A look at some of the top performers in New Hampshire football in 2023

Here are my choices for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year from all four football divisions for 2023.

Division I

Player of the Year: Mike MacDonough, Bishop Guertin

MacDonough took over as the starting quarterback this year as a senior, with a new coaching staff, and ended up as the leading passer in the state. In 11 games, he completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards and 26 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. Playing behind a young offensive line, MacDonough provided the Cardinals with a steady leadership and helped the team return to the playoffs, and win a postseason game, for the second year in a row.

Other players considered were:

• Brody Helton, Bedford
• Aidan Thomas, Portsmouth-Oyster River
• Ryder Aubin, Dover
• Wyatt Avery, Keene
• Ty Miles, Londonderry
• Caden Michaud, Pinkerton

Coach of the Year: Matt Lee, Alvirne

The Broncos had won just one game in three seasons since returning to Division I. In his first year as head coach, Lee led Alvirne to a 5-4 record in the regular season, including wins in three of the final four games to get the Broncos into the D1 playoffs for the first time since 2014. Alvirne came up short in an opening-round playoff game against Nashua North.

Division II

Player of the Year: JJ Bright, Souhegan

Bright was the spark in the Sabers’ offense, rushing for 1,483 yards and 21 touchdowns, while averaging 12.8 yards per carry. He also had 356 yards and three scores receiving, while finishing third on the defense in tackles with 45. Bright was also named the first Yukica Player of the Year as the top New Hampshire high school football player for 2023.

Other players considered were:

• Dom Herrling, Pelham
• Jeff Vidou, Hanover
• Ben Cardoso, Sanborn
• Romy Jain, Souhegan
• Memphis Patterson, Pelham
• Anakin Underhill, Gilford-Belmont

Coach of the Year: Chris Sanborn, Plymouth

For a program that measures success in championships, this season probably won’t be one that’s talked about years from now. But the job Sanborn did following the team’s midseason loss to Souhegan, to keep the Bobcats on a path that led them to the D2 final, is worthy of the recognition.

Division III

Player of the Year: Scott Hershberger, Campbell

Hershberger follows up a stellar sophomore campaign with an impressive junior year, leading the Cougars to the No. 1 seed in D3 and a return trip to the title game. He finished the year with 1,373 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns, averaging 12.3 yards per carry.

Coach of the Year: Rob Cathcart, Trinity

Like Plymouth in D2, Cathcart had to keep the Pioneers focused over the rest of the regular season after losing to Campbell midway through the year. Trinity returned to the title game for the fourth time in five years and jumped on the Cougars early to avenge last year’s loss in the final.

Division IV

Player of the Year: Kyle Ashley, Newport

Ashley did a lot of everything for the Tigers during his four years in the program. The senior saw time at quarterback and running back for Newport and also made an impact on defense, helping the Tigers to the D4 title game for the third time in four seasons.

Coach of the Year: Tim Snow, Franklin

Since reaching the D4 final in 2018, the Golden Tornados had won just three games heading into this season. Snow and Franklin matched that this year, going into the final game of the regular season with a chance at making it back to the postseason for the first time in five years.

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
• 2022: Matt Santosuosso, Bishop Guertin

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
• 2022: Jack Byrne, Windham

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
• 2022: Isaiah Reese, Gilford-Belmont

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
• 2022: Tom Babaian, Pelham

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
• 2022: Scott Hershberger, Campbell

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
• 2022: Paul Lavigne, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough

D4 Player of the Year

• 2019: Phil Nichols, Winnisquam
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Calvin Lambert, Somersworth
• 2022: Calvin Lambert, Somersworth

D4 Coach of the Year

• 2019: Orion Binney, Fall Mountain
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Orion Binney, Fall Mountain
• 2022: Jeremy Lambert, Somersworth