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Division I playoff preview

DIVISION I QUARTERFINALS
CAPSULE PREVIEWS

Goffstown vs. Bedford

When and where: Saturday (2 p.m.) in Bedford.
Team records: Fourth-seeded Goffstown is 6-3. Top-seeded Bedford is 9-0.
Regular-season result: Bedford won 44-7 in Bedford.
Noteworthy: Bedford is the only unbeaten team in Division I and has scored at least 31 points in each of its nine victories. The Bulldogs have put 42 points or more on the scoreboard in eight of those nine games. … Goffstown started the season 0-3, but has won six straight since then. … Goffstown’s last loss came against Bedford (44-7). Bedford quarterback Thomas Morgan completed 14 of 27 passes for 289 yards and five touchdowns in that victory. Receiver Lucien Mumpini caught five passes for 128 yards and two TDs. … Goffstown led 7-6 after one quarter, but trailed 19-7 at halftime and 35-7 after three quarters.

Nashua North vs. Merrimack

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Merrimack High School.
Team records: Third-seeded Nashua North is 7-2. Second-seeded Merrimack is 7-2.
Regular-season result: Merrimack won 32-24 in Merrimack.
Noteworthy: These teams exploded for 42 second-half points when they met two weeks ago. Merrimack, which led 8-6 at halftime, received four touchdowns from running back/slot receiver Ben Eichman in that victory, which secured the Division I West title for the Tomahawks. Merrimack quarterback James Dowling completed 14 of 20 passes for 138 yards in the win. … Nashua North has won of the most dangerous offensive players in the state in sophomore Curtis Harris, who lines up just about everywhere in the North backfield. Harris ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the regular-season game against Merrimack. He also completed 8 of 16 passes for 100 yards, but was intercepted three times in the second half. North receiver Austin Ouellette caught five passes for 66 yards in the loss. … The winner of this game will face either Bedford or Goffstown in the semifinals.

Pinkerton vs. Londonderry

When and where: Saturday (2 p.m.) in Londonderry.
Team records: Fourth-seeded Pinkerton is 6-3. Top-seeded Londonderr is 8-1.
Regular-season result: Pinkerton won 34-14 in Londonderry.
Noteworthy: The Astros and Lancers form one of the top rivalries in the state, but the series is one-sided. Pinkerton improved to 31-6 against Londonderry with its regular-season victory earlier this season. The Lancers will be trying to beat the Astros for the first time since 2001. … Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly planned to throw frequently in the first meeting between these teams, but scrapped that plan when he saw how much success Pinkerton had running the ball. Gannon Fast ran for a 146 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, and Gennaro Marra added 87 yards on 10 carries.  It was 21-0 at halftime, and 28-7 after Avery Battle scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth. … Londonderry quarterback Evan Cormier completed 23 of 33 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, which is Londonderry’s only setback of the season. … If the Lancers prevail they’ll be at home for the Division I semifinals.

Salem vs. Winnacunnet

When and where: Saturday (3 p.m.) in Hampton.
Team records: Third-seeded Salem is 7-2. Second-seeded Winnacunnet is 6-3.
Regular-season result: Salem won 20-13 in Hampton.
Noteworthy: Despite having the better record, Salem is on the road for this contest because Winnacunnet finished first in the Division I East conference. … The Blue Devils had a 306-202 edge in total offense during the regular-season win over Winnacunnet. That includes a 197-142 advantage on the ground. Salem quarterback Kyle Poulin completed 7 of 12 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the victory. Michael Ference caught both TD passes. Will Michaud gained 120 yards on 11 carries, which included a 74-yard TD run. Winnacunnet, last year’s Division I champion, received a rushing touchdown from fullback Jordan Fuller and scored on a pass from quarterback Joe LaRosa to tight end Joe MacDougall. … The Warriors began the season 5-0, but have lost three of their last four games. Two of those losses came at home. … The winner will face either Londonderry or Pinkerton in the semifinals.

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