Football Preview: Change for defending champs could mean wide-open divisions
Turnovers usually determine the outcome of one football game, whereas turnover may have a lasting impact on an entire football season. The latter is the case with three of the NHIAA’s four defending champions on the gridiron.
Nashua High School North graduated 18 players, 15 of which saw significant playing time on the way to the Division I title. Division II champion Souhegan only returns two starters and will lean on a freshman quarterback to defend the crown. Newport’s road to a Division IV title repeat got tougher with the graduation of 13 seniors, including nine starters.
On the other hand, Pelham appears the best option at defending its title in Division III. The Pythons, who outscored their opponents 256-23 during their undefeated 2020 campaign, return 16 starters.
Division I
Nashua North coach Dante Laurendi has high expectations for his squad heading into the 2021 season. With six seniors and only one with varsity experience, the Titans field a younger team that will need to mature quickly to meet their coach’s high hopes.
Senior two-way lineman Rocco Ciardi is North’s only returner who saw playing time in last year’s title run. There is a talented quartet of juniors looking to step up and fill key roles for the Titans this fall – Jack Peters (LB/RB), Derek Finlay (QB/DB), Toby Brown Jr. (DE/OL) and Jordyn Raisanen-Andino (RB/LB).
“We will have to mature quickly as we have very little varsity experience returning,” Laurendi said. “We’ve gone from kids who were starters and playing for three years, to guys who have played very few if any snaps. Our seniors have done a great job of leading an athletic group of underclassmen, and we are looking forward to seeing who steps up when it counts.”
Two teams stepping up in this fall’s Division I title race will be from the Titans own western conference – Nashua South and Bishop Guertin.
South returns 15 starters – eight on defense and seven on offense – highlighted by seniors Joshua Compoh (RB/LB), Lorenzo Abreau (SLOT/DB), Joshua Lacourse (OL/DL), Osa Osuki (TE/DE), Connor Rowswell (RB/LB), Mike Rutstein (QB/DB), Ryan Salemi (WR/DB), Brady Swisher (OL/DE) and Jimmy Brown (OL/DL).
Bishop Guertin makes its claim as a contender on the arm and legs of junior quarterback Matt Santosuosso, considered one of the state’s top athletes not just football players. Fellow juniors Hunter Rheaume (RB/LB), Charlie Bellavance (RB/LB), Rocco Geraci (OL/DL) and Jakob Baker (OL/LB) offer strong support in the Cardinals’ claims as a contender.
“We were fortunate to play both Division I and Division II champions a year ago with a young team, and hope that experience translates to a successful 2021 campaign,” BG head coach John Trisciani said. “We will rely heavily on the offensive line, which returns five starters.”
Division I may be the most wide open title race this fall. Each conference has multiple championship contenders to keep an eye on.
In the South Conference, Pinkerton Academy returns 14 starters from a season cut short courtesy of COVID-19. Junior running backs Jacob Albert and Cole Yennaco will get plenty of room to run behind a big offensive line bookended by tackles Edward Van De Veen (6-6, 260) and George Nigro (6-6, 320).
Salem may be the team to beat in 2021 coming off last season’s semifinal loss to the eventual champion. The Blue Devils have arguably the best backfield statewide in running backs Aidan McDonald and Dante Fernandes (combined 1,480 yards, 19 touchdowns rushing), fullback Damian Giagante and quarterback Noah Mustapha. Defensively, Salem is led by McDonald and Tommy Ahlers at linebacker and defensive back Kaleb Bates.
“We return a lot of key skill positions,” Salem’s second-year head coach Steven Abraham said. “We should have team speed and be competitive. We are in a tough division and conference, but our kids are tough and will always compete.”
In the North Conference, Bedford and Goffstown should make a serious push for the playoffs and much more.
The Bulldogs are led by one of the state’s top quarterbacks, three-year starter and senior Joe Mikol. Goffstown boasts a strong senior class with plenty of experience, including a trip to last season’s title game. The Grizzlies will lean on Peyton Strickland (TE/LB), Antonio Kapos (OL/DL) and linebacker Ryan Cote to punch a return trip ticket back to the final.
The East has three teams eyeing deep playoff runs, including Dover, led by quarterback Darian Lopez-Sullivan among 15 returning starters, with eight players going into their third year as a starter.
“We are in a great spot to build on the success of the shortened COVID season” Dover head coach Eric Cumba said. “Building depth is a key focus point right now as we prepare for a full schedule and the day-to-day grind that goes with it.”
Exeter has 10 returning starters while Winnacunnet is led by quarterback Kyle Tilley and its other 12 starters returning from a semifinals loss.
“We return a lot of talent and experience at our skill positions,” third-year Winnacunnet head coach Ryan Francoeur said. “We may be as deep as ever at running back, which should create a lot of competition for touches.
“We return an experienced signal caller to lead our offense which has some talent on the line which may be lacking some experience and depth. On defense we hope to have good team speed and depth, with a number of talented returners and newcomers.”
Division II
The defending-champion Sabers have Romy Jain ready to go under center. The freshman quarterback looked good in preseason jamboree action, but Souhegan also will need other newcomers to step up into big roles around Jain if a title defense is in the works.
Two teams from the East Conference stand out as the teams to beat this fall – perennial power Plymouth, which lost to Souhegan in last year’s final, and Timberlane Regional.
Six returning starters – highlighted by seniors Eddie Camp, Calvin Swanson and Tyler Stokowski – have the Bobcats on the prowl for a sixth consecutive title game appearance, and fourth championship. Plymouth won the DII crown in 2016 (Bow), 2017 (Bow) and 2018 (Alvirne), but lost to Hollis Brookline and Souhegan the last two seasons.
“We lost a lot of starters from last year’s team, who took with them years of starting experience,” Plymouth coach Chris Sanborn said. “After five consecutive years in the championship game we are unusually young and inexperienced. The aim is to be playing our best football at the end of the season and hopefully have a chance at the playoffs.”
After making its deepest playoff run since 2001, Timberlane should be in position for a second significant title push in as many years. The Owls are led by running back Dominic Pallaria, receiver Ethan Stewart, quarterback Dominic Coppeta and offensive lineman/linebacker Cooper Kelley.
Coppeta returns after suffering a season-ending injury in the second game of 2020, moving fill-in QB Stewart back to his natural position at receiver, where his playmaking ability will continue to shine with more open-field opportunities.
In Division II’s West Conference, all eyes are squarely on Lebanon and Bow.
Lebanon returns 14 starters from a team that was undefeated through six games but lost out on a chance to continue competing for the title when school administrators cancelled the season due to COVID-19. Seniors Jack Stone (QB), CJ Childs (RB/LB) and Cam Davio (OL/DL) lead the fired up Raiders into action.
Bow returns seven starters, including quarterback Alex Boisvert, from a team that fell in the quarterfinals. The Falcons are making it known that they mean business, earning a playoff spot every year since moving up from Division III in 2016. With Boisvert and fellow senior captains Teddy Pfeifle (OL/DL) and Myles Rheinhardt (RB/LB) leading the way, the Falcons should keep that streak alive.
Don’t sleep on the Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton collaboration. The Redhawks have seven starters back from a team that went 4-2 with a playoff berth. With a good mix of seniors and juniors, sixth-year head coach Jay Wood is liking what he’s seen this preseason.
Key returnees Devin Barrett (OLB/FB), Steven Reddy (RB/CB), Cooper Coldwell (TE/DE), Connor Tewksbury (QB/CB), Jack Morrall (TB/S), Robert Rinden (C/DE), Noah Carter (OL/DE), Sean Carter (G/DE) and Jared O’Connor (T/DT) will determine the Redhawks playoff future.
“We have some athleticism and ability,” Wood said. “Our goal is to stay healthy and reach the playoffs.”
Division III
Defending-champion Pelham is returning some of its top talent following an 8-0 title campaign in which the Pythons outscored their opponents 256-23. It’s not a surprise that Pelham is considered the team to beat by coaches throughout the division.
A trio of talent returns in the backfield with quarterback Jake Travis, halfback Kevin Bodenrader and fullback Ethan Demmons. They will find plenty of room to operate behind an offensive line with four starters – seniors Noah Coppinger (6-2, 260), Justin Roche (5-11, 240), Ethan Giniewicz (5-8, 180) and Josh Gravel (5-10, 185).
Monadnock and its stingy defense appear to be the main roadblock in Pelham’s repeat journey.
The Huskies, who fell to Pelham 14-10 in the semifinals, still have a strong defensive corps led by senior linebacker Hayden Haddock and junior defensive end Jack Lorenz. They’ll make another push to the final four under new head coach Rob Lotito, who replaces Ryan Avery, following his four seasons at the helm.
Division IV
Newport was a force on the field last season, outscoring the opposition 328-43 on its way to the Division IV title. The Tigers path to a repeat will be a bit harder this fall with the graduation of 13 seniors, including nine starters. A mix of younger guys with playoff experience keeps the Tigers and a solid defensive unit in the hunt as they turn to sophomore quarterback Kyle Ashley to keep the offense moving right along.
Epping-Newmarket’s defense stakes claim to seven of the team’s 10 returning starters. While the defense should be steady, the offense will get a major boost with four starters on the line and the return of senior quarterback Colby Bost, who sat out last season. The Newmarket product, who tossed 26 touchdown passes as a sophomore, wasn’t allowed to play last season per school protocols regarding sports participation due to COVID-19.
With the return of three first-team all staters – wingback Mike Mbwana, offensive lineman Chase Hoelzel and running back Paul Goding – multiple coaches stressed keeping an eye on Raymond this fall.
There will be nine teams instead of 10 in Division IV for the second year in a row, as a lack of numbers continues to hamper Farmington-Nute.
A darkhorse in Divison IV could be Tony Johnson’s Bishop Brady squad. Nine starters return from last fall, including quarterback Matt Wiley.
“We are getting better every week,” Johnson said. “Kids are working hard and understanding the system. We had a good preseason and feel good about the depth of the team and our primary goals. We need to stay healthy.”
Other returning starters that will help guide Brady in the right direction are AJ Partington (RB/LB), Touker Tounsand (OL/LB), John Thomas (RB/LB), Josh Gentchos (SE/DB), Greg Watson (OL/DL), Todd Sheppard (SE/DB) and Brady Ziegler(OL/DL).
