, Saturday, 3	26-32
Epping-Nwmrkt	3-4	133	174	At IL-Moult., Sat., 2:30	20-25
Farmington-Nute	1-6	70	233	Pelham, Sat., 1:30	DNP
Raymond	0-7	139	266	At Stevens, Friday, 7	DNP
NORTH CONFERENCE
Gilford	6-2	256	210	Idle
Int.-Lakes-Moult.	4-3	128	162	Epp.-New, Sat., 2:30	25-20
Winnisquam	3-4	142	149	At Newfound, Sat., 1	19-42
Newfound	2-5	194	240	Winnisquam, Saturday, 1	42-19
Franklin	0-7	83	292	At Bishop Brady, Sat., 3	32-26
SOUTH CONFERENCE
Pelham	7-0	237	46	At Farmington, Sat., 1:30	DNP
Bow	6-1	228	78	Campbell, Saturday., 1:30	DNP
Campbell	5-2	237	167	At Bow, Saturday, 1:30	DNP
Somersworth	3-4	209	190	Fall Mtn, Saturday, 7	DNP
WEST CONFERENCE
Stevens	5-2	200	120	Raymond, Friday, 7	DNP
Newport	5-2	230	121	At Mascoma, Sat. 1:30	21-14
Mascoma Valley	5-2	283	198	Newport, Sat, 1:30	14-21
Fall Mountain	2-5	106	198	At Somersworth, Sat., 7	DNP

NHIAA