A way-too-early look at the 2023 football season

Well, it turns out you can have 21 football teams in one division.

There was a lot of skepticism from many different corners of the state last offseason when it was announced the NHIAA would have 21 teams for Division I football this year. But with one season done, it seems like the decision makers may have stumbled on to something

What was one of the more entertaining regular seasons turned into an exciting four weeks of playoffs, with the 10th seed going on a run and winning the D1 title.

The excitement wasn’t limited just to the biggest division, as all four saw some form of surprise take shape during the postseason, whether it was an upset or games that were closer than anticipated.

Can it happen again in 2023? We know there won’t be any major changes, as it’s the second year of the NHIAA’s two-year cycle, but there could be a tweak here or there. And there’s always a chance for coaching changes and transfers to have an impact.

Here is a way-too-early look at the 2023 football season.

Division I

History was made in D1 this year, as a No. 10 seed won a championship for the first time in NHIAA history. Bedford went on a run in the playoffs to win the program’s third title, and the big question is, can the Bulldogs do it again? It will be tougher in 2023, given some of the seniors Bedford will lose, but a big junior class that includes Danny Black, Dom Tagliaferro, Kevin Sheridan, Ledger Russell and Joel Poltronieri should return to give the Bulldogs a good shot.

Londonderry, which has reached the title game in three of the last four years, will lose a lot of great seniors from this year’s runner-up, but as we’ve seen recently, the Lancers don’t rebuild, they reload. Expect them to be back among the top teams in the division in 2023.

Many of the other 13 teams that made the postseason this year will face bigger questions than the two finalists, as it seems every team will lose key talent from this year. The other two semifinalists, Pinkerton and Timberlane, each lose players who have been a big part of their programs the last few years. However, you count the Astros out at your own risk, while the Owls have a good core that should be returning.

Bishop Guertin, despite losing a big and talented senior class and a head coach, has enough that should be back to be in the playoff mix, while Concord will also take a hit due to graduation, but Elia Bahuma returns to carry the load on offense. Exeter, like Pinkerton, can never be counted out, while Winnacunnet was heading in the right direction to close the season and should be much improved.

Merrimack, Dover, Spaulding and Portsmouth-Oyster River all made a playoff appearance this year and each return enough to have a shot at getting their again. Nashua North and Windham both lose a lot of seniors who were a big part of each teams success, so a step back could be possible, while teams that missed the playoffs, like Salem, Manchester Central, Manchester Memorial, Nashua South and Goffstown, were young and could take a step forward.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (13): Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Londonderry, Merrimack, Nashua North, Pinkerton, Portsmouth-Oyster, Salem, Timberlane, Winnacunnet.

Division II

Pelham showed what kind of program its been over the last few seasons, moving up from D3 after winning two titles, and dominating on the way to a third title in a row. The Pythons graduate nine seniors, just about all of whom were key parts of this year’s championship run, but Pelham had a deep lineup this season and will have plenty returning to contend for a playoff spot and be in the conversation for the final.

The team the Pythons beat in the final, Souhegan, should also be in the mix for one of the top spots in the division. With JJ Bright, the D2 POY in the West Conference, returning along with a large junior class, the Sabers should be able to overcome the graduation of 15 seniors.

Staying in the West, Hanover should have Jeffrey Videou, who set school records on offense this year, returning while Roger Lucas should be back a t quarterback and has experience under his belt. Milford and John Stark were just outside the playoffs this season and both were headed in the right direction as the season came to a closer.

In the East, Gilford will lose Belmont, as their co-op comes to an end, but it returns the conference’s POY in Isaiah Reese to try to improve on a season that saw the Golden Eagles reach the final four. They’ll lose 13 seniors from this year, but a big junior class should return to keep Gilford a playoff team. Bow, who only lost to Gilford-Belmont and Pelham in 2022, will see 15 seniors graduate, but the Falcons always seem to find away to be in the mix.

Kennett, Plymouth and St. Thomas should again be in the mix for a playoff spot, while Laconia, which will have a new head coach next year, returns some talent to return to the postseason.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (8): Bow, Gilford, Hanover, Laconia, Milford, Pelham, Plymouth, Souhegan.

Division III

Even with the loss of this year’s senior class, Campbell should still go into 2023 as the favorite in the division, with D3POY Scott Hershberger leading the way. Twin brother, Nick, should also return, along with seven other underclassmen who received all-state honors this year.

Campbell might be a favorite, but it won’t be by much, as Trinity and Monadnock are poised to return a lot of talent as well. The Pioneers graduate just three seniors from this year’s runner-up and should be returning a lot of talent, including first-team all-staters Jack Service, Paul Thibault and DeVohn Ellis. The Huskies will take a bigger hit to graduation than the other two, but they should return enough to be in contention again.

Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough was the surprise of the regular season, jumping up to win six games and getting the fourth and final spot in the playoffs. While the Lakers lose just eight seniors, they leave big holes to fill, and a large junior class could do that. Stevens, which missed out on the playoffs by a game, should challenge for one of the four spots, while Kingswood and ConVal will both be eligible for the postseason in 2023.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (4): Campbell, Monadnock, Stevens, Trinity.

Division IV

Somersworth has owned the division the last two season, winning the past two championships rather convincingly. The only team to come close to the Hilltoppers has been Newport, who beat them in the regular season in 2021 and kept this year’s championship game closer than expected.

But Somersworth will see a lot of talent graduate in the spring, including running back Calvin Lambert and quarterback Jeff DeKorne, while many other teams in the division should have plenty returning to close the gap. The Hilltoppers should still contend for one of the four playoff spots in D4, but they won’t go into 2023 as a clear favorite.

As of now, it looks like Somersworth would share that spot with Newport, as the Tigers will take some hits to graduation, but have a lot of players who should return, including quarterback Kyle Ashley.

Raymond and Bishop Brady, the other two teams in the playoffs in 2022, both could take a step forward next year, although the Giants will have to replace several seniors up front. The Rams might be in better shape there and with numbers overall, but both teams should return their quarterbacks, Trey Donahue (Raymond) and Todd Sheppard (Bishop Brady), who each earned all-state honors this year.

Winnisquam, which will be eligible for the playoffs in 2023, and Mascoma Valley could take steps toward a postseason berth.

Too-early predictions for 2023 playoff teams (4): Bishop Brady, Newport, Raymond, Somersworth.

Only 32 weeks until the start of football practices for 2023.