A look at some of the top performers in New Hampshire football in 2025

Here are my choices for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year from all four football divisions for 2025.

Division I

Player of the Year: Bennett Matthews, Bedford

In his first year as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, the senior saved his best for last. Matthews gave Bedford a dual threat at the position it hasn’t seen in some time, as he had 1,226 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns while completing 70.2 percent of his passes for 1,334 yards and 17 touchdowns, with one interception. He also had a hand in all five of Bedford’s touchdowns in a 35-7 win over Pinkerton in the D1 title game. Matthews also started in the defensive backfield, recording two interceptions.

Coach of the Year: Steve Abraham, Salem

The Blue Devils went into the year with high expectations, but after five weeks, injuries and three straight losses appeared to have derailed Salem. Instead, Abraham’s team bounced back to win six games in a row, including an upset of second-seeded Manchester Memorial, to reach the D1 semifinals for the first time since 2021.

Division II

Player of the Year: Ollie Service, Trinity

The senior helped the Pioneers win their final nine games of the season on the way to the D2 title. As the team’s quarterback, Service threw for over 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns while also rushing for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns. He had two momentum-changing plays in the championship game, getting an interception on defense to set up the tying touchdown, and a long touchdown run that put Trinity ahead of Souhegan for good.

Coach of the Year: Cory Woodsome, Kingswood

In just his second season as head coach of the Knights, Woodsome helped lead the program to a 6-4 record, its most wins in over two decades. Kingswood also reached the playoffs for the first time since 2000, where it battled with Plymouth in a 14-7 quarterfinal loss.

Division III

Player of the Year: Nick Ball, Monadnock

Ball was a key cog for the Huskies on both sides of the ball, helping lead Monadnock to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the D3 semifinals for the second year in a row. The senior ran for 1,190 yards and 14 touchdowns to lead the Huskies on offense, while adding 79 tackles – 20 for a loss – to go with three sacks and three forced fumbles.

Coaches of the Year: Brandt O’Hara, Gilford and Nick Ford, Laconia

When the season began, not many had these two coaches leading their respective programs to matchup in the championship game. But there they were, with O’Hara leading Gilford to its first title in program history (and first appearance since 2010) and Ford getting Laconia to a final for the first time since 2009.

Division IV

Player of the Year: Robert King, Hillsboro-Deering

King led the way for the Hillcats with his efforts in the running game, as the senior totaled 1,257 yards and 17 touchdowns in just nine games. That included rushing for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the D4 championship game, helping Hillsboro-Deering come back in the second half to beat Mascoma Valley for the program’s first championship.

Coach of the Year: Fred Wentworth, Farmington-Nute

After going a few seasons without a varsity program, Farmington-Nute returned in 2024, and followed that season up with its first playoff berth in 2025. Wentworth and the Tigers finished the regular season with a 4-3 record before falling to Hillsboro-Deering in the D4 semifinals.

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
• 2023: Mike MacDonough, Bishop Guertin
• 2024: Matt Morrison, Pinkerton

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
• 2023: Matt Lee, Alvirne
• 2024: Scott Knight, Nashua South

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
• 2023: JJ Bright, Souhegan
• 2024: Michael Fiengo, Souhegan

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
• 2023: Chris Sanborn, Plymouth
• 2024: Andrew Provencher, Manchester West

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
• 2023: Scott Hershberger, Campbell
• 2024: 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
• 2023: Rob Cathcart, Trinity
• 2024: Brandt O’Hara, Gilford

D4 Player of the Year

• 2019: Phil Nichols, Winnisquam
• 2020: None due to COVID-19
• 2021: Calvin Lambert, Somersworth
• 2022: Calvin Lambert, Somersworth
• 2023: Kyle Ashley, Newport
• 2024: Brody Goulette, Mascoma Valley

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
• 2023: Tim Snow, Franklin
• 2024: John Daly, Mascoma Valley