We are already through week six in New Hampshire football. Now it’s time to see how teams rank going into week seven.
- Londonderry (5-1) Last week ranking 1
Londonderry hosted a talented Bishop Guertin team in week six. These two powerhouses in division put on a great show for everyone in attendance. Londonderry won this game over Bishop Guertin 35-16. If you missed this matchup in week six there’s a chance that we see this matchup again but the winner holding up the trophy in November.
2. Nashua North (6-0) Last week ranking 3
Nashua North is the only unbeaten team left in division one. (Londonderry lost their out of state game) North’s game in week six was canceled against Alvirne. Nashua North has a tough remaining schedule with Merrimack, Bishop Guertin and Dover all three of these teams will most likely be playoff teams.
3. Bishop Guertin (5-1) Last week ranking 2
Bishop Guertin played one of their toughest games of the regular season as they traveled down to play at Londonderry. BG fell short 35-16 as Londonderry played shutdown defense against a great offense. BG has a tough road ahead with Bedford in week six and in week nine they play rival Nashua North.
4. Bedford (5-1) Last week ranking 16
I am not gonna lie, Bedford was not on my radar but now they caught my attention. Bedfords lone loss is to Nashua North 19-7 in week one and they have been on a winning streak since. Bedford is only averaging 6.5 points against this season while shutting out three of their opponents so far this season. Bedford plays at Bishop Guertin in week seven after beating a very good Exeter team in six 20-10.
5. Timberlane (5-1) Last week ranking 4
Timberlane moves to 5-1 and puts them in a good spot in the East and will most likely be the one seed coming out of the East. Timberlanes only loss was to Bishop Guertin in week two 23-20. Timberlane will travel to Spaulding in week seven. Timberlane ends the year with Spaulding, Dover and Portsmouth-Oyster River.
6. Pinkerton (5-1) Last week ranking 6
Pinkerton winning back to back games after losing to Londonderry. In week six Pinkerton beat a not so good Winnacunnet team 38-0. Pinkerton plays their out of state game against Brockton in week seven as it is a must win for the Astros. Pinkerton’s week nine matchup with Concord is looking better and better every week.
7. Pelham (6-0) Last week ranking 5
Pelham remains unbeaten after a Lebanon forfeit. Pelham hosts a Milford team who struggled at the beginning of the season but has now pulled it together. Pelham has dominated their first six games of the year. Pelham ends the year with three really good teams Milford, Souhegan and Hanover.
8. Souhegan (6-0) Last week ranking 7
Souhegan remains unbeaten as they beat Hanover in week six 28-6. Souhegan has one tough game left on their schedule as Pelham will travel to Souhegan to play in week eight. JJ Bright and Romy Jain both looked amazing in their week six matchup with Hanover as they were involved in every play on both sides of the ball.
9. Windham (4-2) Last week ranking 11
Windham moves into the top ten after a win over Manchester Memorial 20-7. Windham only has two games left on their schedule as they are on the road for both Manchester Central and Concord. Windham has a bye in week nine as Coach Byrne did not fill in their open game with someone. This ended up working out good for Windham as they will not have a bye in playoffs so they will be able to treat this week as a true bye week.
10. Concord (5-1) Last week ranking 13
Concord extends their winning streak to five as they beat Nashua South in week six 42-24. Concord star running back Elia Bahuma has already logged over 1,000 rushing yards in 2022 and is only a junior. Concord has three very important games to end the year at Salem, home vs Windham and week nine at Pinkerton. That week nine matchup is looking more and more important as we get closer to it.
11. Gilford-Belmont (6-0) Last week ranking 10
Gilford-Belmont right outside the top ten is still undefeated going into week seven. Logan Grant had a big week six against Plymouth for Gilford to help Gilford beat Plymouth 35-14. Gilford-Belmont plays home against Merrimack Valley in week seven and a huge week eight game against Hanover and to end the regular season they play at Saint Thomas Aquinas.
12. Trinity (6-0) Last week ranking 8
Trinity’s game in week six was a forfeit by Kearsarge. So Trinity rolls to a 6-0 start to the year. They now have locked up the number one seed in division three. It is looking like Trinity will be playing Fall Mountain, Stevens or Interlakes in the semi finals in division three.
13. Exeter (4-2) Last week ranking 9
Exeter drops a few spots after losing back to back games in week five a loss to Timberlane 27-23 and a week six loss to Bedford 20-10. Exeter’s schedule does not get easier as they play Dover, Spaulding and Manchester Memorial. Star kicker running back and strong safety Ethan Moss who drilled a 28 yard field goal with 2:50 left in Exeter vs Winnacunnet in week four this Exeter squad might not be sitting at a 4-2 record without him.
14. Bow (5-1) Last week ranking 17
Bow moves into the top 15 after a big win over Kennett 10-0 in week six. Bow’s only loss came earlier in the season to Gilford-Belmont 52-33. Bow is led by Hollis Jones, Ryan Lover, and quarterback Owen Walton. Bow might be able to make a run in the playoffs if they can avoid Gilford-Belmont until the semi finals.
15. Merrimack (4-2) Last week ranking 19
Merrimack is on a two game winning streak by beating Spaulding in week six 24-12. Merrimack has a big test in week seven as they play Nashua North. Merrimack’s week nine matchup with Bedford is going to be a big one down the road in a few weeks.
16. Hanover (5-1) Last week ranking 12
Hanover lost their first game of the year in week six to a very good Souhegan team 28-6. Hanover lost star quarterback Roger Lucas in the loss to Souhegan but he hopes to be back after this week. Getting Roger back will be huge for Hanover as they Gilford-Belmont in week eight and in week nine to end the regular season they host a really good Pelham team.
17. Spaulding (4-2) Last week ranking 14
Spaulding continues to drop spots as they lost back to back games in week six a loss to Merrimack 24-12. The Red Raiders will be trying to fix all their problems as they end the year with three tough games in Timberlane, Exeter and Winnacunnet. Spaulding needs to win atleast one of these games to stay in a good playoff spot.
18. Monadnock (5-1) Last week ranking 20
Who thought Campbell was the second best team in division two as they went into the fourth of the Trinity in a dog fight. Well Monadnock showed Campbell that they are still a powerhouse despite losing to Trinity in week four 28-0. Monadnock put on a show as they traveled down to Litchfield to play at Campbell in week six and won 52-8. Monadnock pretty much clinched the second seed in division three which means they will not have to play Trinity till the Championship if both teams can make it.
19. Dover (4-2) Last week ranking 15
Dover drops a few spots after a 14-18 loss to Manchester Central. Dover might have the hardest last three games of the year with Exeter, Timberlane and Nashua North all three teams are not only playoff teams but at the top of the playoffs. Dover needs to be able to beat one of these teams to avoid playing like Londonderry, Nashua North, or Bishop Guertin in the first round.
20. Campbell (4-2) Last week ranking 18
Well if you told me last week Campbell was going to lose to Monadnock I would have thought it was either a dog fight or you were kidding. I would have been totally wrong. Monadnock put a beating on Campbell 52-8. Campbell will most likely be the three seed in division three which most likely means Campbell will have to travel up to Monadnock in round one of the New Hampshire division three playoffs.
21. Portsmouth-Oyster River (3-3) Last week ranking 22
Portsmouth moves up a spot with a win over Keene in week six 35-14. Portsmouth will be looking to get above .500 in week seven as they play Goffstown. Portsmouth-Oyster River has a tough week nine game against Timberlane which will be really important for both sides as the season starts to come to an end.
22. Milford (3-3) Last week ranking Not Ranked
Milford gets into the top 25 after not being in. Milford started the season off not so great by starting the year 1-3 and now on a two game winning streak going into Pelham in seven. Will Milford be able to hand Pelham their first loss of the year? We will know after Friday night.
23. Kennett (3-3) Last week ranking 23
Kennett stays the same as they lost in week six to Bow 10-0. Kennett drops back down to .500 through six weeks of action. They have a big test this week as they play Plymouth.
24. Plymouth (3-3) Last week ranking Not Ranked
Plymouth in the top 25 with a 3-3 record. After losing back to back games in week five and six they look to bounce back against a Kennett team who also is looking for a big win. This is a huge game in division two as one team will get in front of the other and the other team will be on the outside trying to get back in.
25. Merrimack Valley (3-3): Last week ranking Not Ranked
Merrimack Valley had a huge win over Manchester West in week six. They play a team that has not lost yet, Gilford-Belmont in week seven.