Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Winnisquam – Hunter Tierney, QB; Brendan Vaughn, WR/DB; Bryce Corey, LB, Cody Griffin, C; Campbell – Ryan Yanusvewski, RB; Harrison Vedrani, DE/TE; Nick Boucher WR/DB
NOTES: Not only do these teams come in with identical records, they have similar stats – Winnisquam is scoring 26.7 points per game and giving up 12.3; Campbell is scoring 28.0 points per game and giving up 15.2.
They’ve also had similar results against a couple of noteworthy common opponents. The Bears beat 3-3 Somersworth by 15 (34-19 on Sept. 2), and Campbell beat Somersworth by 14 (28-14 on Oct. 15). And both teams have lost to first-place Bishop Brady (5-1) – Winnisquam fell to the Green Giants 20-12 on Sept. 23, and the Cougars lost to Brady, 23-6 on Oct. 1.
Winnisquam’s Corey will be busy against Campbell’s ground-and-pound offense, led by Yanusvewski. The Bears are a mix of run and pass, but their real issue is a rash of injuries, illness and other circumstances that have left the team depleted.
PREDICTION: Campbell 28, Winnisquam 21
Bow (6-1) at John Stark (7-0)
Saturday, 7 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:Bow – Nate Alford, DE/TE; Matt Harkins, QB; Jack Corriveau, RB. John Stark – Drew MCQuarrie, QB/DE; Cooper Gorski, WR
NOTES: Stark is in the middle of a three-game test against the top three teams in Division II North. The Generals are coming off a 42-35 thrilling win over Plymouth, a win that was probably the biggest in program history. And they will end the regular season at Hanover (7-0). But first is Saturday’s contest with Bow.
The Falcons’ only loss this year was against Plymouth, a 28-12 setback on Sept. 24. Otherwise, Bow has enjoyed its move up to D-II by using the same formula that led to so much success in D-III – a deep and diverse running game and a stingy, physical defense.
Bow is giving up just 10.6 points per game, but that number will surely be tested by the Generals and McQuarrie, a dual-threat quarterback who leads a Stark offense that is averaging 41 points per game, a number that would surely be higher if most of the Generals games weren’t over by halftime.
PREDICTION: John Stark 35, Bow 24