Summer Notes: Goffstown High School Football

The goals haven’t changed for the Goffstown High School football team.

Grizzlies coach Justin Hufft expects what he has always expected from his players – to compete to the best of their abilities.

In 2014, that meant going 5-4 and not losing any game by more than a touchdown. In 2015, it was going undefeated and winning the program’s first championship.

“I would say if we can be competitive in most or all of our games, which is the same goal we’ve had for the last couple of years, (Goffstown will be successful),” Hufft said. “Two years ago, we were within a touchdown of everybody. Last year, we had a good year, and this year, if we can be back with being able to compete, I think we’ll be successful.”

Goffstown graduated 20 seniors from last year’s championship team, including 14 that started in the title-game win over Exeter.

“We lost so many playmakers,” Hufft said. “We’re smaller size-wise this year. We’ve had losses of kids who were expected to start this year between injuries, eligibility issues, and other sports.”

But the combination of returning and new players has put in the work over the summer, and the number expected show up for Wednesday’s first practice – Hufft believes it will be around 80 – has become the standard for the Grizzlies.

“The program has grown since I’ve been here, but we were at a low of around 54 a few years back,” the coach said. “I think we’ll plateau at around 80.

“We had a good summer. Just about every kid was accounted for between doing voluntary stuff with us, or playing summer baseball, or what have you. We offered a lot of things for kids to work at stuff to get better, and most of them took us up on it.”

Goffstown will scrimmage at Plymouth on Aug. 20 and will face Salem at the Queen City Jamboree on Aug. 26.