Nashua North's Luke Peters lunges into the end zone ahead of South's Josh Tripp for a TD during last Friday night's Battle of the Bridge at Stellos Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

There’s only a few area games today/tonight, as Saturday is a heavy day as well for a change. Of course we add the word “today” because of the matinee at Nashua North vs. Bishop Guertin.

Here’s a capsule preview of Week 5:

FRIDAY

DIVISON I

BISHOP GUERTIN (1-2 Divsion I, 2-2 overall) at NASHUA NORTH (0-4)

WHEN: 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Nashua High School North’s field, inside the track.

LAST WEEK: Bishop Guertin 35, North Middlesex 13; Nashua South 41, Nashua North 10.

LAST YEAR: Nashua North 21, Bishop Guertin 17.

FYI: We’ll see what the impact is of playing away from Stellos, and on natural grass. Will that slow anyone down? Guertin last week was a breakout game for running back A.J. Holmes, but sophomore Nate Bowen is developing as a quarterback. North’s best spark is senior Luke Peters, who usually makes something when he touches the ball on either side of it. Remember, last year he killed North, especially on the last play in the end zone. Can he do it again?

Guertin needs the win to reset their playoff hopes. North just needs a win, period.

THE PICK: Nashua North 14, Bishop Guertin 13. Upset special, as the Titans show they’re tired of being on the bad end of scores.

ALVIRNE (3-1) at LONDONDERRY (3-1)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Sawyer Field at LHS.

LAST WEEK: Windham 14, Alvirne 12. Pinkerton 38, Londonderry 15.

LAST YEAR: Londonderry 40, Alvirne 0.

FYI: Both teams will be anxious to get on the winning track; the Broncos have come up while Londonderry has come a step down – barely – to close the gap between the two. QB Alex Villa leads the Lancers, while back Mike Landmesser is the big key for the Broncos.

THE PICK: Londonderry 28, Alvirne 20. Gap closed a bit, but hell hath no fury like the Lancers scorned. Sort of.

MERRIMACK (2-1 Divison I, 2-2 overall) at BEDFORD (3-0 Division I, 4-0 overall)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: BHS Bulldog Stadium.

LAST WEEK: Merrimack 20, Keene 13; Bedford 35, Goffstown 14.

LAST YEAR: Bedford 48, Merrimack 0

FYI: The Tomahawks are one of the most competitive teams around, and the improvement of QB Sahil Mujuwar has given them more of an offensive spark than they had last year. Of course, Bulldog senior QB Jack Maye is making the most of his first varsity starting year (163 yards, two TDs last week). Brody Helton, banged up a couple of weeks ago, ran for 99 yards and three TDs on 10 carries. Ouch.

THE PICK: Bedford 30, Merrimack 17. The ‘Dogs are a handful, especially at home.

DIVISION II

SOUHEGAN (4-0) at HANOVER (2-2)

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Hanover HS

LAST WEEK: Souhegan 35, Manchester West 6; Hanover 17, ConVal 10

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: The Sabers are led by QB Michael Fiengo and he is just on a roll, taking part in at least 10 TDs rushing or throwing this year. Hanover can muster some offense, paced by David Frechette and Jeffrey Vidou.

THE PICK: Souhegan 38, Hanover 12. The Saber offensive machine keeps rolling, even on th road.

SATURDAY

DIVISION I

NASHUA SOUTH (4-0) at MANCHESTER CENTRAL (0-4)

WHEN: 1 p.m.

WHERE: Manchester’s Gill Stadium

LAST WEEK: Nashua South 41, Nashua North; Salem 40, Manchester Central 22

LAST YEAR: Central 20, South 8.

FYI: Nashua South is on a roll, offensively and defensively. The Panthers haven’t given up more than two scores a game in their first four, facing a Central team that got three scores for the first time in a game all season last week. Defensively, Salem rushed for 373 yards vs. the Little Green last week, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Panthers, led by emerging standout QB Cody Jackson, attack.

THE PICK: South 45, Central 6. The Panther roll continues.

DIVISION II

MILFORD (1-3) at MANCHESTER WEST (3-1)

WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.

WHERE: Manchester West HS.

LAST WEEK: John Stark 34, Milford 6; Souhegan 35, Manchester West 6.

LAST YEAR: Milford 32, Manchester West 0.

FYI: Milford has struggled this year, having given up 153 points in four games. That’s definitely frustrating first-year head coach Max Morelli, as many expected a better showing vs.Stark then ocurred, highlighted only by a Gavyn Tessier score. The Blue Knights can probably say the same thing, but they already have three wins under their belt and ran into a Souhegan machine that is rolling. Watch out for the running ability of Ke’Shawn Foster of West.

THE PICK: West 24, Milford 14. Spartans play better, but will it be enough?

JOHN STARK (2-2) at HOLLIS BROOKLINE (0-4)

WHEN: 3 p.m.

WHERE: HBHS turf stadium.

LAST WEEK: John Stark 34, Milford 6;’ Pelham 44, Hollis Brookline 14.

LAST YEAR: John Stark 62, Hollis Brookline 6

FYI: Sam Bruneau got really untracked against Pelham last week for the Cavs, who despite their tough record have some players. Stark rushed for a whopping 446 yards in last week’s win over Milford, led by Drew Tower and QB Joey Dykstra.The Cavs defense will have its hands full.

THE PICK: John Stark 30, Hollis Brookline 14. Hey it beats 62-6, as HB is taking steps toward improvement

DIVISION III

GILFORD (2-2) at CAMPBELL (4-0)

WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Campbell High School

LAST WEEK: Campbell 38, Somersworth 20; Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough 14, Gilford 6. LAST YEAR: Did not play.

It was first thought that Gilford might be a challenger to the Cougars, but now that looks like Monadnock. While the Scott and Nick Hershberger coninue to lead the Cougars, watch out for Gilford, whose quarterback, Mark Uicker, threw for 183 yards (15 of 32) last week and could challenge the Campbell secondary.

THE PICK: Campbell 34, Gilford 16. Ahh, those 11 a.m.Cougar games.