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Josh Lane was faced with a difficult decision.

The Pinkerton senior could have chosen from a number of schools that were offering him a scholarship. After all, there aren't that many high school linemen that physical and that dominant. In the end, though, Lane passed on offers from a number of schools, most notably Maine and Northeastern, and elected to attend the University of New Hampshire on a full scholarship.

Pinkerton quarterback/defensive back Pete Mazzola could hardly put his excitement into words.

"This is unbelievable," said the senior. "So many people don't have the chance to get one championship, and we've been here four times and won three straight. That's amazing."

NASHUA | Senior Josh Lane described the performance the way everyone in attendance was thinking.

"We're Pinkerton," said the offensive/defensive lineman between hugs from teammates and family members. "We get it done every time."

NASHUA | Pinkerton led by a touchdown at the half and the defense had already made several big stops, but the Astros needed one more big play to break the game wide open. Enter Eric Guinto.

The sophomore speedster, who gained 107 yards on 12 carries, got the ball on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and took off like a jack rabbit for an 81-yard score that iced the game as Pinkerton won its ninth Division 1 state title, and third straight, handcuffing Nashua South 14-2.

This year, more than in years past, Pinkerton's running backs have hit the holes more quickly and been smarter with the ball.

The reason is simple: a former Heisman Trophy candidate, Joe Dudek, is now a part-time coach with the Astros, who are headed to their fourth straight Division 1 championship game tomorrow with Nashua South.

DERRY | A few changes made on the field worked wonders for the Pinkerton football team yesterday afternoon in the Division 1 semifinals against Manchester West.

But the biggest change took place earlier in the week in the wake of the Astros' shocking 30-7 loss to Nashua South in the final game of the regular season.

DERRY | The feeling was foreign to Pinkerton senior Josh Lane.

"We have a few things we have to deal with if we want to become state champions again," said the lineman. "As a team we need to come together and straighten things out."

CONCORD, N.H. | Concord hung around much longer than it probably should have, but once Pinkerton shook off the rust of a bye week, the Astros were too much for the Crimson Tide to handle.

Concord (2-6, 1-6 Division 1) drew first blood seven seconds into the second quarter, but the Astros (7-1, 7-0 Division 1) scored four touchdowns before halftime | three in the final 2:05! | and ran away with a 41-14 win.

DERRY | This is the kind of new experience veteran Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly could live without.

"I've been coaching 33 years and we've never given up 50 points," said O'Reilly after the Astros (6-1) got spanked, 54-19, by perennial power Brockton (5-1) yesterday afternoon. "That's something I'd remember.

For Pinkerton Academy senior Mike Crupi, anything after the Mack Plaque weekend is gravy, even tomorrow afternoon's battle of the behemoths with the Astros, tops in New Hampshire, hosting Brockton High, which is ranked third in Eastern Mass. in one poll.