Coming off opening wins in crossover games, both the Nashua North and Nashua South football teams play opponents they are expected to beat this weekend, but don’t tell that to North coach Jason Robie, whose team travels to Manchester West on Friday night.

“Sure their numbers are down,” Robie said about West, “but I see a very disciplined, well coached team. They were down 21-0 last week and they were still flying around.”

West, of course, is in its first season without any Bedford athletes in the program. Because of numbers, they decided to cancel their junior varsity schedule. And while Bedford was opening its season with a 20-6 victory at Milford, West dropped a 35-14 decision to Winnacunnet of Hampton.

West’s enrollment, now in the 1,300 range, would put them in Division II and coach Travis Cote has already said his team no longer belongs in Division I. They will probably move down when football is realigned for the 2010 season.

“They have some pretty athletic kids,” Robie said, “and it only takes 11 pretty good players to be competitive.”

Nashua South, meanwhile, hosts a Concord team that was shut out (12-0) last week by Alvirne. The Crimson Tide have a new coach in Eric Brown and a new offense, going with the ever-popular spread. They moved the ball at times last Friday, with quarterback Drew Bolton throwing for 141 yards.

But the Crimson gave up 285 yards on the ground against the Broncos and will face a very diversified Panther offense this week.

In its season opening 17-14 victory over Timberlane Regional of Plaistow, South put up 362 yards of total offense.

“We moved the ball well,” South coach Scott Knight said, “we just have to do a better job of finishing our drives.

“After watching the film, I was very pleased with the way we played up front, but we have to cut down on the penalties and turnovers.”