As Jen Chick-Ruth and I made our way to a boisterous Trinity Pioneers locker room the kids were celebrating their 28-21 championship game victory over a very good Lebanon team.

 Before we could get the entire team on camera for the post-game festivities we had to wait for star running back John Thibault who was being interviewed back on the field at Wildcat Stadium.

 The kids were jumping around; playing music, doing everything you’d imagine you would be doing after winning a state championship. As we waited for Thibault I kept hearing the word ‘six’ said over & over again.

 At first, you think you’re just hearing a nickname but as they kept saying it Jen looked at me and said, “ I think they’re directing that at you……..did you pick them 6th in the pre-season or something?”

 I honestly couldn’t remember so Jen pulled out her phone and pulled up my Division III preview from back in September.

 There was Trinity…………picked 6th.

 I turned back to the kids, still going crazy and dancing around the locker room. “Wait are you saying 6 because of where I picked you?”

 The entire team at once gave me a resounding yes.

 I told them they had earned the right to give me all the grief they wanted and it was great. They hadn’t forgotten that they had been overlooked for most of the season and were the last team standing at UNH.

 Championship game highlights: Trinity 28, Lebanon 21

 Thibeault popped into the room as the celebration continued and the interview with all the kids was terrific.

 Well, I’m not making the same mistake twice.

 In a new-look Division III that sees Lebanon back up in Division II and two-time defending Division IV champion, Winnisquam moved in it’s the defending champs who begin the season as the team to beat.

 Today in our third football preview we take a look at Division III, where eight teams battle to be the ones dancing come November.

 Our preview today is sponsored by our great friends & partners at White Mountains Community College!

 

 Division III Predicted order

1. Trinity

2. Campbell

3. Pelham

4. Winnisquam

5. Monadnock

6. Laconia

7. Stevens

8. Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough

 

 Rob Cathcart’s team will have several all-state performers to replace but returns a core group capable of playing with any team in the division.

 Not that they’ll be certain of where they stack up in their division any time soon. Because of the regional schedules, the Trinity Pioneers won’t play a Division III team until they face Campbell late in the season.

“There hasn’t been much talk about defending the title because the kids are focused on playing teams like Concord and Manchester West,” said head coach Rob Cathcart of his Pioneers. “We certainly lost a lot of production from last season but we also have some good players looking to step into bigger roles.”

 Peter Alisandro returns at quarterback (“ He’s gotten stronger over the off-season and he’s a smart kid,” said Cathcart) and will be joined in the backfield by James Thibault, Malith Yor, and J.T Masuku, who was an all-state defensive end a year ago. “The running backs should be the strongest unit on our offense,” said Cathcart. “It’s a really good group.”

 Trinity will come out in a lot of two-tight end sets that will feature both Finnian Smith, a starter a year ago, and Max Coughlin.

 The offensive line will be anchored by three returning starters; Owen Tomko, Sully Masuku, and Kenny Knight. “We have some experience on the line while we work some new players in,” said Cathcart. “That same group will play on the defensive line as well and that will be the strength of our defense.”

 Thibault will lead the linebacking group while Alisandro will lead the Trinity secondary. “The kids are focused on stepping up and playing schools in the area. We know how good a division we are in and we hope playing bigger schools early on will have us prepared when the playoffs roll around in November.”

 Even for someone who has been covering Campbell football for over a decade and is used to change from year to year, it felt like Keegan Mills and Carter Vedrani were on the team for the last 6 years.

 Each was a star by the time they were a sophomore and they were players head coach Glen Costello knew he could count on not only game to game but play to play.

 Add to that the fact that Brody Mills, who contributed a year ago as a sophomore, chose to play soccer this fall and…..well you have a new look Campbell football team.

 Seemingly a new attitude as well.

 “There is a different vibe to this group, they are just a very blue collar-hard working group,” said Costello. “Every day they come ready to practice hard.”

 Sophomore Jackson Kanaley takes over at quarterback and fits in with the personality of his team. “He’s a tough kid and he has good size at 6’3,” said Costello.

 Hunter Caron has served as Keegan Mills back-up the last two years, so for all we know he was always one of the best backs in the division, just stuck behind a better one. “Hunter is going to have a good year for us. We have always had a lot of confidence in him and how he gets an opportunity to be the primary ball-carrier.”

 Nathan Perry with join Caron in the backfield and will run behind an offensive line anchored by Drew Adamakos, Kyle Wark, Josh Lavoie, Brady Robicheau and TJ Groulx. “We return four of five starters on our offensive line,” said Costello. “That group should be the strength of our team.”

 First year wide receiver Will MacPherson comes over on loan from the basketball team and will make an immediate impact in the Cougars passing game. “He has been terrific in the pre-season, just a naturally gifted wide receiver,” said Costello. “At 6’3 he’s going to be a match-up problem for some teams.”

 Hunter Caron leads the Cougars defense along with Wark, who will play Vedrani’s old position and call the defense.

 John Newell will be another impact player for the Cougars at safety while Garrett Arnold will join him in the secondary. “I think we have a chance to be better than people might have expected,” said Costello. “This is a really focused group and they are excited they have the chance to play football.”

  Tom Babaian’s Pelham Pythons are coming off a terrific season in Division II but were moved down to Division III when the divisions re-aligned in the off-season.

 Nine senior starters have graduated but Pelham returns two all-state performers on offense and a core group that should contend in their new division. “It’s never easy to replace nine starters and that was a special group we had last year,” said head coach Tom Babaian. “We now have a lot of kids who have the opportunity to step into bigger roles.”

 A pair of sophomores are vying for the starting quarterback job after the graduation of Ian Hoey. Jake Travis and Alex Carroll will likely both see time behind center.

 The focus of the offense will be on two all-state caliber performers; running back Jake Herrling is set up for a big year while wide receiver/tight end Zach Jones may be one of the best receivers in the state. “Zach does so many things that win you games, things that you aren’t going to see show up in the statistics,” said his head coach. “I think he is going to have a big year for us.”

 “Jake has looked very good running the ball for us in the pre-season. We are excited about the season he is going to have.”

 Matt Jones, Noah Coppinger, and Ethan Giniewicz will anchor the lines for the Pythons while Ethan Demmons (LB), Zach Jones (DE), and Jake Herrling (CB/S) will lead the Pelham defense.

“The seniors were initially disappointed that they weren’t going to be playing our rivals in Division II anymore but they have moved on and are excited to compete in the new division,” said Babaian. “We know how many good teams there are in Division III and we are looking forward to competing against them.”

 Two-time Division IV champion Winnisquam makes the move up with 12 seniors who played in last year’s (absolutely freezing cold) championship game win over Fall Mountain. “This group has been playing varsity football together since they were sophomores,” said head coach Derek Hunt. “They are so close, it’s a special group.”

 Senior all-state quarterback Phil Nichols steps in as the best quarterback in the division on Day 1 and will be joined this year by his younger brother sophomore Alex Nichols. “They have a really good connection out on the field,” said Hunt. “When Phil throws it to him, Alex goes and gets it.”

 “Phil worked with (former UNH quarterback and NHsportspage player of the year) Trevor Knight over the off-season. He’s looked terrific so far in the pre-season.”

 Nichols will be joined in the backfield by returning starter Andre Cormier and Nolan Perrino. “We have more depth at running back and that’s a group that will be a strength in our offense,” said Hunt. The added depth is due to newcomer Gabe Brown who will contribute right away for the Bears.

 Garret Mango, who had two touchdowns in last year's championship game, returns as an all-state wide receiver and will be joined by Anthony Robbins, Alex Nichols, and all-state caliber tight end Cooper French, another returning starter.

 All-state performer Noah Pearson will anchor the offensive line along with Chaz Hibbert, Leighton Morrison, and Casey Harris. “We have been banged up a little on the offensive line but it’s a group we are confident in,” said Hunt. “Like a lot of teams at this level, it’s not the starters you worry about but staying healthy. Depth is an issue for a lot of us.”

 Sophomores Brady Palmer and Jeremy Boomer will both contribute right away. “The kids are excited to be playing. We know it’s going to be a challenge in a new division but we’re excited to get going.”

 If you are compiling a list of the best football programs in the state over the past 10 years I’ll save you some time and tell you Monadnock belongs on it.

 Even though their numbers often hover in the high 20’s Ryan Avery & his staff have the Huskies in the mix every season and there are few places you’d rather be on a Friday night than under the lights in Swanzey.

 With an experienced group of running backs and an all-state caliber performer on both sides of the ball returning from injury, Monadnock will once again be a tough out come playoff time.

“We have some experience among our starters and a couple of players who are really going to make a big difference on both sides of the ball,” said Ryan Avery of his team. “It comes down once again to depth and our ability to stay healthy. If we are healthy all season then I’m confident in what we can become but a couple of key injuries could be hard for us to overcome.”

 Nate Doyle returns at quarterback after starting a year ago. He will be joined by a talented backfield that will feature Victor Lotito, Aidan Hart, and Justin Joslyn, who returns after a season-ending injury a year ago. “It’s great to have him back healthy again, he’s an impact player for us,” said Avery. “That’s a good group of running backs we have and we feel like they can be very productive for us.”

 Dylan Cashman will anchor the offensive line while Jack Lorenz, Zion Carroll, Joslyn, and Doyle will all help lead the Huskies defense. “We have to have our starters go both ways for us, so conditioning is always a key,” said Avery. “One advantage we have in a shortened pre-season is our kids know the system in & out. We didn’t have to spend any time teaching them where they need to be. It’s been all about executing,” said Avery. “We want to be playing our best when we play a team like Campbell and the kids are working hard to get there.”

 The Laconia Sachems have the pieces for a run in November. With an experienced quarterback and an all-state lineman who is going to be a problem for opposing teams, Craig Kozens team could be the sleeper in the division.

 How far the Sachems go will come down to how well the underclassman step up into bigger roles this season. “We have been able to have enough workouts where the players are coming around to the late start of this season,” said Kozens. “We wanted to play a schedule of the teams in our division so we understand what level we need to be at when we get to the playoffs.”

 Karter Greenwood returns at quarterback as a 3-year starter and Kozens likes what he sees from his senior signal-caller. “He has thrown the ball very well and he reads the pitch very well. We have a lot of confidence in him.”

 Kaleb Daigneault and Kayden Roberts will share carries in the backfield along with fullback Cole Roy. Ryan Steele gives the Sachems a home run threat down the field while Keaton Beck will step in and play right away at tight end. “It’s a good group and we are confident in our ability to run and throw the football,” said Kozens.

 6’5 270 lb. lineman DeMarco McKissic is coming off an all-state senior a year ago and will be a focus of opposing coaching staffs all season long. “He’s gotten stronger and gives us terrific production on both sides of the ball,” said Kozens.

 He will be joined on the line by JT Alfieri while Cole Roy and Brendan McNeil will lead the linebacking group. “It’s going to be interesting with Pelham coming down and Winnisquam coming up. Like everyone else, we want to get better week to week. The kids have been working hard to be ready to go this week.”

 It may be a rebuilding year for ‘playoff Paul’ Silva and the Stevens Cardinals.

 As many as 8 first-year varsity players may start this season. “We are going to be very young,” said Silva. “That puts us in a great position for next year and going forward but it also could be a struggle at times this year.”

 There is at least experience at the most important position on the offense as quarterback Owen Taylor returns. “He’s looked very good here in the pre-season and can throw the football and run for good yardage as well.”

 Pascal Lemieux and Hunter Christian will get the bulk of the carries in the backfield while Clayton Wadsworth returns on the offensive line and will play alongside JJ Turksy.

 Stevens has a strong sophomore class led by center Cam Oxton, Aiden White, who will line up at slot receiver & Lucas Smith. Each will step in and contribute right away along with Braxton Leblanc and Liam Williams.

 “We are going to compete every week but it will take the new players some time to gain experience,” said Silva. “The kids have been very good in practice and they are happy to have the opportunity to compete this season.”