D IV, D V, D VI playoff picks -

First let me start by saying that a while back I had some requests for and had talked about doing some kind of player ranking for D IV. It doesn't look like that's going to happen. Having said that, I've had the chance to see every team at least once and most of them multiple times over the course of the season. So, next week I'll be consulting with the spirits of football yore again for their All State selections and post a thread to that subject!

Now on to this weeks match-ups. For overviews of the 2 playoff games this week see my comments on each game under the D IV Commentary category. Last week, we went 4-1 in division and 3-2 out of Division leaving us at a respectable 7-3 for the week and overall for the season at a healthy, 47-23..not too bad. Once again, I've had the Spirits of Football Yore put their playoff hats on and come up with the following picks for this weeks playoff action!

D IV -

Monadnock @ Lebanon - It will take a quarter or so for Lebanon to get past the playoff jitters. I expect that the "Bus" Bolewski will leaving it all on the field on Saturday and will have a big game. The Huskies will give it to him all day long and he'll put up big numbers. In the end though, the Raider defense will do what they've done all year and rise to the occasion and move on to the championship game. Lebanon wins this one 32-14.

Laconia @ Trinity - The question in this game for Laconia will be their ability to play unselfish defense. They will have to do this to stop the Pioneer offensive machine. If they can do that and get some output from Mahoney, Steele, Holmes and Lanphear they'll keep themselves in this game. If not, Hughes, Hoaglund, will chunk away yardage behind a wall of bodies led by Gratiano and Rainey and it will be a long day for the Sachems. The spirits tell me this will be close game...Trinity on top in OT 20-14.

D V -

Somersworth @ Kearsarge - Doug Gregory is the best all around player in D V and he showed why last week when they outlasted the Saints in 3 OTs. He'll come up big in this one Kearsarge will win in convincing fashion 44-12.

Stevens @ St. Thomas - After a tough loss on the road last week, the Saints need to regroup. Can they rebound after having your perfect season broken in such a tough fight. The Spirits tell me if they win this game they could get some payback in the championship. But I'm going against the spirits on this one. I think the Cardinals are up for this game. Batchelder is going to have a monster day and the Cardinals will shut down the ever dangerous Macnevin and pull out the upset 32-28. You heard it here first :)

D VI -

Newfound @ Gilford - Newfound has had a great year, but they seem to struggle somewhat when playing the tougher teams of the division. Gilford has the best back in D VI in Brendon Murphy and he will shine this day. Gilford wins big 38-16.

Franklin @ Newport - The Tigers have been on a mission this year. They take that mission one step closer to fruition as they defeat Franklin in a tight one 21-20.

Thoughts...