Importance of CHaD All-Star Football Game not lost on Connors, Team West

Football coaches are constantly quoted about games being won or lost in the trenches. That’s been the case for Hollis Brookline lineman Quinn Connors his entire life.

On Nov. 13, 2006, at just 3 years and 9 months old, Connors was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It took three years of intense treatments at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth‐Hitchcock to beat cancer. Off medication entirely for 11 years now, Connors was cleared from repeated hospital visits at 8, switching to six-month visits, and now just takes yearly trips for checkups at CHaD.

It’s only fitting that Connors will be playing both sides of the line in the 2021 CHaD NH East-West High School All-Star Football Game at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown.

“It’s an honor to be selected,” Connors said. “This means a lot to me to represent my school, my team, and to play for such a good cause. I can’t think of a better way to give back to CHaD after all they did to help me.”

Connors, having been one of those CHaD kids, knows how important this fundraising event really is. With no team trips to the hospital for patient visits, teams have relied on the personal stories of players and coaches to stay focused on the main goal of this event.

The Cavaliers standout has no issue being an ambassador of what CHaD can do.

“My teammates know my story, but I don’t think I really needed to share it for them to fully grasp what goes on in CHaD on a daily basis” Connors said. “We all understand it’s for a great cause. It’s for the kids and we’ve been focused on that all week just as much as, if not more, than playing football.”

He’s not alone on the Team West roster. There are other players with CHaD connections, including a teammate who Connors will be opening holes for in the trenches – Franklin running back Jakob Beaupre.

Beaupre has taken trips to CHaD with his brother Zackary, now 19 years old, who has been treated at CHaD for diabetes and autism.

“We’re playing for the kids,” Beaupre said. “Kids like my brother. I’m about to play in my last football game ever and it’s as much for my brother and others who have been cared for at CHaD as it is for me.

“It’s surreal. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I’m just trying to enjoy every second of every practice. This is really my last time on a football field? It means the world to me that I was selected to play in this game and take that field one more time.”

Beaupre is part of a talented backfield for Team West, led by Plymouth’s Joe D’Ambruoso. According to West head coach Robin Bowkett of Souhegan, D’Ambruoso has been a star of camp in all three facets of the game and will see action at running back, linebacker and on special teams.

Quarterbacking the West’s all-shotgun spread offense will be the two-headed monster of Souhegan’s Austin Jain and Goffstown’s Jarrett Henault.

“They will both be playing,” Bowkett said, “and getting plenty of time on the field.”

West QBs will have strong pass-catching targets to work with, led by Manchester Central’s Shawn McGarvey and Merrimack’s Jake Trahan on the outside, and slot receiver Solomon Sanchez from Bedford.

Defensively, as is the case with Team East, Team West will run a four-down front and mix up the secondary.

That line is led by Nashua South’s Jason Compoh on the edge and Nashua North’s Max Ackerman on the interior. Inside linebackers Cody Keefe of Merrimack and Michael Maroun of Souhegan highlight the linebacking corps, while Trinity’s Peter Alisandro and Plymouth’s Cole Johnston lead the defensive backfield from the safety positions.

For Bowkett, who is in his third year working the CHaD game and second as head coach, there’s something special about this game on top of the fundraising aspect.

“Everyone knows why we do this, and how important it is to raise money,” Bowkett said. “We stress this point every day, and these kids get it.

“I’m just really pleased with how our players are, number one, how they are as men and just great humans. They are high character kids and at the same time they’ve come together from different schools and communities as one team.”

What Bowkett has seen through a few days of practice has made this experience so enjoyable for him and his players.

“It’s always fun when you’re playing against your rivals, and then all of a sudden you’re playing with your rivals,” Bowkett said. “How you have a general respect for your opponents, but now you’re on the same team. It’s quite a unique experience for these kids and enjoyable to see that transformation as coaches. The entire experience is eye-opening and life changing for anyone involved.”