There wasn't a ton of movement in the power rankings this week, but there was certainly enough to keep things interesting. That and more in this week's report.
Welcome
The power rankings welcomes a newcomer to the scene as Goffstown earned the 23rd spot after its strong showing last week. It narrowly escaped with a win as it sidled past Manchester Central 21 - 18. The outcome was a definite jolt of excitement for Goffstown after its previous game, where the margin was anything but close.
Movin on Up
Given its edge in the MaxPreps state rankings, a win looked likely for Merrimack in its matchup against Keene. The team got that and then some. Everything went Merrimack's way against Keene as it secured a 35 - 0 victory. The Keene defense has struggled this season (giving up an average of 41 points per game), and Merrimack took advantage of that. The success catapulted Merrimack 11 spots up the power rankings, enough to make it the biggest riser of the week.
This Week's Big Showdown
One of the hottest tickets last week involved the clash between Londonderry (3rd in the power rankings) and Winnacunnet (4th). Londonderry got a somewhat close 38 - 34 victory over Winnacunnet. No one had a larger role in the success than senior Evan Cormier, who brought his A game into the contest. He tossed the ball for 225 yards and three TDs.
Next Week's Big Game
If you are itching to watch a first-rate contest, no game is supposed to fit the bill better than the one between Salem (5th in the power rankings) and Winnacunnet (4th). With the two teams stumbling in off of losses, both Salem and Winnacunnet will be hungry for the win. Salem has never lost back-to-back this season, but Winnacunnet hopes to show it that there is a first time for everything.
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