BOZEMAN – As Bozeman mayor Jeff Krauss sips his coffee at The Leaf and Bean on Main Street, he compares the politics of his county to something you might find in the coffeehouse’s pastry case.

MARLBORO — Throughout the season, Fairhaven High football coach Derek Almeida never talked to his players about going back to the Super Bowl. “That was never the goal,” he said. “We’re not talking ...