Division III-IV

Plenty of contenders eyeing a title in Division III and IV football

There is no shortage of contenders in both Division III and IV football this season.

In Division III, while defending-champion Monadnock Regional High School graduated the core of its 2018 team, a handful of rivals return a large number of players and all want a chance to knock off the Huskies.

In Division IV, Winnisquam is in a similar situation after winning its first championship. The Bears lost some key players to graduation, but return some experienced players, including quarterback Philip Nichols, but there are a few teams that believe 2019 is their time to break through.

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Here’s a look at each division heading into this weekend’s regular-season games.

Division III

Campbell (9-3): The return of senior Keegan Mills makes the Cougars a favorite to make it to the final for the third year in a row, but his injury last season allowed for the emergence of Conor Sweeney, giving Campbell a potential dual-threat rushing attack it had during the 2017 championship season. Also back are Carter Vedrani, Cam Barrett and Paul Taraszuk to give the Cougars plenty of talent and experience on both sides of the ball.
Epping-Newmarket (1-8): Anthony Nalen takes over as the head coach for the Blue Devils, their sixth in eight years. Sophomore Colby Bost takes over at quarterback while Jayden Towle and Jacob Burd return at running back and linebacker. Noah Bilodeau and Austen Thurlow give Bost some targets at receiver while filling key roles in the defensive backfield.
Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (7-4): The Hawks return senior running back and linebacker Colby Quiet, their workhorse from a season ago, while junior Mike Oberheim steps in at quarterback after getting some playing time a year ago. HDH also returns Jack Horne and Vincent Waddell upfront on both sides of the ball.
Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (1-8): The Lakers will try to fill the void of first-team all-state lineman Ryan Caswell while trying to snap a six-game losing streak that ended last season.
Kearsarge-Mount Royal (1-8): The Cougars also have a new coach this year, as Cody Anderson steps in to lead the program. Returning players for KMR including Andrew Normandin, Nathan Harris, Ry Allard, Brandon Ross-Thomson and Nolan Haley.
Laconia (6-4): The Sachems will try to improve on last year’s quarterfinal finish behind quarterback Ryan Dee, who missed last season with an injury, and linemen Bryce McCrea and DeMarco McKissac up front. Tyler Richter also returns in the backfield and at linebacker.
Lebanon (6-4): The Raiders return more than a dozen starters, including Wade Rainey and Philip Mellish, who are back at running back and linebacker, and linemen Caleb Smith and Josh Mondragon.
Monadnock (12-0): The Huskies graduated a ton from last year’s championship team, but the cupboard isn’t completely bare for coach Ryan Avery. Justin Joslyn returns at running back and linebacker to lead Monadnock, while Joey Drew, Lincoln Blodgett and Victor Lotito are back to lead the defense.
Newport (1-8): John Proper takes over as the Tigers head coach, the program’s fourth in six years, and inherits a team that had its first losing season last year since 2004. Senior Austin Malool and junior Marius Edwards were battling for the starting quarterback spot this preseason while Jagger Lovely, a junior, looks to be the team’s top option at running back.
Somersworth (4-6): The Hilltoppers return almost everyone from last year’s team that overcame an 0-4 start to make the playoffs. Matt Mahadeo will get the nod at quarterback with Christian Abkarian will get the bulk of carries in the backfield. Also back are seniors Collin Perreault and Jason Suwu and juniors Brogan Bonsaint and Trent Evans.
Stevens (6-5): The Cardinals had their season ended by Campbell in the playoffs for the second year in a row in 2018. They’ll look to running back Keaghan McAllister and quarterback Quentin Bicknell to lead Stevens back to the postseason again.
Trinity (7-3): The Pioneers returned to varsity football after fielding just a JV program in 2017 and finished at the No. 2 seed before getting upset by Stevens in the quarterfinals. Trinity returns one of the more explosive players in the division in John Thibault and he’s joined in the backfield by quarterback Peter Alisandro.

Playoff Predictions

Teams: Campbell, Trinity, Lebanon, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Stevens, Monadnock, Somersworth, Laconia.

Semifinalists: Campbell, Trinity, Lebanon, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton.

Championship: Campbell over Lebanon.

Division IV

Bishop Brady (1-6): The Giants were a young team a year ago and return a solid core of players who gained experience last season. Leading the way will be junior Patrick Brust, who was second-team all-state at quarterback, along with receivers Kyle Beane (first-team all-state), A.J. Cipriano, Ismael Rivera and Darren Earley. Jack Compton returns at running back and linebacker for Bishop Brady.
Fall Mountain (3-4): The Wildcats will be looking for their first postseason appearance since 1994 with plenty of returning starters to lead the way. Fall Mountain’s strength early on will be its defense, with first-team all-state selections Fermin Gomez and Alex Flynn returning. Both will also be key on offense, along with running back Aaron Blair, receiver Tyler Swain and lineman Dillon Simpkins.
Farmington-Nute (2-5): The Tigers lost Paul Roy and Jacob Macisaac, two first-team all-state performers, to graduation. The return of lineman Matthew Hanchette should help solidify Farmington-Nute’s line in front of quarterback Isiah Williams.
Franklin (6-3): The Golden Tornadoes graduated more than a dozen seniors from last year’s championship runner-up, but Franklin has returning players in one of the most important places. Back this year are linemen Jacob Fisher-Valley, Simon Pitman and Dawson LaFrance, as is junior running back and linebacker Jacob Beaupre. Zack Douville, a sophomore, steps in at quarterback for Franklin.
Mascoma Valley (1-6): The Royals will look to improve in coach Kyle Colburn’s second season and have a good head start with quarterback Mike Evans returning. Tyler David will be key on defense for Mascoma.
Newfound (6-2): The Bears graduated a trio of first-team all-state performers from last season’s playoff team, but Newfound has a solid core returning. Brett Pidgeon leads the way for the Bears while Anthony Gromko and Rolando Sylvain will be key upfront for Newfound on both sides of the ball.
Raymond (3-5): The Rams are coming off a playoff appearance and have strong group of returners, led by quarterback Richie Gibby, lineman Gavin Gregoire, linebacker Colby Kissane and receiver Dylan Martein.
Winnisquam (9-0): The defending champs go into the season with a new coach and a lot of new faces. But the good news is, the new coach, Derek Hunt, has been an assistant with the program for a dozen years. And one player who is returning is junior quarterback Philip Nichols. He’ll have his leading receiver back as well in senior Gunner Horman, to go with receiver Garrett Mango and tight end Cooper French.