Union Leader Power Poll: Stage set for No. 1 (Bedford) vs. No. 2 (Londonderry) for Division I title
Nov. 20—The weekend's Division I semifinals determined not only the state Division I finalists but the top two teams in today's Union Leader High School Football Power Poll.
As expected, Bedford (10-0), which blanked Portsmouth/Oyster River 28-0, remained at No. 1 — where it has sat all season. Facing the Bulldogs will be the new No. 2, Londonderry, which routed Pinkerton Academy 42-7.
The championship game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Exeter High School. It's a rematch of last season's final won by Bedford on a last-minute field goal. The schools have won four of the last five Division I titles (two apiece).
The Lancers (10-1) entered Saturday's showdown with rival Pinkerton in the No. 3 spot while the Astros held down No. 2. The roles were reversed quickly, though, as Londonderry built a 14-0 halftime lead, expanded the advantage to 21-0 on Seth Doyon's 83-yard kickoff return to open the second half, then cruised from there.
Pinkerton dropped one spot and sits in a third-place tie with Portsmouth/Oyster River, which played Bedford tough for one half (trailing 7-0) before the Bulldogs pulled away.
The rest of the poll remained unchanged, including No. 5 Pelham, which won its second straight Division II crown this past Saturday by beating Plymouth, 35-6. Despite the loss, the Bobcats remained at No. 9.
The final Power Poll of the season will be announced one week from today.
