A look at some of the top performers in New Hampshire football in 2022

Here are my choices for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year from all four football divisions for 2022.

Division I

Player of the Year: Matt Santosuosso, Bishop Guertin

The senior did a whole lot of everything for the Cardinals this year, starting at quarterback and safety and returning kicks. Santosuosso ran for 1,383 yards (7.9 per carry) and 23 touchdowns while completing 59 percent of his passes for 849 yards and eight scores, averaging 14.6 yards per completion. He also added three interceptions on defense and was third on the team in tackles.

Other players considered were:

• Drew Hennan, Londonderry: 56.7 completion percentage, 1,451 yards passing (19.1 per completion), 17 touchdowns; 529 yards rushing, six touchdowns.
• Elia Bahuma, Concord: 1,610 yards rushing (8.8 per carry), 22 touchdowns.
• Dom Coppeta, Timberlane: 52 completion percentage, 1,040 yards passing (18.2 per completion), 12 touchdowns; 639 yards rushing (4.2 per carry), seven touchdowns.
• Reimello Hyde, Merrimack: 1,549 yards rushing (6.4 per carry), 16 touchdowns.

Coach of the Year: Jack Byrne, Windham

Windham won just five games from 2019-21, but this year, Byrne’s Jaguars turned things around, going 6-2 in the regular season and making the playoff for the first time since moving up to Division I in 2018. Windham also hosted its first playoff game since 2017 and picked up its first wins against a handful of programs.

Division II

Player of the Year: Isaiah Reese, Gilford-Belmont

Reese was the catalyst for the best season since the two schools started their co-op, helping the Golden Eagles finish 9-0 in the regular season and reach the semifinals. The junior ran for 1,204 yards (13.7 per carry) and 23 touchdowns while completing 52.2 percent of his passes for 967 yards and another 11 scores. Reese was also key for Gilford-Belmont on defense and a weapon on special teams, returning a handful of kicks for scores this year.

Other players considered were:

• JJ Bright, Souhegan: 1,098 yards rushing (11.6 per carry), 20 touchdowns; 10 catches, 173 yards, one touchdown; 68 tackles, seven TFL, five forced fumbles, two recoveries.
• Jeffrey Vidou, Hanover: 2,184 total yards, 19 touchdowns; team-high 49.5 tackles, four interceptions.
• Dylan Welch, Plymouth: 1,493 yard rushing (7.5 per carry), 15 touchdowns.
• Romy Jain, Souhegan: 61.7 completion percentage, 2,154 yards passing (19.3 per completion), 25 touchdowns; 131 yards rushing, six touchdowns.

Coach of the Year: Tom Babaian, Pelham

The Pythons lost players to graduation, moved up a division, and barely lost a step, winning their third championship in a row and first in Division II. While the offense got most of the recognition, Babaian’s defense allowed more than 14 points just once all season, the only time during Pelham’s 30-game win streak that has happened.

Division III

Player of the Year: Scott Hershberger, Campbell

Hershberger was the workhorse this season in the Cougars’ run-heavy offense, made even more remarkable considering he’s just a sophomore. This year, he ran for 2,272 yards for the season on over 200 carries and finished with 29 touchdowns. That included both of Campbell’s touchdowns, and both two-point conversions, in a 16-14 win over Trinity in the D3 championship game. Hershberger also came up with the tackle on a two-point conversion attempt by the Pioneers that would have tied the game.

Coach of the Year: Paul Lavigne, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough

In his second stint as head coach of the Lakers, Lavigne, who returned to the program in 2020, helped turn around a team that won just four games combined in 2018-19 and 2021. This season, ILM finished with a 6-3 record in the regular season before falling to top-seeded Trinity in the D3 semifinals.

Division IV

Player of the Year: Calvin Lambert, Somersworth

The senior gets the nod for the second year in a row after turning in a season that, statistically, was similar to a year ago, until you consider that the Hilltoppers were typically so far ahead, Lambert sat out the second half almost every week. In nine games this year, Lambert ran for 1,123 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 69 carries – an average of 16.3 yards per attempt. His one catch of the year also went for a 28-yard touchdown. In the last two seasons (18 games), he’s gained 2,385 yards on the ground with 39 touchdowns and an average of 12.2 yards a carry, helping Somersworth to back-to-back D4 titles.

Coach of the Year: Jeremy Lambert, Somersworth

Lambert has turned a program that was struggling into a two-time D4 champion, with Somersworth winning back-to-back titles for the first time since 1996-97. And the Hilltoppers have been dominant during that stretch, going 17-1 and outscoring opponents by an average of 35.5 points per game.

Previous Seasons

D1 Player of the Year

• 2015: Connor Bourque, Goffstown
• 2016: Justin Grassini, Merrimack
• 2017: Sean Holland, Nashua South
• 2018: Ryan Toscano, Bedford
• 2019: Jack McEachern, Londonderry
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Joe Mikol, Bedford

D1 Coach of the Year

• 2015: Dante Laurendi, Nashua North
• 2016: Ken Osbon, Dover
• 2017: Ron Auffant, Winnacunnet
• 2018: Rob Pike, Salem
• 2019: Justin Hufft, Goffstown
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Jimmy Lauzon, Londonderry

D2 Player of the Year

• 2015: Stephen Hedberg, St. Thomas
• 2016: Garrett Macomber, Plymouth
• 2017: Tim Bouchard, St. Thomas
• 2018: Owen Brickley, Plymouth
• 2019: Sander Wimmer, Hollis Brookline
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Dominic Pallaria, Timberlane

D2 Coach of the Year

• 2015: Bill Raycraft, Windham
• 2016: Paul Cohen, Bow
• 2017: Paul Cohen, Bow
• 2018: Keith Jones, Milford
• 2019: Chris Lones, Hollis Brookline
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Keith Jones, Milford

D3 Player of the Year

• 2015: Noah Wade, Newport
• 2016: Levi Bassingthwaite, Monadnock
• 2017: Keegan Mills, Campbell
• 2018: Colby Quiet, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton
• 2019: Colby Quiet, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Jake Travis and Kevin Bodenrader, Pelham

D3 Coach of the Year

• 2015: Larry McElreavy, Newport
• 2016: Paul Silva, Stevens
• 2017: Ryan Avery, Monandock and Greg Gush, Campbell
• 2018: Jay Wood, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton
• 2019: Rob Cathcart, Trinity
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Cody Anderson, Kearsarge

D4 Player of the Year

• 2019: Phil Nichols, Winnisquam
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Calvin Lambert, Somersworth

D4 Coach of the Year

• 2019: Orion Binney, Fall Mountain
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Orion Binney, Fall Mountain