Semifinal Previews: Division I

By rbrown
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Updated: November 21, 2024

DIVISION I SEMIFINALS
Division I Bracket

Bedford vs. Pinkerton Academy

When and where: Friday (7 p.m.) at Bedford High School.
Team records: Top-seeded Bedford is 10-0. Fourth-seeded Pinkerton is 9-2.
Regular-season result: Bedford won 28-25 in Bedford.
Noteworthy: Bedford enters this matchup on a 26-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are seeking their third straight Division I title. … Bedford quarterback Jack Maye completed 14 of 20 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns when the Bulldogs beat the Astros in Week 6. Pinkerton led 25-22 until Maye connected with Landon Ellsmore for a 7-yard TD pass with 1:47 left. Pinkerton halfback/defensive back Jamie Isaac didn’t play because of an ankle injury that night. The Astros also lost halfback/defensive back Matt Morrison to a broken finger in the first quarter. “We can’t give up all those yards passing like we did the last time,” Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly said. “Having Matt and Jamie back helps. Never mind their offensive ability, which everybody knows about. Those are our No. 1 and No. 2 defensive backs.” … It’s still uncertain if Bedford wide receiver/defensive back Bennett Matthews will play. Matthews sustained a separated shoulder in last weekend’s 24-14 victory over Alvirne in the semifinals. Matthews had five receptions for 80 yards in the first meeting with Pinkerton. “It’ll be a game-time thing,” said Bedford coach Zach Matthews, Bennett’s father. “We’ll leave it up to the medical people. It will depend on his range of motion and pain tolerance. He hasn’t practiced, but he has shown progress. … O’Reilly enters Friday’s game with a 355-130-0 career record. A victory over Bedford would tie him with Chuck Lenahan for most career victories by an NHIAA football coach. Lenahan had a 356-70-1 record during his time as Plymouth Regional’s head coach. O’Reilly said he plans to be on the sideline next year regardless of his coaching record. … Pinkerton advanced by beating 13th-seeded Merrimack 38-14 in the first round and 12th-seeded Windham 14-8 in the quarterfinals. Bedford had a first-round bye, and overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat eighth-seeded Alvirne in the quarterfinals. … The winner of this matchup will face either second-seeded Exeter or third-seeded Londonderry in the Division I championship game at a site TBA.

Exeter vs. Londonderry

When and where: Saturday (1 p.m.) at Exeter High School.
Team records: Third-seeded Londonderry is 7-3. Second-seeded Exeter is 10-0.
Regular-season result: Exeter won 21-10 in Exeter.
Noteworthy: Londonderry is seeking its fourth straight trip to the Division I championship game. The Lancers beat Winnacunnet to win the title in 2021, but lost to Bedford in 2022 and 2023. … Exeter is one of three unbeaten teams in the state, joining Bedford and Campbell. Exeter halfback/lineback Daniel Batstone is one of three finalists for the Joe Yukica Player of the Year Award. He’s rushed for a team-high 847 yards and 18 touchdowns on 123 attempts (6.9 ypc), and caught eight passes for 147 yards and three TDs. Batstone also ranks second on the team in both tackles (53) and sacks (three). … Exeter quarterback Michael Caron completed 10 of 15 pass attempts for 154 yards and a touchdown when the Blue Hawks beat the Lancers 21-10 earlier this year. “Typically a lot of teams are going to make a bunch of adjustments when you play them a second time, and I’m not saying they’re not going to make adjustments, but they’re known for doing what they do and they do it better the second time around,” Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said. “I think that’s why they’ve had so much success in rematches over the years. It’s unlikely you’ll beat an Exeter team if you don’t create a couple turnovers. We have to win that battle. I’m anticipating it will be a close game, so it will probably come down to the little details.” … Senior quarterback Sam Odgen is a run/pass threat who makes the Londonderry offense go. He was injured in the second half of the regular season game against Exeter. … Each team earned a first-round bye. Exeter beat seventh-seeded Manchester Memorial 33-6 in the quarterfinals. Londonderry advanced with a 28-13 victory over sixth-seeded Nashua South. … … If Londonderry and Pinkerton each advance it will be the first time those teams have met in a championship game since 1993, when Pinkerton prevailed 21-0 at Londonderry. … Londonderry beat Exeter 27-6 in the Division I quarterfinals last season. “Obviously there’s a lot at stake,” Exeter coach Bill Ball said. “Two good teams. Real good battle last time. I have a lot of respect for that (Londonderry) program and the job those guys do over there. We’ll have to be at our best Saturday afternoon.”

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