Football Week 1: Alvirne looking to continue to climb back up

Alvirne High School’s football program just might be donning the perfect motto for every athletic program nationwide as the 2021 school year kicks off. The Broncos T-shirts borrow a word and deeper message from a song made popular by Miley Cyrus: “Climb.”

Fifth-year Broncos head coach Tarek Rothe had the word put across the back of the team’s 2021 shirts for motivation and as a constant reminder.

“This season, as we climb out of a difficult COVID season to a new one full of hope and promise, we have high expectations of ourselves,” Rothe said. “I have asked the players to not only focus on our end goals but also to enjoy every step of the way. From the summer workouts, to the double sessions in the heat, to the weekly preparation, to the beauty of the fall and the final practices in the snow. Don’t focus on the top but rather enjoy the beauty of the climb.”

That climb began immediately after the shortened COVID season of 2020 ended, and really kicks into high gear when the Broncos host defending-champion Nashua North at 7 p.m. Friday in Hudson.

The Titans graduated 18 players, 15 of which saw significant playing time on the way to the Division I crown, and return just one player – senior two-way lineman Rocco Ciardi – who saw any varsity action during that title run. The high graduation numbers don’t leave North lacking talent, and that’s something Rothe has stressed to his squad.

“I know North lost a whole bunch of guys to graduation, but it’s still Nashua North,” Rothe said. “They always have skilled players coming up through the system, and they’re a very well-coached team. They are always a threat to win the division.”

North’s junior class looks strong, led by quarterback Derek Finlay, the running back/linebacker duo of Jack Peters and Jordyn Raisanen-Andino, and lineman Toby Brown, Jr.

North head coach Dante Laurendi has a few question marks on his roster, but even he admits the Titans aren’t decimated by graduating so many players as might be the case in other programs. His Titans are ready to kick off their title defense on the road.

“We’re excited to get the season started,” Laurendi said. “That first game is kind of a feel-things-out game for everyone. You really see what you have to work with and grow from there. We have high expectations for this year. You’d like to have that experience up and down the roster, but we expect all these guys to step up and play their best and play hard.”

Rothe doesn’t expect anything less than North’s best at game time. A running back in his high school days, the Alvirne coach has always been about the power running brand – normally employing a 60-40 run-to-pass ratio. Expect nothing different this fall.

Anchored by senior Alex Lawson, the Broncos will rely heavily on their offensive and defensive lines to set the tone opening night and beyond.

“We have a strong offensive line,” Rothe said. “The key for us will be establishing our run game, keeping the ball out of the opponents hands and keeping that clock moving.”

Senior tight ends Brendan Graham and Alvin Thumi will be a big part of that plan on the ground and quick hits through the air. Senior running back Bryan Montgomery (5-foot-7, 150 pounds) will have a big line to hide behind before finding a hole to explode through on his way downfield, and senior quarterback Jacob Bradshaw has put in the work – offseason training with former Nashua South QB Trevor Knight – to direct the offense.

“I am excited about the possibilities this season brings,” Rothe said. “We will be very young in a lot of key positions, but our athletes have worked extremely hard this summer and have had a great start to camp. We have a lot of great competition to fill all spots including the QB position.

“We play in the toughest conference in New Hampshire football with perennial playoff teams like Pinkerton, Salem, Londonderry and Windham; however, we will be well prepared and ready to battle week in and week out.”

It’s that week in and week out that matters most this fall for Alvirne and the rest of New Hampshire’s high school athletes. After all, it’s all about the climb.

Games of the Week

Opening weekend is here, and the season kicks off with some key matchups.

Division I has the biggest opener. The division champion could very well be playing in this Friday night clash at Stellos Stadium in Nashua between Nashua South and Salem.

With 15 starters back, including senior running back/linebacker Josh Compoh, who missed most of last season with an injury, the Panthers are the odds on favorite to win the West and a serious DI title contender.

Salem’s backfield is considered on of the best in the state. Led by running backs Aidan McDonald and Dante Fernandes (combined 1,480 yards, 19 touchdowns rushing), fullback Damian Giagante and playmaker quarterback Noah Mustapha, the Blue Devils are considered the team to beat in the South and the consensus favorite to win the DI title this fall.

Other DI games to watch: Bedford at Winnacunnet, Friday, 7 p.m.; Goffstown at Exeter, Friday, 7 p.m.; Bedford at Winnacunnet, Friday, 7 p.m.

DII games to watch: Hillsboro-Deering-Hopkinton at Hollis Brookline, Friday, 7 p.m.; Plymouth at Pembroke Academy, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

DIII game to watch: Stevens at Pelham, Friday, 7 p.m.

DIV games to watch: Franklin at Raymond, Friday, 7 p.m.; Somersworth at Newport, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Coaching Carousel

Football teams statewide made changes at head coach, bringing in a mix of familiar faces and some new blood to light a spark in their respective programs.

In Concord, former Crimson Tide player and assistant coach Jim Corkum has replaced Eric Brown as head coach. Corkum was an assistant on Concord’s 2013 Division I title team.

On the seacoast, Ed McDonough returns to St. Thomas for his first full season as head coach. He replaced interim head coach Justin Lent just one game into last year’s shortened COVID season.

Over in Kingston at Sanborn Regional, Josh White, entering his ninth year with the program, takes the reins as the team’s sole head coach. He was a co-head coach last season for the Indians.

Ray Kershaw is replacing Kevin McGinty as John Stark’s general this fall. Kershaw was Newfound’s head coach last year, and he previously served as the head coach at Mascoma.

That move obviously left an opening at Newfound, which opted for Zach Parsons, a former assistant coach at Plymouth State University.

Former Winnisquam Regional assistant coach Tim Snow has replaced Jeff Davis as the head coach at Franklin.

Tim Hyde, brings a wealth of knowledge from his time coaching in California – most recently at Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles – to the Granite State, where he replaces Derek Hunt as the head coach at Winnisquam.

Mike Jillson, a longtime assistant at Monadnock and Hanover, is now in charge at ConVal.

George Scione writes for NH-HighSchoolSports.com and has covered high school sports in New Hampshire since 1995. To report standout gridiron performances, or offer ideas for the football notebook, send an email to scioneg@gmail.com.