A lot on the line for Titans, Tide

Before the season started, Nashua High School North football coach Jason Robie had an idea of how Division I was going to shape up over the first six weeks of play.

Robie thought that Pinkerton, Nashua South and Salem would eventually rise to the top, and that the rest of the division would be left to battle for that fourth-place spot. And with three of the Titans’ first five division games against that trio, Robie was hopeful North could go 3-2 and would still be in a decent position.

As the Titans (3-2 in division, 3-3 overall) prepare for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night against Concord at Stellos Stadium, North is right where its head coach thought it would be.

“I don’t like the way we got to where we are, or how it happened, but we are where I thought we might be,” Robie said. “Going in, my preseason picks were Salem, South, Pinkerton and then the fourth spot was up for grabs. Right now, it seems like those things have fallen into place. It’s a fight for everybody else.

“The big key was how healthy would we be. We have a few bumps and bruises, we have a few casts on, but we’re relatively healthy. I wouldn’t say we’re limping into this week, but I also wouldn’t say we’re at full strength. I think everybody is like that at this point in the year.”

The Titans may not be too beat up physically, but their defensive psyche may have taken a hit after allowing 105 points in the last two games. That came on the heels of giving up just 28 points in North’s first three division games.

“We hit a little road block the last couple weeks,” Robie said. “The last couple weeks, it’s been a common theme. Anybody worth their salt is going to see where to attack Nashua North and we have to counter that. Part of that is as coaches, and part of that is the kids’ job as players, to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.”

What was disappointing about the loss to South was how the Titans were dominated by the Panthers, according to Robie.

“I think South was ready and I don’t think we were,” he said. “We were certainly dominated in all phases of the game and that’s not something that’s happened around here in a few years. The last couple weeks, it’s been a common theme. We went back to basics.”

Concord (2-3, 3-3) comes into the game needing a win just as much as North. The Crimson Tide started the season by surprised a few people with wins over Goffstown, Exeter and Londonderry.

But the Tide have dropped their last two, including a 9-0 loss to Manchester Memorial last week.

“There’s not room for let up,” Robie said. “Concord is in the same boat that we’re in. We need to win and so do they. Something’s got to give.”