PIGSKIN PICKS Can Traip snap 22-game skid Saturday? We think so
All 10 Seacoast teams are in action as the fifth week of the high school football season has arrived, and four Division I New Hampshire teams are playing outof-state games.
Exeter will host St. John’s High School out of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on Friday, while the other three out-of-state games will all be on the road in Maine. Spaulding visits Edward Little on Friday. On Saturday, Portsmouth/Oyster River will be at Oxford Hills, and Winnacunnet visits Bangor.
Other Friday games in New Hampshire include Memorial at Dover in a Division I game, and Pembroke at St. Thomas Aquinas in Division II. Friday’s games in Maine include York at Cape Elizabeth in Class C, and Marshwood hosting Massabesic in Class B.
On Saturday, Somersworth visits Newport in a Division IV game, and Traip Academy hosts Mount View in a Maine 8-Man Small South game in Kittery,
Maine.
Here is a look at this week’s games with our predictions:
Pembroke (1-3) at St. Thomas Aquinas (2-2)
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m.
The breakdown: Coming off last week’s loss at Kennett, St. Thomas head coach Ed McDonough hopes the season-long trend of win, loss, win, loss continues Friday at home in a Division II contest.
Coach’s comments: “Let’s hope so,” McDonough said ahead of Tuesday’s practice. “Hopefully, and maybe we can break the pattern if we can get to 3-2 and then go into Laconia and pick another (win) up.”
Pembroke won last year’s meeting between the two schools, 14-12.
“They’ll throw the ball more than they’ll run it, they have a pretty durable running back and they have a quarterback who throws the ball well,” McDonough said. “Nothing comes easy in Division
II for us. We’ll have to work hard, and play a good game, particularly defensively.”
Pembroke has allowed 42 points or more in each of its three losses.
“A win is a win, I am not looking for style points,” McDonough said. “I am not looking to score 40 or 50 points, we’re just looking for the win.”
The Saints are coming off a competitive 25-7 loss at Kennett last week.
“I think the final score really doesn’t indicate how competitive we were,” McDonough said. “So, this (game) is one we should go get. They are coming to us, and if we want to be the team we want to be, we have to do a better job of controlling the line of scrimmage. We also have to do a better job of not turning the ball over and avoid silly penalties. If we do those things, we’ll be fine.”
McDonough and the Saints also welcome the return of senior running back Timmy Avery who missed last
week’s game due to an injury.
“That helps us a lot, absolutely,” McDonough said.
Prediction: Avery’s return to a senior-laden backfield will help the Saints control the clock, sustain long drives and get back above the .500 mark. St. Thomas Aquinas 17, Pembroke 6 -Jay Pinsonnault
Massabesic (0-3) at Marshwood (2-2)
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m.
The breakdown: Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko is looking for a tough, gritty performance from his team on Friday after last week’s loss to Class A Sanford. Rotsko said the team had a good start to the practice week, and hopes that will correlate to a better outcome.
Coach’s comments: “The biggest thing for us is that we need to be a lot more physical,” Rotsko said. “Last week our effort wasn’t very good, and I am hoping the kids can bounce back from that this week.”
Marshwood enters the game looking to climb above .500, and that Massabesic presents a test of his team’s run defense.
“Massabesic is a team that is going to run the ball, and run the ball well,” he said. “We have to find a way to stop them, and we haven’t done a great job in run defense so far this year. That will have to be better this week.”
Offensively, Rotsko said he will rely on multiple players to step up in the run game and help carry the load. He also expects quarterback Ty Hussey to continue to grow in his role and is confident Hussey will be a difference maker.
“Ty is going into his fifth game starting, and has been getting good experience,” Rotsko said. “I am hoping he plays well for us.”
He has seen good things from the offense, but last week against Sanford, the Hawks shot themselves in the foot early and often with turnovers. Rotsko said clean play, and limiting mistakes will allow the offense to reach its full potential.
“We moved the ball fairly well on Friday, we just had three turnovers,” he said. “One was a pick-six and one gave them the ball deep in our territory. That was a big factor last week, especially early. We moved the ball better in the second half. This week we have to sustain and finish drives.”
Prediction: With both teams in need of a win, the home team will step up. Marshwood will take an early lead and win the game. Marshwood 34-13. -Terrill Covey
Memorial (1-3) at Dover (2-1)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: Fresh off a 42-14 win last week against Spaulding, Dover looks to keep its hot streak going with a showdown with Memorial. The Green Wave will play their second of four consecutive home games, as the student section and crowd is certainly an advantage.
Memorial comes in off a 42-6 loss to Portsmouth/Oyster River, but Dover head coach Eric Cumba said his team has to look past Memorial’s record.
Coach’s comments: “(Memorial does) some things that’ll challenge us in terms of our discipline and our assignments on defense with the option it runs,” Cumba said. “They have some athletes, where if you put them in space and you don’t occupy it, then they will make you pay for it.
“Every team is going to be a tough opponent, we have to make sure we’re focused on what’s in front of us, and not looking past it or behind us at all,” Cumba added.
Memorial has given up a decent amount of points so far this season, and with the weapons the Green Wave have on offense, Dover could find a lot of success offensively, led by senior dualthreat quarterback Ryder Aubin.
Prediction: One of the few Seacoast teams playing an in-state opponent, Dover should defend its home turf and put up at least 30 points while doing so. Dover 38, Memorial 12.
Follow on Twitter: @JayPinceSMG -Brandon Brown
St. John's (Shrewsbury, Mass.) (2-1) at Exeter (4-0)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: Not many teams, if any, are playing as good of football right now as the Blue Hawks, and the next test is a home game with an out-of-state opponent.
Exeter comes in after a rivalry win, 23-7 over Winnacunnet last Saturday, and is one of two undefeated teams left in Division I East - Portsmouth/Oyster River being the other.
Coach’s comments: “(St. John’s) is traditionally a very, very strong program, excellent school and play in the Catholic Conference out of Massachusetts,” Ball said. “Really, really good program and a really good challenge for our guys.”
As far as the recent trend against New Hampshire teams, Exeter’s defense has been on display. The unit has allowed just a total of 33 points across four games, all while averaging nearly 33 points per game themselves.
How does a team prepare for an unfamiliar opponent?
“You trade tapes and try and gauge as much as you can on film without seeing them in person,” Ball said. “But (St. John’s) is good ... they’re athletic at quarterback, he’s a run-pass threat, and they’ve got a couple of outstanding receivers, and their running back, number 10, is a downhill guy.”
Ball wants to continue to see his team improve in the defensive secondary.
“This will be a challenge, because these (St. John’s) guys throw it,” Ball said. “We’ve got to be communicating, continue to be aggressive to the football and tackle well in space.”
Prediction: The Blue Hawks welcome a rather unfamiliar opponent, but if the execution on both sides of the ball continues to be as efficient as its been, Exeter will be able to get its fifth win. Exeter 35, St. John’s 14.
Follow on Twitter: @BrandonBrownSC1 -Brandon Brown
Spaulding (0-4) at Edward Little (0-4)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: Spaulding will look to get its first win of the season, and look to bounce back after last week’s 42-14 loss to rival Dover.
Coach’s comments: “Last week was disappointing,” Spaulding head coach Kevin Hebert said. “I don’t think our effort was where it needed to be; in a rivalry game, that should never be a factor. For us, we have to do a better job of coaching it up and guys have to do a better job of leaving it on the field. So this week, I told our guys to just kind of play free. It’s a game that counts, but doesn’t count in the standings.”
Hebert wants to see the team keep building on the positives that the team has displayed at different points during the season’s first four weeks.
“Like the old expression, the only thing that cures losing is winning,” Hebert said. “That’s kind of where we’re at right now. We’re trying to get that first (win) to start building some confidence.”
Prediction: Spaulding has the talent on both sides of the ball, and Hebert looks for his team to put together a full four quarters on both sides of the ball. They will do just that this week. Spaulding 26, Edward Little 21. -Brandon Brown
York (2-2) at Cape Elizabeth (0-4)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: With a win last week, the Wildcats got back to .500, and has a chance to go above it Friday against a winless Cape Elizabeth team.
“Cape is going to be a tough opponent for us, I know their record says they haven’t won a game, but they’ve played some really good teams,” York head coach Matt Nelson said. “The combined records of the teams they’ve played is 15-1. Their record doesn’t reflect how good they are. Their offensive line is big, and they’re really strong defensively up the middle.”
The Wildcats have talent on both sides of the ball, but Nelson highlighted the importance of making plays defensively if the Wildcats want to pull off the road win.
“Hats on the ball, gang tackle and get a lot of people to the ball,” Nelson said. “We’re going to try to get at least one turnover, I think that’ll be big this week.”
On the other side, Nelson wants to clean up the five turnovers York committed last week.
“That’s something we definitely have to clean up,” he said. “We worked on that (Tuesday); winning the turnover battle I think is going to be big.”
Prediction: York will jump to a game over .500 with this win on Friday. York 24, Cape Elizabeth 20. -Brandon Brown
Portsmouth/Oyster River (4-0) at Oxford Hills (3-1)
Kickoff: Saturday, noon
The breakdown: The other of two remaining undefeated Division I East teams is the ClipperCats, whose improvement over the years, and in this year, is certainly remarkable. And for head coach Brian Pafford, the improvement stems from the growing maturity of the team.
Portsmouth will look to continue its stellar play out-of-state against Oxford Hills. The ClipperCats boast an offense that’s scoring 38.5 points per game (scored at least 40 in three of four), and a defense that has allowed just 34 points all season - less than 9 points a game.
Coach’s comments: “As we’ve played younger kids and they gained the experience and understand our concepts and our game plan, and what we’re trying to do, they’ve matured and made those steps forward,” Pafford said. “It’s not like if something goes wrong, it’s not what’s going to happen next. Instead, they’ve matured enough to say OK, how do I take this into my own hands and focus on what we have to do, instead of what might happen.”
Pafford said Oxford Hills is wellcoached on both sides of the ball, but defense is where the ClipperCats could run into some slight issues. Oxford Hills’ receivers stand at least 6-foot-3, and go to 6-foot-5.
“Our corners are 5-foot-6, 5-foot-7, it presents a bunch of problems,” Pafford said. “I like our corners, they play smart, they play hard, but they are not 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5.”
Prediction: This game won’t count for playoff seeding, but it’s still a great challenge for Portsmouth/Oyster River before next week’s clash with Exeter. The ClipperCats are on fire and will show the consistent improvements they’ve made over the year. Portsmouth/Oyster River 28, Oxford Hills 27 -Brandon Brown
Somersworth (2-0) at Newport (2-0)
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
The breakdown: After a short delay to begin the season, Somersworth is back in the swing of things with two wins under its belt.
Somersworth, the reigning Division IV champs, have won its first two games by a total score of 100-6. Newport is not too far behind with a margin of 95-0.
Coach’s comments: “(Newport) is also only two games in, so we’re at the same point, and it’s always a great rivalry with them,” Somersworth head coach Jeremy Lambert said. “So, I’m looking forward to a tough football game.” Lambert expects a physical game. “We expect it to be a well-played football game that’s going to really require us to play our best that we’ve played in quite a while to be competitive with them,” Lambert said. “That’s a good football team in Newport right now.”
Lambert said the biggest thing about Newport is its size, the experience along the offensive line, and quarterback Kyle Ashley.
“They can score points, they can play defense and they are fast and aggressive like we are,” Lambert said. “So it’s really going to come down to us just playing really good solid football to stay competitive.”
Lambert said the team is looking to maximize its speed on both sides of the ball to get more movement going and attack different areas.
“Maybe some things they weren’t expecting or preparing for, so that’s kind of how we’re going in,” Lambert added.
Prediction: Two high scoring teams meeting, meaning 100 points probably won’t be scored and it’ll be a game played in the 20s. Somersworth moves to 3-0. Somersworth 28, Newport 21. -Brandon Brown
Winnacunnet (0-4) at Bangor (2-2)
Kickoff: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
The breakdown: The Warriors played their best game of the season last Saturday in their annual Exeter game, and now hope to build off that in this week’s out-of-state game in Bangor, Maine.
Coach’s comments: “I think this really gives us an opportunity to focus on ourselves and what we need to improve on as a team, and maybe have a little less focus than normal on the opponent we’ re playing,” Winnacunnet head coach Ryan Francoeur said. “Just focus on what we need to get ourselves in the best shape to be successful when we get back into state competition.”
Bangor plays in Class A North, Maine’s highest division of play. The Rams are 2-2 on the season, and are coming off a 21-14 loss at Lewiston last week.
“We don’t know too much about them,” Francoeur said. “We’ve watched their last two games on film thoroughly. We know what we’ll be playing against.”
With the alignment of New Hampshire Division I, teams were given three options this season in their nine-week regular seasons; play eight games with a bye, play a ninth game in New Hampshire, or play an out-of-state game. Francoeur selected the third.
“It’s a little different situation than normal,” Francoeur said. “The idea of playing an out-of-state team is really neat; it will bring a unique and fun experience for the kids.”
Prediction: Winnacunnet will make the three-hour bus trip to Bangor searching for its first win of the season, and the Warriors will come back with it. The defense continues to get better each week, and the offense made some strides last week at Exeter. Winnacunnet pulls out a close one on the road, making for an enjoyable ride back to Hampton. Winnacunnet 17, Bangor 13.
Follow on Twitter: @JayPinceSMG -Jay Pinsonnault
Mount View (0-3) at Traip Academy (0-3)
Kickoff: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
The breakdown: The Rangers enter their 8-Man Small South contest on a 22-game losing streak, and head coach Eric Lane hopes this is the week the Rangers snap that skid and win their first game since the 2019 season.
Coach’s comments: “(Mount View) is almost as identical as ours,” Lane said at the start of Tuesday’s practice. “They’re young, they have similar numbers. As long as we don’t turn the ball over, we should be OK. We can move the ball, but, for some reason, we seem to fumble when we’re about to score. That’s where we’re at now.”
Traip has been shut out in three of its four games this season, and has been outscored, 206-12. But Lane likes what he has seen from his young team.
“The kids are playing pretty good,” Lane said. “They’re still excited, they’re still having fun; it’s just a matter of now we can try and get a win.”
Sophomore Seamus Berry ran for 47 yards in last week’s loss at Dirigo, and has scored both of Traip’s touchdowns this season.
“He’s really handling the ball well for us,” Lane said. “When we block for him, he gets those big chunks of yards.”
Defensively, junior Angelo Salvaggio has been the stalwart.
“He’s really stepped up this year and has become a force,” Lane said.
Prediction: All good things must come to an end, and so do bad things. This week, Traip celebrates and starts a new streak, this one on a win streak. The Rangers score early and holds on for one-score win. Traip Academy 24, Mount View 21
Follow on Twitter: @BrandonBrownSC1 -Jay Pinsonnault Last week’s record: 7-1, Season-todate: 24-6.