The Trinity vs. Campbell championship game last November was a contrast in styles.

 Trinity wanted to beat the Cougars with their superior speed.

 Campbell wanted to beat the Pioneers up in a phone booth.

 Nine months later, that 15-14 slugfest sets up a rematch on September 29th and possibly another one in the post-season.

 Let's be clear about the 2023 Division III campaign's theme: Will anyone be able to beat the co-favorites in the post-season?

 Today in our third of four pre-season previews, we look at the contenders and sleeper team candidates across the division.

 Our preview is brought to you by our longtime partners at Manchester Community College!

  Division III Predicted Order  (* playoff team )

1. Campbell *

2. Trinity *

3. Inter-Lakes Moultonborugh *

4. Monadnock *

5. Epping Newmarket

6. Fall Mountain

7. Stevens

8. Kingswood

9. Con Val

10. Kearsarge 

 The defending champion Campbell Cougars lost two games during the regular season but knocked off top seed and undefeated Trinity in a slugfest of a final. Controlling the clock, keeping the Pioneers' offense off the field, and riding the production of their all-state running back.

 “ We felt like we had a good game plan and the players to execute it,” said head coach Glen Costello. “ Now it’s about proving it wasn’t an upset and that we are the best team from day one.”

 Gavin Osgood takes over at quarterback for the graduated Jackson Kanaley. “ Gavin is the best passer I’ve had in my time here as head coach,” praised Costello. “ We have tweaked the offense a bit to play to his strengths."

 One of his strengths will be simply handing the ball off to all-state running back Scott Hershberger, who ran for 1,650 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Numbers that would make Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson envious.

“ He’s actually bigger and faster than he was a year ago,” said Costello.

“ The biggest area of growth I’ve seen from him has been his leadership. He’s taken on that role as a junior, and it’s been impressive to watch.”

 Joining Hershberger in the backfield will be Logan Daigle, Braydon White, and fullback Nick Hershberger.

 All-state baseball standout Jack Kidwell returns at tight end and will line up alongside wide receiver Bronson LeDuc.

 The offensive line should be the best in the division as all five starters from last year's champions return.

 Evan St Pierre, Alex St. Pierre, Zach Poulin, Luke O’Neil, and Aidan Scopelites will lead the Cougars on the offensive and defensive lines.

“ Returning our line is huge,” said Costello. “ That has allowed us to scale back what they have done in the pre-season. We have focused more on technique than how they stack up physically.”

 Nick Hershberger will lead the defense from the linebacker spot and be joined by Nick Mackey, Hunter Henderson, and all-state wrestler Logan Allaire.

 “ We are taking it one week at a time, but the focus is on trying to win back-to-back titles,” said Costello. “ We have a team that loves to compete, and they are excited to get started.”

 The Trinity Pioneers were a team with very few flaws in 2022. Unfortunately, the team's fatal flaw was exposed when they reached the championship game undefeated and favored to beat 7-2 Campbell.

 “ We had as much speed as any team in the division and athletes across the field,” said head coach Rob Cathcart, looking back on their 15-14 loss to the Cougars. “ We were beaten by a stronger team that pushed us back off the line. “

 Cathcart and the Pioneers decided that the off-season was all about getting bigger and stronger in the weight room. “ The attendance during the off-season was excellent; we had guys who really dedicated themselves,” said Cathcart.

 With their four best offensive weapons all returning, the Pioneers are strong favorites to get back to their fourth consecutive Division III title game. “ We have pretty much everybody back, so we have been able to hit the ground running in the pre-season.”

 Jack Service returns at quarterback after leading the division with 718 yards through the air last season. “ He’s looked outstanding for us. He’s big, strong, and has a great arm,” said Cathcart. “ In all my years of coaching, he is as good as any quarterback I’ve ever had.”

 All-state standout Devohn Ellis returns at RB/WR and will be joined by Paul Thibault and Bobby Kinsella in a loaded backfield. “ Devohn has really taken on a leadership role,” said Cathcart. “ He was elected as one of our captains and is a player his teammates know they can count on.”

 Fellow captain Owen Aristor will start at tight end and line up alongside an improved offensive line led by Noah Frenette, Domenic Canny, Dominic De Tone, Dylan Gartside, and Ryan Ashooh.

 “ We have sophomores starting on the line for us, but it is a solid group,” said Cathcart. “It’s as strong as I’ve seen our offensive line here.”

 Anthony Digiantommaso is a standout at linebacker and will be joined on that unit by Thibeault and Aristor. “ All three are fast and have experience at the position.”:

 Put it all together, and Trinity hopes to prove they’ve fixed their weakness and are ready to win their first Division III championship since 2019.

 “ We have thirty-eight players in the program and a lot of seniors who want to go out winners,” said Cathcart. “ That has created great practices and a lot of excitement for the season.” 

 If there is a team capable of crashing the Campbell/Trinity Part II party, it’s the Inter Lakes-Moultonborough Lakers, who return a strong nucleus from last year’s playoff team.

 “ The numbers have been good (47 players are on varsity), and the kids have been working hard,” said first-year head coach Guy Donnelly. “ The focus is on building off last year and taking the next step as a team.”

 Brayden Arruda will likely start at quarterback after competing with Alex Adorno in the pre-season. “ We have a lot of confidence in both players, and we like the depth we have at the position,” said Donnelly.

 The Lakers have depth at both running back and, tight end & wide receiver.

 Wes Bailey returns at running back and will be joined by Garrett Hayward and Wyatt Buhrman.

 Connor Adams will start at tight end alongside Brian Uylenbroeck, Brogan Donnelly, and Jacob Hayward.

 Donnelly has confidence in his offensive line, which will have three new starters around returners Tyler Cataldo and senior captain Kyper Garrison. “ We have a good handle on who will play on the line,” said Donnelly. “ We have seen improvement throughout the pre-season.”

 Connor Adams will lead the defense at defensive end, along with Noah Salamanca, Garrett Heyward at linebacker, and Addison Kernan at cornerback.

 “ This team was an overtime loss from being 7-2 last season, so they have a lot of confidence in one another,” said Donnelly, who coached 35 of the teams' players at the middle school level.

 “ We hope to get better by the week and get back to the playoffs again.” 

 Rob Lotito’s Monadnock Huskies will be in the mix again behind the return of four key offensive starters and a solid group of newcomers.

 “ The numbers are lower than I’d like, but we like the group we have,” said Lotito. “We have the potential to be there in the playoffs again.”

 Kaden Smith returns at quarterback after throwing for 363 yards last season. “ He learned a lot last season and runs our offense very well,” said Lotito.

 Sophomore Koby Kidney will get the bulk of the carries at running back (“He’s growing into the position and is a very good athlete.”) and will be joined in the backfield by Chase Elliot.

 All-state standout Ben Dean returns at tight end and outside linebacker and will play alongside, a line anchored by Brayden Dion and Matt & Gabe MacMaster.

“ We have two returning starters and a few fresh faces around them,” said Lotito. “ They’ve been coming all well as a unit.”

 Those newcomers on the offensive and defensive lines include Chris Cox and Matt Sepuiveda.

 Dean will help lead the defense along with Brandon Bernard and Nick Ball at middle linebacker.

 “ We had a good scrimmage against Newport last week, and the new players are stepping up into bigger roles for us,” said Lotito. “ Play Fall Mountain on Friday night, and the kids are excited. They’re ready to compete.”

 Ron Ross’s Epping Newmarket Blue Devils has the playmakers to make a playoff push; the question is whether a new-look offensive and defensive line can come together after losing four starters.

 “ We see improvement, but you’re putting players in key roles that haven’t started a varsity game,” said Ross. “ That has been a focus of ours in the pre-season.”

 Nate Gallant returns at quarterback after throwing for 329 yards last season as a sophomore.

 He will be joined in the backfield by Brady Dwyer, Aidan Russell, and fullback LJ Boyd. “ We have good depth (at running back),” said Ross. “They’ve been good in the pre-season.”

 Chris Morgan returns at wide receiver and will play alongside tight end Zack Kenison.

 The new-look offensive and defensive lines only return one starter. Ryan Worcester will anchor the lines, while Boyd (MLB), Russell, Dwyer, and Morgan will lead the secondary.

 “ We have a ways to go, but I am encouraged by what I’ve seen in the pre-season,” said Ross. “If we can stay healthy, build depth, and continue to improve, then I see us being a team that will be there competing for a spot in the postseason.”

 Fall Mountain finished two games out of the playoffs a year ago, but with seven starters back, Orion Binney’s team has a chance to go back to the dance in November.

 “ The playoffs are the goal,” said Binney. “ There are a lot of games in this division that are going to come down to execution in the fourth quarter. That’s where we need to be better, and that’s a focus of this group.”

 Eric Franklin will start at quarterback for the Wildcats. He will be joined in a deep group of running backs led by Owen Riendau, who rushed for over 300 yards last season Pat Connors and Chuck Dussault.

“ We really like the depth we have at that position,” said Binney. “ It’s going to allow us to be fresh late in the game.”

 Josh Devore and Evan West will contribute right away at the receiver spot, while the offensive line should be a strength, with four starters returning. “ That group is coming together here in the pre-season,” said Binney. “ We should be able to create opportunities for our backs.”

 Murry Spaulding, Owen Waysvillel, Austin Guerriere, and Finnegan Brodeur will lead the Wildcats in the trenches.

 The defensive line with the same players should be a strength, while Franklin will lead the secondary.

 “ Campbell and Trinity are the two teams to beat, but we know from experience that once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen (Fall Mountain upset top seed Newport in the semifinals two years ago),” said Binney.

 “ We have a group that feels like it has something to prove, and they’re ready to go compete.”

 With twenty-two of Stevens's thirty-seven-player roster being made up of freshmen and sophomores, there is hope for the future and a lot to learn.

 “ Growing pains are a reality of having as many underclassmen as we do, but we are excited about our potential,” said head coach Josh Duford.

 Tyler ‘Tank’ Christian returns at quarterback and middle linebacker and has the ability to be an all-state performer on both sides of the ball. “He is such a tough runner,” said Duford. “ Whether making a tackle or running through one, he sets the tone for us.”

 Zach Richardson gives the Cardinals another back with size and will be joined in the backfield by the versatile Aiden Barry. “ With Aiden and Zach we have two backs who really block well,”

 Maddox Foster will line up on the outside along with freshmen Karson & Karter Thyne, who are expected to produce right away.

 The offensive and defensive lines will be anchored by Steve Rheume, and Braeden Pignatiello and Austin Simoneau. “ The lineman and building depth at those positions has been a big focus of ours in the pre-season,” said Duford.

 Christian will lead the defense at linebacker, along with Berry, Zach Richardson, and DT/DE Hunter Watson.

 “ We were playing our best football at the end of the season, and that’s the goal for this group,” said Duford. “ We just need experience.” 

 The Con Val Cougars will look to rebound from a 1-8 season behind a strong junior class and a solid nucleus from a year ago.

“ We had a lot of sophomores who were playing probably a year earlier than we would have liked, but that experience should help us,” said head coach Matt Harris.

 Bradley Brunelle returns at quarterback after starting the second half of the year. “ He’s been working hard and is very coachable,” said Harris.

 Brunelle will be joined in the backfield by Broden Frosch and Eliot Featherstone, who are expected to split carries, as well as the talented Sammy Davis.

 Kai Reitnauer will line up at tight end alongside speedy receivers Kendrick Edwards and Anthony Cadwallader. “ Both were members of our championship relay team, so we want to use all that speed to our advantage,” said Harris.

 The offensive line should be much improved from a year ago and will be anchored by James Healey, Bishop Benham, Francisco Jaimes, JJ Way, and Keith Bush.

 Davis will help lead the defense in the secondary and will be joined by Roman Caldwaller at linebacker, and Jaimes, who led the team in tackles last season, on the defensive line.

 “ We feel confident we are going to take a step forward this year,” said Harris. “ The attitude and effort level have been very good, and the players are putting the work in.”

 With only seven upperclassmen on the roster, Kearsarge will need to rely on a big sophomore class, and maybe even a few freshmen, to improve on last season’s 1-8 record.

 “ We only have three seniors on the team, so players are going to be stepping into prominent roles from the start,” said head coach David Yazzie.

 Parker Goin gives the Cougars a versatile athlete at quarterback and will be joined in the backfield by Jason Diamond, Colin Croteau, and Cole Gibson. “ We like the depth we have at running back,” said Yazzie. “ That will be an area of strength for us.”

 Ben Greenwood and Jack Socra will line up at tight end and wide receiver, while Broday Molnack and Nelen Narry will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. “ Getting the lines up to speed has been a big focus of the coaches in the pre-season,” said Yazzie.

 Cole Gibson will lead the defense from the linebacker spot, while Goin will head up the secondary. Kellen Sullivan has had a strong pre-season as well for the Cougars.

 “ We have to get the younger players up to speed quickly,” said Yazzie. “ If we can build with these underclassmen, we have a chance to get better as a program.”

 

Coming next week: Division IV