Bedford, Portsmouth Set to Clash for D-III Title

For Portsmouth High School, the game offers an opportunity to dodge a designation owned by few but the Buffalo Bills.

To avoid their fourth-straight championship-game loss, the Clippers must defeat a formidable foe, the Bedford Bulldogs, who this year cleared a hurdle of their own by earning their first win against Portsmouth, 24-12, on Oct. 28.

But Bedford head coach Kurt Hines said the regular season victory means little if his squad fails to close the year with a "W" when the Bulldogs host Clippers today at 1 p.m.

"You look at that first Portsmouth game, and I think it definitely solidified the program and showed we were headed in the right direction," said Bedford head coach Kurt Hines. "I know it sounds cliche, but our goal was not simply to make the playoffs, but to finish what we started and win it."

Both teams own identical 6-2 records in D-III play, with Bedford, the tournament No. 2 seed, earning its place in the finale by edging No. 3 Hollis-Brookline, 21-20, last Saturday, while No. 4 Portsmouth thumped top-seeded Goffstown, 34-8, the same day.

"Obviously, our program is still in its infancy, but what's helped us get here is a tremendous commitment to offseason weight training," said Hines. "I mean, I look at the games against Portsmouth the first three years and they just destroyed us. We couldn't compete on only level, not speed, not strength, nothing."

Though Portsmouth coaches, players and fans may point to the Bulldogs scoring on a kickoff return and a halfback option pass as the reasons the Clippers fell to BHS this season, Hines is quick to note that special teams and creative offensive strategy are important aspects to any team's success.

"You take away those two plays, and I'm still confident we controlled the game, and the clock, in the second half," said Hines. "The naysayers and critics may try to find excuses, but we've proven we can compete with them and I think we match up very well with our speed. This game is going to come down to the guys up front, and I think our offensive line can compete with the best of them in terms of pass protection and establishing the run."

BHS's defensive line also held Portsmouth star running back Billy Lane to 23 yards the first time the teams met, and the Bulldog's secondary garnered three interceptions.

Portsmouth, conversely must once again neutralize Bedford's own standout ball carrier, Jordon Garron, who ran 19 times for 62 yards on Oct. 28.

To once again put the clamps on Lane, and an angry Clippers offense that dropped 38 points on the playoffs top seed seven days ago, the Bulldogs must play much more disciplined football than they showed against Hollis-Brookline, said Hines.

Either Way, a new Division III champion will be crowned today.