As parents and students from St. Thomas and Windham headed off to a muddy parking lot in Durham last November after the Division II Championship game Justin McIsaac turned to me on the field at UNH and asked ‘ Rubber match next year?’

 Jaguars head coach Bill Raycraft and Saints head coach Eric Cumba would take a third straight title game meeting in a heartbeat but a new look Division II has about a dozen teams who believe they can crash the party.

 Bow moves in after four strong seasons near the top of the Division III standings. Teams like Milford & Lebanon believe they are capable of taking the next step and John Stark is the Merrimack of Division II; a team primed for special season at a school not known for its football lineage.

 Today we take a look at Division II, now broken up into two conferences as we kick off the 2016 season.

 *- playoff team

 

 Division II (South) Predicted order of finish

1.Windham *

2.Milford *

3.St. Thomas *

4.Con Val *

5.Souhegan

6.Trinity

7.Sanborn

8.Hollis-Brookline

 

 Bill Raycraft has built the Windham football program to a level that would match any in the state over the past seven years. It is a program that has underclassman, in big numbers, ready to step in when their number is called without the team skipping a beat.

 That kind of depth and the amount of talent you can find from a roster of 95 players is one reason the Jaguars are the favorite to reach their third consecutive title game. “We have a very good mix of new players working to prove themselves and upper-classman starters who can show them the way,” said Raycraft. “We’ve had a very good pre-season and I hope that translates into a good season.”

 Micah Sundman and Cody Potter, who came on strong at the end of last season, will compete for the starting quarterback job with both players likely to see time behind center. “Cody came into a tough situation last season when our starter went down and he really played well,” said Raycraft. “That confidence has carried over to this season.”

 Victor Pizzotti was our choice for Division II player of the year last season and returns as both the teams lead back and starting linebacker. Parker Belsky has played well early on and will be joined in the backfield by Jake Aleksa. The offensive line will be anchored by returning starters Mike Furey & Zach Cunha.

 A defense that has a chance to be elite is led by Pizzotti, nose guard Brennan French and linebackers Jay Giles, Anthony McGuire and Parker & Royce Belsky. “We average over 200 lbs. on the line and it’s a very athletic group,” said Raycraft. “I wouldn’t trade our roster with anyone. It’s a great group to work with every day.”

 The Milford Spartans have been consistently good under longtime head coach Keith Jones and in 2016 Jones’ knows he has a team capable of getting to Durham. He also knows exactly how they need to get there. “We’ll run the football a ton and we’ll use a bunch of different guys to do it.”

 Zach King takes over at quarterback and will work alongside a running backs by committee that is led by returning starter Tegan Vitale. “We have six junior running backs and one senior. Add to that two fullbacks and we have the depth to try and control the game running the football,” said Jones. Ryan Camirand, a 6’5 205 lb. tight end, will give the Spartans plenty of options in the red zone.

 Mike Boucher and Jaxson Mims anchor the offensive line while Camirand, Vitale and Colin Cederberg (battling injuries in the pre-season) will lead a defense that will look to improve week to week. “We graduated the entire starting secondary so the plan is to rotate three juniors and two seniors into those spots,” said Jones. “I’m excited about the depth we have with this group and it’s been a fun team to come to practice with every day.”

 A team that put up numbers at a rate not seen since the heyday of Tecmo Bo Jackson (you’re welcome McIsaac) had to grind out a title game win over Windham last November. That high powered offense for the most part has graduated but if you think St. Thomas head coach Eric Cumba doesn't enjoy the challenge of a new look Saints attack, you don’t know the man very well. “I think we have a chance to be better than people think,” said Cumba two weeks into the pre-season. “There will be a little bit of trial & error, and there always is with a new group, but we have the pieces and a little more experience than you might think.”

 That experience came in the form of a lot of lopsided wins. At one point early last season all-state QB Stephen Hedberg was spending the majority of the second half on the bench with the game already decided. Many of those players who benefited from those wins now assume roles when the scoreboard still reads 0-0.

 Shawn Dekorne takes over at quarterback and will be joined in the backfield by two all-state caliber running backs in Edwin Estevez and Tim Bouchard, who will also line up on the outside as a receiver. Zac Carberry will serve as the Saints tight end while Matt Wooster will be a featured wide out in Cumba’s spread offense.

 Gavin Scoon returns to anchor the offensive line after an all-state season a year ago and will play alongside Will Stinson.

 A new look defense features Scoon (at defensive end), Wooster (at safety), Brad Conha and linebackers Nick Johnson, Evan Briggs, Tyler Wiggin and DB Peter Lampesis.

 While John Stark gets a lot of the pre-season love there’s another Division II program who thinks their passing attack is every bit as good as the Generals. That explains why Con Val head coach Paul Landau believes he has a team ready to make their mark in the playoff race. “This group has put in a lot of work together during the off-season to get better,” said Landau. “Now we want to see that translate into wins.”

 It begins with all-state quarterback Dan Spezzaferri and his all-state wide receiver Liam Baldwin. “Dan worked very hard on his mechanics,” said Landau, “I think he is ready to have an even better season than he did a year ago.” As for Baldwin, Landau looks at the wide out as a coach on the field. “He knows the offense as well as the coaches. He has over 100 career receptions so he is ready for a big season.”

 Danny Parker is a senior captain who will handle the running back duties after putting on 15 lbs. of muscle during the off-season while Baldwin is joined at wide receiver by a talented group that includes Isaac Bacon and Jimmy Stewart.

 A junior class heavy defense is led by linebacker Jake Phillips and Andrew Stockwell, who has looked great in the pre-season. “The kids are excited to get going and so are the coaches. This is a division with a lot of very good teams so it is a challenge every week.”

 Souhegan was one of the best teams in Division II last season under NHsportspage coach of the year Mike Lochman. In 2016 a young but very talented group will try to lead the Sabers back to the post-season for a second consecutive season. “This was one of the best off-seasons I’ve ever had with a group in all of my years of coaching,” said Lochman. “These kids were really committed to getting better and although we have a lot of new faces in the starting lineup I see this group really improving week to week as the season goes along.”

 Palmer Belowski takes over at quarterback and won over his coaching staff with both his poise and ability to make plays. “He’s a rugged kid, a very good lacrosse player as well,” said Lochman. “He’s a big athletic kid who shows a ton of awareness and poise out on the field and that is what we need, especially early on.”

 Dante Savo leads a talented group of backs that includes Kyle Archambault, Tucker Aiello, Howie Dessureault and Sam Ezequelle. The offensive line is anchored by one of the best lineman in the division in 6’3 280 lbs. Luuc Grondstra.

 Aiello is an inside linebacker who has been calling the defense from three seasons and his ability to stay healthy after a late season injury a year ago will be a key if Souhegan is making a return trip to the post-season. “This is fun group to go to battle with every weekend,” said Lochman. “We’re excited to get going.”

 Sanborn has been a consistent playoff contender under head coach John Welch but the Indians 2016 fortunes took an unfortunate turn when all-state caliber tight end Hunter Jenkins went down with a possible season ending injury for the second straight season. “It’s really disappointing because he has worked extremely hard and is such a big part of our football team,” said Welch. “You never want to see a player, especially a senior, get injured.”

 Sanborn’s attack will feature running backs Nate King (a returning starter), Scott Jenkins and Shaun Murphy. Brian McGough will lead the offense from the quarterback position and will play behind a line led by returning starters Connor Jackson and Noah Fioravante. “Our running game should be a strength for us this season,” predicts Welch. “Having two experienced players on the line always gives you a really good place to start.”

 Scott Jenkins, Nate King and Nick Thrasher will leave the defense while Chris Hanna will contribute at linebacker.

 

 We will kick off our coverage Friday night with two games;

 Matt Corsetti & I will be joined by videographer Ryan Rogers in Concord as the Tide takes on Pinkerton in the season opener.

 Pete Tarrier & Jennifer Chick will be at Bedford as maybe the two best teams in the state square off when the Bulldogs take on Merrimack.

 As we roll into our ninth year of football coverage on NHsportspage we will bring you all the highlights plus post-game interviews with the winning players & coaches.

 

 

 Division II Predicted order of finish

1.Plymouth Regional *

2.John Stark *

3.Lebanon *

4.Laconia *

5.Bow

6.Kennett

7. Hanover

8. Kingswood

 The game of football, almost by design, requires eleven players on the field working together. That doesn’t mean there aren’t times you need to hide weak spots but unless it’s a big time scorer in basketball, a pitching ace in baseball or a hot goalie in hockey you can’t win with one player. It isn’t possible.

 That doesn’t mean when you lose your most valuable player every part of the team feels like it immediately went down with him. That is exactly how it felt for the Plymouth Bobcats early last season when all-state running back Sam Slaughter went down. “When Sam was lost for the season we lost a heck of a player on both sides of the ball and our most valuable special team’s player,” said head coach Chris Sanborn. “You don’t fold up the tents and go home but it was a very big loss.”

 Slaughter is back and the running back who emerged as one of the best backs in Division II in his absence, Garrett Macomber (1,480 yards and 17 TDS) returns as well.

 Brandon Roy and Ben Olmstead have competed all pre-season for the starting quarterback job leaving a very good possibility both will see time behind center this fall. 

 Nolan Farina also returns in the backfield for a talented group that will run behind a line anchored by Tyler Morrison & Rowan Drew. If there is a weakness with the offense it is a thin offensive line. “We have to manage that (the thin line),“ said Sanborn.

 Defensively the Bobcats feature a strong secondary and are led by Isaiah Crane, Farina, Slaughter (we told you he was valuable), Connor McGowan and Wes Lambert.  For a team that was a few key stops and one big injury away from the post-season health remains a key but Plymouth has the pieces in place for a march back to the post-season.

 John Stark had their own injury troubles a year ago as Boston College commit Drew McQuarrie, who many feel is the best football player in the state, went down in a win or go home contest against Monadnock. McQuarrie returns along with an all-state caliber class that includes wide receiver Cooper Gorski.

 Chris Childs and his Lebanon football team made a playoff run a year ago that could be habit forming. With one of the best running backs in the state and a veteran secondary the Raiders are primed to make a return appearance in November. “We have experience at some key spots and that always is a very good place to start,” said Childs. “Having a player like Ryan Milliken doesn’t hurt either.”

 The 5’7 running back is not only an elite back but maybe the best punt and kickoff returner in the state. “He’s become more of a leader this year as a senior,” said Childs. Caleb Broughton returns at QB after suffering a broken hand last season. He is joined in the backfield by two fullbacks 6’4 Matt Eyelander and Solomon Mellish.

 Lebanon feels like it has an elite wide receiver in Nate Perkins (“He catches everything,” says his head coach) and an all-state offensive lineman in 6’4 270 Brian Shippa. Childs also likes what he has seen out of Matt Gilligan who he calls the pleasant surprise of the pre-season.

 Four new starters, led by Eyelander, will start on the defensive line while Tyler Spaulding is expected to wreak havoc at defensive end. Broughton, Milliken and Perkins man what should be an excellent secondary.

 Laconia head coach Craig Kozens has won with any style of play you can imagine in his long career with the Sachems. In 2016 if Laconia is to get back to the post-season Kozens will do so with a solid defense and a whole lot of team speed. “We had a lot of speed on the roster going into the school year but with the additional of a few new players I see it being a real strength for us this season,” said Kozens.

 Riley Roy returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,000 yards as a sophomore and taking his underclassman lumps. “He’s really improved from where he was a year ago and that is all due to his hard work & of course,, experience,” said Kozens.

 Jacob Filgate returns in the backfield along with New Hampton transfer Drew Muzzey who brings added quickness to the offense. “ We’re going to find ways to get him the ball,” said Kozens.

 Bradley Weekes will play fullback for the Sachems while Jacob Steele (WR) and Carter Doherty (TE) will emerge as main targets for Roy. Returning starter Steven Powers, Ben Beliveau and James McDonald will man an undersized offensive line.

 Filgate is one of the best defensive players in the state regardless of division and returns to lead the secondary. Doherty will rush the passer from the defensive end spot while Weekes & Muzzey will play alongside one another at linebacker. 

 Bow makes the move up and does so with a good core of players returning led by 6’4 230 lb. Nate Alford. Matt Harkins will return at QB for the Falcons after missing part of last season with an injury.

 Jack Corriveau and Justin Mooney saw considerable action in the backfield last season while Nolan Filteau and Alex Berube return as starters on the offensive line from last season. Alford will lead the defense from the defensive end and is joined by Alex Berube-DT,  Justin Mooney-OLB and Mac Kimball-DB.

 If Kennett head coach Vaughn Beckwith is upset about moving on from one of the most successful senior classes in school history he is doing a good job hiding it.

 Beckwith is excited about what a new group can bring to one of Division II’s most consistently good programs. “ We’re a really young team so with that goes a lot more teaching but I really enjoy the attitude this team brings to the field every day,” said Beckwith.

 Brett Miller will take over at quarterback for the graduated Will Pollard who was one of the best quarterbacks in the state in back to back seasons and is now playing at UNH.

 Miller is going to suffer through the ups and downs any new quarterback goes through but Beckwith likes what he see’s early on. “He has grown into the position over the last year and has done a lot of work to prepare,”  said Beckwith. “ We see him make the right read (in a pre-season scrimmage) and then make what could be a costly mistake but that is where the experience will make him better and we are very comfortable with him as our quarterback.”

 Tanner Brown has looked very good in the pre-season at running back while the offensive line will be led by lineman James Hounsell (“You won’t find a player who works any harder than he does,” said Beckwith.)

 Jacob Stevens, Pat Cullen, Aaron Lamar and Dalton Pope will all play key roles for a Kennett team that won’t play with the pre-season expectations they have the past two years. “ This is a great group of players who take very well to coaching and want to get better every day. As a coaching staff you can’t ask for anything more.”

 My partial alma mater makes the move up to Division II as 22 Belmont players and 18 Golden Eagles begin season one as Gilford/Belmont under first year head coach Josh Marzhal. “ We understand that it is going to be a real challenge but the kids have worked hard and really well together,” said Marzhal of implementing Belmont & Gilford players. “ The kids are friends off the field and a lot of the Belmont players have been in the program for a few years so it has been a relatively easy transition.

 Braedon Lacroix take over at quarterback for the graduated Carter Mercer after playing wide receiver a year ago. Dominic Troiano will get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield while Tanner Woods & Nick Sasserman will lead the wide outs.

 Ethan Ormes will anchor the offensive line while Troiano and nose tackle Andrew Nelson head up the defense. “ It’s going to be a new experience for us against teams we haven’t seen before but it’s a challenge we’ll take one week at a time.”

 Justin Leonard takes over at Kingswood and will look to implement his spread offense with the Knights. Evan Lavoice & Ramsey Goslin have competed for the starting quarterback job throughout the pre-season with both expected to see time behind center.

 The focal point of the offense will be bruising running back Alex Matarozzo and a group of wideouts that includes Mike Kelly, Cam Mann and Jake Beaudet. Defensively James O’Leary will call the defense from the linebacker position and his head coach raves about his ability as a player. “ James is one of the smartest football players I’ve ever been around in all of my years of coaching,” notes Leonard.

 Defensive end Jay Warthen will look to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks from the edge.

 Tune into The New Hampshire High School Football Show on ESPN NH hosted by Pete Tarrier & Dave Haley every Saturday morning.

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