> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bedford, Portsmouth-Oyster River ready for matchup in D1 football semifinal - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/bedford-portsmouth-oyster-river-ready-for-matchup-in-d1-football-semifinal/ - Published: 2023-11-17T15:30:53.000Z - Updated: 2023-11-17T15:30:53.000Z - Description: Brian Pafford could not stop praising his team’s upcoming opponent. The Portsmouth-Oyster River football coach is excited to see how his team stacks up with one of the best Friday night. - Author: George Scione - Tags: Division I, Bedford, football, NH High School Sports Insider, playoffs, Portsmouth-Oyster River, preview, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 Brian Pafford could not stop praising his team’s upcoming opponent. The Portsmouth-Oyster River football coach is excited to see how his team stacks up with one of the best Friday night. “It’s hard not to feel great because of who we’re playing,” said Pafford of his team’s Division I semifinal matchup with Bedford at 6 p.m. Friday. “There could be stories focused just on that roster and how good it is top to bottom. The offensive line, defensive line, skill positions. It’s loaded with talent.” Funny thing is No. 2 Portsmouth-OR (9-0), also considered one of the best teams in the state, is no pushover. The ClipperCats are actually hosting No. 3 Bedford (9-0) in the final four. Bedford coach Zach Matthews isn’t going to look past Portsmouth-OR toward the winner of the other semifinal between No. 1 Pinkerton Academy and No. 4 Londonderry set for a 1 p.m. Saturday kickoff in Derry. He knows that would be a huge mistake. “We are just as excited about this matchup,” Matthew’s said. “You always have a couple of teams circled on your calendar throughout the year. This was one of those teams we wanted to play but didn’t have a regular-season game with them. “It’s the undefeated East champ vs. the undefeated West champ. How can you not love this matchup?” Both teams earned a bye to start the tournament. Third-seeded Bedford beat No. 6 Salem 49-6 and second-seeded Portsmouth-OR beat No. 7 Nashua North 20-7 to advance past the quarterfinals. “I tell my kids all the time that games are won in the trenches,” Matthews said. “Playoff games like this one for sure. Even out of a spread formation, Portsmouth is a ground-and-pound team. They want to establish the run and beat their opponent down. We have the best defensive line in the state, so it will be their best versus our best, and we’ll see who comes out on top.” ***BEDFORD LOADED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL*** Bedford’s offense, led by senior quarterback Danny Black and sophomore running back Brody Helton have been lighting up the scoreboard this fall - posting five shutouts and out scoring their opponents 338-20 in the eight regular-season games. “Brody got a taste of things as a freshman and has just emerged as one of the best in the state this year,” Matthews said. “He has like 23 touchdowns and is pushing 1,300 rushing yards.” Black and Helton aren’t alone on offense. Senior tight end Kevin Sheridan is one of the state’s best and senior receiver Luke Soden returned to the gridiron this fall after taking a year off to focus on AAU basketball. Both Black and Sheridan were on the preseason Joe Yukica Player of the Year watch list. They’ve both performed up to those expectations. “This is what allows me not to worry about what other teams will game plan for,” Matthews said. “Stack the box to stop Brody and we have the skill and aren’t shy about letting Danny throw downfield to our receivers. We play it however the defense dictates.” Defensively for the Bulldogs, the return of senior safety Dom Tagliaferro was a big boost, but it all starts up front. Four seniors make up the starting four - ends Eli Goumas and Sheridan, along with tackles Jake Benn and Spencer Henrichon. “It’s difficult to run against us,” Matthews said, “so typically teams will try to throw it more. They will try to pass to beat us. But that just allows these guys to rush the passer, and as good as they are stopping the run, they can rush the passer just as well.” ***PORTSMOUTH-OR LOVES TO RUN TEAMS OVER*** It’s no surprise to anyone how the ClipperCats handle things offensively. With senior fullback Cole McLaughlin and junior tailback Brooks Connors, it’s all about grinding out yards, owning time of possession and wearing down opposing defenses. It’s worked over the course of nine games. In its eight regular-season games, Portsmouth-OR outscored the opposition 268-68, with one shutout to its credit. “We are a spread, but we use two backs 75 percent of the time,” Pafford said. “McLaughlin can run it, and he’s a bruiser, but he really loves blocking. He likes the contact. He wants to hit somebody to clear the way for Connors or anyone else with the ball.” That anyone else in most instances is athletic senior quarterback Aidan Thomas. That is could be a was come kickoff, after Thomas suffered what appeared to be a shoulder/collarbone injury in the quarterfinal. He is doubtful to play in the semifinal. If he’s out, senior Colby Gedney is the next man up. With or without Thomas, the game’s outcome will likely come down to whether or not the tried-and-true ClipperCats game plan is successful versus the Bedford defense. “We may have added a few wrinkles here or there, but we are what we are,” Pafford said. “We will do what we’ve done all year. It’s all about execution.” What if things opened up? “If it’s a shootout, we are in deep trouble,” Pafford said. “We need to stick to what we do - what’s worked all season. We are focused on securing the ball, moving the ball, controlling the ball and time of possession. It’s about limiting their offense's time on the field.” When Bedford’s offense is on the field, Portsmouth-OR’s defense isn’t chopped liver. Led by McLaughlin at inside linebacker, the ClipperCats' read-and-react defense is aggressive and physical. Senior defensive end Max Durkin and senior corner back Angus Moss have both lived up to their preseason Joe Yukica Player of the Year watch list tags. “It’s going to come down to our best versus their best,” Pafford said. “If we can move the ball and eat up the clock, I like our chances.”