PIGSKIN PICKS
Will Exeter, Dover bounce back with wins in Week 7?
Week 7 of the high school football season is here, and all 10 Seacoast teams are in action this weekend with eight games on Friday and two on Saturday.
Friday's slate of Division I East games includes Timberlane at Dover and Manchester Memorial at Spaulding. Inter-division games in Division I include Exeter at Londonderry and Winnacunnet at Alvirne on Friday and Portsmouth/Oyster River at Windham on Saturday.
Other Friday games in New Hampshire include Bow at St. Thomas Aquinas in Division II and Bishop Brady at Somersworth in Division IV. Friday's games in Maine include Class A Noble at Class B Marshwood and Oceanside at York in Class C.
On Saturday, Traip Academy visits Sacopee Valley in a Maine 8-Man Small contest.
Here is a look at this week's games with our predictions:
Noble (4-2) at Marshwood (4-2)
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m.
The breakdown: The Hawks pulled out a 20-14 win at Westbrook last Friday night, but despite the victory, the team's effort left a bad taste in coach Alex Rotsko's mouth.
Marshwood did score two thirdquarter touchdowns to pull ahead after a lackluster effort in the first half following an opening score. But they should have put the Blue Blazes away after that, but instead turned the ball over on downs inside the 10. In addition, Westbrook had some opportunities in the fourth quarter of its own to pull ahead that went awry on their end more so than anything that the Hawks' defense did.
Marshwood needs to find some fire at home against Class A Noble, which is trying to get back on track after a 41-7 loss to Portland. It's a big game for two teams looking to find some momentum as the season enters its final stretch.
The Hawks got a strong running effort from junior Ryan Essex last week with 17 carries for 151 yards and a TD. He helped to set up both third-quarter scores by Cole Goodwin and Cody Bubier.
Coach’s comment: “We did win,” said coach Rotsko of the Westbrook victory. “That's the biggest positive. … It was a really disappointing effort Friday night. After watching the film, it was as bad or worse than I thought. … I don't think we made more mistakes in the game than usual. Most of it came down to effort. You have to want to work hard to win. … Watching (Noble) on film, they look like a much-improved team from last year, almost completely juniors and seniors. They are a veteran team. Their quarterback is the guy that makes them go. They have some big kids up front. … I told the kids (Monday) before we watched the film, we've played six games and I have
no clue if we're a good football team or a bad football team. I don't know if we care or if we don't care.”
Our prediction: The Hawks find some life to hold off Noble. Marshwood 27-20.
Follow game on Twitter: @mwhaley25
-Mike Whaley
Bow (3-3) at St. Thomas Aquinas (4-2)
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m.
The breakdown: St. Thomas enters Friday's matchup with Bow looking to pick up its third straight win. Bow would like nothing more than to keep that from happening.
Coach's comments: “I told the kids, we were 4-5 last year and backed our way into the playoffs,” St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Ed McDonough said. “This year it would be nice to pick up a couple more wins and really solidify ourselves.”
McDonough said there is a lot to play for Friday and expects his team to step up at home. But he knows it won't be easy against a tough Bow team.
“(Bow) is a downhill team, for sure,” he said. “They come right at you with the run. They're 3-3 and we're 4-2, so if we lose this one, we'll be tied with them, but they'll have beaten us, so it's one we need to be ready for.”
Defensively, McDonough said his team will have to be ready to stop Bow's running game and be ready for play action.
“Their success comes in the run game,” McDonough said. “They've got a good quarterback and he'll run some play action, so we have to be ready to defend that. I think if we can stop the run, we'll be in good shape.”
Offensively, if the Saints want to be successful, McDonough said they will have to be effective in the running game, an area in which his team has been solid all season.
“We were very physical against Laconia last week, and ran the ball well,” he said. “And the (offensive) line is coming along. We'll need that to continue this week. Our backs have been solid all year, and (quarterback) Michael (Skowron) has really come into his own the past couple weeks.”
McDonough said his team has been steadily improving each week, and he hopes to be peaking come playoff time. This game will be a good test of their progress to date.
Prediction: St. Thomas continues to make positive strides, and Bow has had an up-and-down season. It will likely be a low-scoring battle, but the Saints will come out of it with a win. St. Thomas Aquinas 20, Bow 10
Follow game on Twitter: tcovey11
-Terrill Covey
Oceanside (6-0) at York (2-4)
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m.
The breakdown: The Wildcats have dropped their last two games, and will look to get back into the win column as York hosts undefeated Oceanside this week.
It's been an up-and-down season for York, but pulling off the upset would be a tremendous step in the right direction on finishing the season strong with just two games left.
"It's our Senior Night, so we want to play really well for the seniors," York head coach Matt Nelson said. "It's an important game for us as well to try to remain in fourth place in the standings. Hopefully, we can host a playoff game in two weeks."
In York's two wins, the Wildcats have scored 71 points, and the Wildcats have some good talent who are more than capable of putting the ball in the end zone. York will need to put up some points in a game that could very well be high-scoring.
Coach's comment: "Oceanside, they're going to be a good matchup for us," Nelson said. "They have a very good running back and a very good quarterback who can run as well. So, we're really focused on tackling this week; it's going to be a big point of emphasis for us."
The prediction: York's up-anddown season enters the must-win stage as Nelson eluded to in terms of possible playoff seeding. At home, Senior Night, season on the line, the Wildcats will find a way. York 35, Oceanside 29.
-Brandon Brown
Manchester Memorial (1-4) at Spaulding (2-4)
Kickoff: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
The breakdown: After an 0-4 start, the Red Raiders have won two straight, including their first in-state win last Saturday at Manchester Central.
This week brings in another Manchester team, this time Memorial, with both teams needing a win to keep playoff hopes alive.
Spaulding has scored 99 points in its last two games, and that has really been the key to the turnaround on the season.
Coach's comments: "We've been able to kind of really fix some things over those first four weeks that sometimes are little bit more glaring when you're playing teams and they're kind of putting it to you," Spaulding head coach Kevin Hebert said. "Sometimes it's a lot easier to teach kids things you need to fix when you can see them versus when you're making mistakes and having success. I know our guys are really motivated to play better."
Our prediction: Spaulding will score early and often in the first half, and will be able to bleed the clock in the second half en route to its third straight win. Spaulding 42, Memorial 15.
Follow the game on Twitter: @AlPikeSMG2
-Brandon Brown
Timberlane (3-3) at Dover (3-2-1)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: The Green Wave suffered their second, and most lopsided loss of the season last Friday with a 42-10 loss to Bedford.
Timberlane, who has alternated wins and losses each week this season, is due for a loss this week after beating Memorial last Friday, 24-7 in Manchester. The Owls have scored more than 21 points in all three of their wins and have scored 14 or fewer points in each of their losses.
Coach's comment: "They get the ball into the hands of their playmakers in different ways," Dover head coach Eric Cumba said. "We have to be conscious of where those guys are, and make sure we understand where they can attack us from those various spots. More importantly, we have to keep the ball in front of us and make plays."
Cumba also said it's "absolutely critical" to get back on track with a win and said it has been "business as usual" this week in practice.
"There's definitely a reenforced focus on the little things and making sure all of our ducks are in a row going into Friday night," Cumba said. "The feeling we had leaving the field last week didn't feel as good as the previous weeks."
The prediction: The offensive weapons Dover has with quarterback Ryder Aubin, Bryce Carberry, Amari Lewis and others are dangerous most weeks. Coming off a 32-point loss, they become even more dangerous. Dover rolls to its fourth win. Dover 42, Timberlane 10
Follow game on Twitter: @JayPinceSMG
-Jay Pinsonnault
Exeter (4-2) at Londonderry (4-1)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: Coming off two straight losses, including its first instate loss last week to undefeated Portsmouth/Oyster River, the Blue Hawks look to get back on track this week as the regular season nears the finish line.
This week's opponent is a Londonderry team that can score in bunches, but the Exeter defense has proved it is capable of slowing down offenses.
Coach's comment: "It's a great challenge ahead of us, Londonderry is certainly one of the top teams in the state, and they've played extremely well this year," Exeter head coach Bill Ball said. "Real good challenge, and we're going to need a good (preparation) week to get ready for (Londonderry)."
The key for Exeter is to get back to establishing its strong running game with a number of capable running backs and quarterback Jack Bove. The Blue Hawks couldn't really get the ground game going the last couple weeks, and it was a strength in the first four weeks.
A productive ground game leads to controlling the clock, which then means the Londonderry offense (33.5 points per game) will be on the sidelines.
"We're going to try to establish the run game obviously," Ball said. "Portsmouth did a great job defending that (last week). We really worked on our technique. (Londonderry) will by far be the biggest team we've faced as far as size."
Our prediction: This game will certainly be a battle, but it's tough to imagine the Blue Hawks dropping a third straight. Exeter will get a key stop, or forced turnover, late in the game to seal the win. Exeter 21, Londonderry 17.
Follow the game on Twitter: @BrandonBrownSC1
-Brandon Brown
Winnacunnet (1-5) at Alvirne (2-3)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: The Warriors got their first win of the season last week and now look to go back-to-back when they visit Alvirne.
The Broncos have won two of their previous three games and are coming off a 19-12 win at Concord last Friday.
The one thing the Winnacunnet defense has to pay attention to is Alvirne running back Aiden Mills, who has eight touchdowns on the season. Mills had season-highs last week in carries (26), rushing yards (174) and touchdowns (three).
Coach's comments: “(Mills) is one of the most explosive backs I've seen this year,” Winnacunnet head coach Ryan Francoeur said. “He's extremely fast. I think every single game I've seen on tape of him he breaks one run for 60plus yards for a touchdown. He's definitely priority No. 1.”
Alvirne quarterback Shawn Boudreau completed 4 of his 7 passes last week for 64 yards.
“(Boudreau) does a nice job, and their tight ends are very strong as well,” Francoeur said. “They're kind of a downhill defense that attacks you and they are very physical. So, a lot of issues to deal with, but hopefully we can put up a good performance.”
Our prediction: Winnacunnet will be shorthanded on Friday, but will put forth a solid, competitive effort. Alvirne's rushing game poses too many problems for the young but improving Warriors. Alvirne 24, Winnacunnet 17.
-Jay Pinsonnault
Bishop Brady (2-3) at Somersworth (3-1)
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: The Hilltoppers rebounded nicely from their first loss against Newport (13-12) with a 44-6 win last week at previously undefeated Raymond in sloppy conditions. Somersworth will be playing its third and final home game of the regular season. The Hilltoppers have outscored the opposition 100-6 in its first two home games, and welcome Bishop Brady, which is coming off a 35-0 loss to Newport.
Coach's comment: “What I like the best right now is their mentality to work through adversity like some of the challenges we had when we played a team that matched up well with us like Newport,” Somersworth head coach Jeremy Lambert said. “What they've done the past week has been really impressive.”
Following a pair of blowout wins at home the two-time defending Division IV champion Hilltoppers needed a dose of reality and 2022 finalist Newport furnished it. They plan to apply those lessons in the final month of the regular season as the clubs appear to be on a collision course to meet again for all the marbles.
“It was a one-point game and it's hard to lose when you're not used to it,” Lambert said of the loss to Newport on the road. “I think all-in-all that was a good game, and that gave us a barometer of where we're at and what we need to work on. I think the kids took that to heart, and we're moving in the right direction.”
Our prediction: The Hilltoppers got back on track last week and will continue their winning ways this week. Somersworth 42, Brady 0
-Al Pike
Traip Academy (1-5) at Sacopee Valley (3-3)
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
The breakdown: Traip Academy, despite its record, has played well at many points during the season, and enters this week with a road game at Sacopee Valley.
While Sacopee is .500, in its wins, they've scored 46, 48 and 50 points. So, the Rangers defense will have to key in and slow down the Sacopee offense.
Traip head coach Eric Lane often talks about tackling being one of the key components week in and week out, and that certainly was the case this week.
Coach's comment: "Sacopee is a throwing team with a mobile quarterback," Lane said. "We need to contain that, and we can win the game. We have a few banged-up players this week, so we need some players to fill in. Looking for a big week from (quarterback) Max Jordan; his play has improved in the last two weeks, and I look for him to take the next step this week."
Our prediction: Traip Academy will put up a fight, but Sacopee Valley's high-powered offense will be a lot to handle. Sacopee Valley 35, Traip Academy 14.
-Brandon Brown
Portsmouth/Oyster River (6-0) at Windham (1-4)
Kickoff: Saturday. 2 p.m.
The breakdown: The ClipperCats are rolling, or maybe "roaring," fits better, but either way, Portsmouth is the team to beat in Division I East, and they will pick up its terrific play and head to a Saturday matchup with an underrated Windham team.
Portsmouth head coach Brian Pafford credited Windham's ability to really establish an impactful rushing attack on offense.
"They do a great job at running the speed option and can absolutely kill you with it, and the quarterback can really run," Pafford said.
Portsmouth's defense as a whole did a great job at stifling Exeter's run game last week, and lineman Cam Worster was a big reason why.
"Cam is a kid who has great straightahead speed, so when he gets going, he can really disrupt things," Pafford said. "He can play anywhere. He's played inside linebacker, and he plays defensive end, depending on the defense we're playing that week. He's a great pass rusher to disrupt that backfield."
Coach's comment: "(Windham) is really good at running the veer offense, they run it a lot like Navy does," Pafford said. "They do a great job of pushing your corners downfield and long pass patterns to keep them from helping with the pitch. They just execute it phenomenally well."
Our prediction: The veer offense that Windham runs could give Portsmouth a few problems early on, but expect the ClipperCats to quickly adjust. Portsmouth's offense will be able to identify mismatches and where to attack Windham. Portsmouth 31, Windham 14.
Follow the game on Twitter: @BrandonBrownSC1
-Brandon Brown
Our record on game picks
Last week's record: 7-2, Season-todate: 37-12.