The conversation in late September and through October wasn’t whether Monadnock was the best team in Division III football but where they ranked among the best in New Hampshire.

 Linwood Patnode’s team, led by running backs Levi Bassingthwaite & Jared Redfield, were ripping through their division after moving down as a Division II playoff team the year before. Wins over Stevens & Inter-Lakes Moultonborough (in a game we covered) solidified the top seed and after an easy first round win over eight seed Somersworth a trip to Durham would be earned with one more win.

 From afar it seemed almost a sure bet, Monadnock owned a point differential comparable to Bedford, Merrimack & Windham, but to those taking a much closer look there was reason for concern. “I remember watching film on Stevens in the last few weeks of the season,” remembers Monadnock first year head coach Ryan Avery, an assistant coach last season. “You could see that they had hit a different gear than they had in September. We told our kids all week ‘Don’t take anything for granted…these guys can beat us.’

 NHsportspage Video highlights of Monadnock/Stevens

 The Huskies played well in the semifinal game but Avery was right, this was a different football team than the one they had beaten earlier in the season. Every time Stevens needed a play all-state wide receiver Parker Smith broke open for another big gain. Smith and quarterback Henri Bourque hooked up several times on two huge Cardinal drives and in what felt like an instant the top seed who had garnered Statewide Power Poll votes all season long was eliminated on their home field.

 Stevens would go on to beat Inter-Lakes Moultonborough a week later in Durham as Lakers coach Jon Francis saw exactly what Avery had the week prior. “We got them pretty good on our home field earlier in the season but it was clear from the Monadnock game and the way we performed against (Bishop) Brady in the semifinals that they were playing better than we were coming in,” said Francis. “That carried over into the game at UNH.”

 In a wide open 2017 race it again won’t matter who is playing the best football in September or even on Halloween. Division III will again be decided by who is playing their best in November.

 Today we take a look at Division III for the 2017 season.

 

 Division III South (Predicted order)    Playoff teams in Bold

1.Campbell

2.Somersworth

3.Winnisquam

4.Franklin

5. Bishop Brady

6. Epping-Newmarket

7. Raymond

8.  Farmington-Nute

 

 Campbell head Coach Greg Gush has been coaching in Division III long enough to know programs go in cycles. A young group of predominately sophomores and juniors are going to take their lumps for a year or two before becoming a senior class competing for a championship.

 Gush’s 2014 team shook off a 2-2 start to win the Division III title behind a senior laden group. While an inexperienced team took their lumps in 2015 that group formed the nucleus of a team that looks ready to get back to UNH in November. “We were really young last year, as well as the year before but with this group what you see is everybody on the same page from Day 1,” said Gush. “Does that translate into more wins? That’s what we need to find out.”

 Adam Breton returns at quarterback after stepping into the position last year due to injury. “Adam is a dual threat and he has worked really hard at his mechanics over the off-season.” Ryan Yanuszweski returns at running back after a big season a year ago (“We are expecting big things from Ryan,” said Gush) while Keegan Mills will also get carries out of the Cougars backfield.

 Nick Boucher and sophomore Cam Barrett will be two of Bretan’s favorite targets for an offense that wants to control tempo. “Tempo will be a key for this offense. We have the ability to be very physical upfront and wear some teams down over four quarters.” That confidence comes from the depth along both the offensive and defensive lines as center Carter Vedrani (Ogre Jr.) and Logan Descateux anchor the Campbell attack upfront.

 Vedrani and Mills are a linebacking duo that can make plays for a veteran coaching staff. “ I like this group a lot,” said Gush of his team. “ They’ve gotten to work from Day 1 and we have experience at a couple of very key spots on the field. This is a very tough division so we’ll have to be ready from Week 1 on.”

 Somersworth’s Dan Hodsdon knew if he could find his all-state running back Ray Mills any daylight he could lead all of Division III in rushing. Three weeks into the pre-season the veteran Somersworth head coach thinks he has found that ability to create holes upfront.

 From Mexico……….

 Daniel Osuna is a 6’6 250lb. exchange student from Mexico who played American football down south. “ He’s stepped right in and has been a very nice surprise for us,” said Hodgson in the understatement of the preview. Joining him upfront will be 320 lb. Owen Dow-Veres, giving Mills enough bulk to get him to the second level of the defense. “ We were able to move Zach Andrews off of the line and over to tight end with the addition of Daniel & Owen.”

 The Hilltoppers strength will come from that size and a deep defensive line. “ I’ve been very happy with the second units work on both lines,” said Hodgson. “ How we play upfront dictates a lot of what we’ll be able to do week to week and to have depth there in this division is important.”

 Mills is an all-state linebacker in addition to his production with the football in his hands and will line up alongside fellow linebacker Joe Boucher. “ We have a strong senior class who will lead us, the key to our season will be our sophomore class,” predicts Hodgson. “ We are going to need some of the younger guys to step up for us and if they do we have a chance to be competitive week to week in the division.”

 Pat Riberdy has gained a reputation as one of the best offensive coaches in Division III in his time as head coach at Winnisquam. In 2017 the Bears will score, but do they have the kind of defense that can win games in the post-season? “ I’m happy with the way we look early, on both sides of the ball,” said Riberdy. “ Depth is the issue for us and I’m guessing for a few other teams in the division as well. Your first team players can get it done but when guys get tired or injured, do you have the kind of depth to compete with anyone? That’s what we need to find out about ourselves.”

 Phil Nichols steps in at quarterback (“ He has some learning to do but there is no issue with us at quarterback,” states Riberdy. “ We have a lot of confidence in him.”) while Alex Mango will get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield. Mango was lost to a broken collarbone early on a year ago and his return will be a huge boost to the offense. Angelo Glover may be ready for a breakout year at the tight end spot. Glover recently moved back from Texas and will step right into a very big role in the offense.

 The Bears should be very solid in the trenches as TJ Robertson, Collin Catty, Caden Remillard, Avery Hutchinson and center Jake Newell all return to the offensive & defensive lines. A defense that should be tough in the trenches will be led by Bryce Corey at linebacker and a secondary with a lot of new faces. “ I love this group, they’re very coachable and willing to listen & learn,” said Riberdy. “ If we can develop some depth and stay healthy we have a chance to have a pretty good season.”

 Depth is a luxury that Matt Shaw does not have at Bishop Brady where 19 players went out for the team this season. A year ago the Giants were one of the best stories of the season as they battled their way to the final four with only 21 players. That was a special group…..and Shaw was hoping he wasn't going to have to pull a rabbit out of his hat again. “ It’s a very big challenge to have that low of numbers but, it is what is and we’ll go forward,” said Shaw. “ We had a couple of kids move over from the soccer team and I really like the kids we have. I just wish we had a few more.”

 A pair of sophomores will compete for the quarterbacking duties and may share time during the season. Patrick Brust and AJ Cipriano have each had their moments in the pre-season and will be joined in the backfield by running backs Colby Morris & Jack Compton.

 WR/CB Rich Sullivan is one of the best players in Division III. The key will be getting him the ball, “ We game plan every week to have Rich involved and that will continue again this season,” said Shaw. “ He’s a terrific football player and he makes a very big impact on both sides of the ball for us.”

 Chase Buckman, Matt Mills and Thomas Scott all return to the offensive and defensive lines while Colby Morris is a standout at outside linebacker. Their ability to stay on the field will be crucial again this season. “ Name of the game is to be healthy and if we are we have the players to compete week to week just like we did a year ago.”

 

 Pre-Season Player of the year: Andrew Brothers of Inter-Lakes Moultonborough

 

Division III North (Predicted order)   Playoff teams in Bold

1.Inter-Lakes Moultonborough

2.Newport

3.Monadnock

4.Stevens

5. Kearsarge Regional

6. Fall Mountain

7. Mascoma

8.  Newfound

 

 After two consecutive championship game losses Jon Francis and Inter-Lakes Moultonborough re-load for another run behind a new quarterback and a familiar face in the backfield. “We lost a lot of talented players but we have enough talent to still be a very good team,” said Francis. “This is a group that has been on the same page from Day 1, even more so than the team we had last year. You hope that translates out on the field when the games begin.”

 Noah Robinson takes over at quarterback for graduated all-state performer Ryan Kelly (now walking on at Plymouth State). Robinson is a better runner and less of a passer than his predecessor but he had the opportunity to run the offense last season and played well. “The experience he got last year at the position is really going to benefit him this season.”

 Andrew Brothers might be the best offensive player in the division and will again lead the Lakers attack from the backfield. “Great speed, shifty,” said Francis. Blake Dunlop and Ted Miller will get carries as well while Jayden Lara will be one of the best tight ends in the division after having a big impact playing alongside all-state tight end Zach Swanson a year ago.

 Tate Miller will lead a group of young receivers that Francis hopes to see develop as the season goes along. Ryan Caswell, Drew Shriver, Sam Noe, Owen Donahue and Sam Wilbur will lead an offensive line that has to replace several key starters. Caswell might be one of the best linemen in Division III and it’s a group with some potential.

 Defensively Lara will find himself in a lot of opposing backfields from the defensive end position while Brothers will be the lone returning linebacker. “ Defensive line should be a real strength of ours,” said Francis. All of which gives the Lakers enough firepower to compete for a third straight trip to UNH in November.

 After winning the 2015 Division III title Newport took a step back last season after the loss of a very good senior class. Second year head coach Rich Boone sees the cycle of talent beginning to turn back in the Tigers favor with a lot of experience returning and a very exciting sophomore. “ We had some players out there last year that might not have been quite ready,” said Boone. “ That should not be the case this season. This group has been playing together since they were little kids. They know each other well and there is a real chemistry with this group.”

 Kyle Rossiter takes over at quarterback for the graduated Dylan McNamara and will be joined in the backfield by sophomore running back John Thibault, who nearly rushed for 1,000 yards as a freshman. “We had a young team so I wanted to be sure we got a lot of different kids carries,” said Boone. “ If we had really pounded the ball with him he easily would have had 1,000 yards.”

 Peter Tebow (6’0 250) and Gavin Lovely will anchor the offensive and defensive line while Cody Turgeon could prove to be a very big weapon at the tight end spot. Walk-on Dylan Palmer has shown a lot of athletic ability early in camp at wide receiver for an offense that isn't afraid to throw the home run ball when you crowd the box.

 Thibault will also lead the team at outside linebacker while 250 lb. Cole McNamara will play both fullback and linebacker. “ This is a very tough division so we will have to be prepared every week,” said Boone. “ I like the group we have and the experience they were able to get last year.”

 Ryan Avery takes over as head coach of Monadnock after spending seven years as a defensive coach under Linwood Patnode. With about 2,000 yards of rushing and 10 senior starters to replace Avery looks to make another run at Durham with a new look football team. “ We lost a ton of production but these are kids that have been in the system for years and are ready for their shot,” said Avery. “ Playing so many seniors a year ago left these players wanting it to be their turn, because they felt like they could produce when given the chance. Well they get their chance now.”

 Tim Santaw will start at quarterback for the Huskies while Chandler Matson, senior Chris Weeks and Tim Hart will all get carries out of the backfield. Joey Joslyn and Eli Clark are returning starters from a dominating offensive line (the 2016 Huskies simply pushed you off your spot and wore you down).

 The defense will be led by Matson at inside linebacker, Joslyn on the defensive line and Cole Jarvis, who knows the system and will serve as the leader of the secondary.

 How will the new players produce now that they get their chance? Their head coach feels pretty confident they are ready. “ I really like the intensity they are bringing to practice and they’re a good group of kids. This is a tough division, we have to be ready from Week 1 for everyone’s best shot.”

 Two years after telling me in our annual pre-season conversation, “ We’ve got a really good sophomore class, they’re going to take their lumps this year but it could be a special group by the time they graduate,” Paul Silva stood at midfield in Durham as a state champion. Stevens had upset top seeded Monadnock and an Inter-Lakes Moultonborough team that had blown them out only a month earlier on their way to the school’s first football title since 1968.

 Parker Smith (Bates College), the O’Brien brothers Nick & Zach and two way star Richard Bell have all graduated. In addition junior quarterback Henri Bourque enrolled in prep school, leaving Silva and his staff to circle back to a strong group of underclassman who may also take their lumps as the defending champs. “ This is an almost entirely new group of starters at the skill positions so we have to put last year behind us,” said Silva of his 2017 edition. “ I was watching our players in the Shrine Game and as soon as it was over I turned to a friend and said “ That’s a wrap on 2016. It’s over.”

 Replacing Bourque at quarterback won’t be easy, especially after you thought you had two more years with him at the helm. Quentin Bicknell and Derek Stanhope have been competing for the job throughout training camp while Keaghan McAllister looks to build off of the experience he got in the post-season a year ago as the new lead running back. “ We really like what we saw from him a year ago as far as his make-up and ability.”

 If there is a strong resemblance to last year’s team it will come on the offensive & defensive  lines where four starters return. All-state performers Aiden Cahill and Nick Stone anchor what should be a very good offensive line alongside Joe Desilets and Brendan Bean. “ We’re going to go as far as our line play takes us,” predicts Silva.

 Stanhope will lead the secondary while  Desilets will head a solid group of linebackers. “ How last season ended isn’t going to help us in games and if anything it puts a target on our back,” said Silva. “I’m very pleased with this group so far and although there will be growing pains I think we have a team that can compete week to week.”

  A year ago an inexperienced Kearsarge team was led by the state’s only 2,000 yard rusher Justin Norris. In 2017 Norris has graduated but that group now has some valuable experience to carry forward under head coach Zach Matthews. “ We had a lot of guys forced into action because of some early injuries so where it hurt us last year I think we can benefit from it this year,” said Matthews.

 Sophomore Gavyn Magistro and junior Jack Jallah are both competing for the quarterbacking duties in training camp. Matthews hasn’t decided on a starter yet but promises both will see plenty of the field. “We’d like to settle on one and have the other ready to help us in a different area. That’s the plan.”

 Logan Seaholm has emerged as the player likely to get the bulk of the carries at running back (“He’s really emerged as the pre-season has gone along,” said Matthews). An undersized offensive line returns four starters in Ryan Ellis, Damian Petry, Gage Fleming and Zach Goin. “ We don’t have the size to go toe to toe with bigger teams but we have really good athleticism at the position,” said Matthews. “ We use a lot of misdirection and different formations to put them in a good position to succeed.”

 All-state linebacker Noah Tucker will anchor the defense from the linebacking position along with Ellis and Seaholm. “ My philosophy has always been to rotate six or seven guys in & out on the defensive line so that will be the case again this year,” said Mathews.

 “ There has been good competition in camp so far so I’m anxious to get going. This division will be a battle from opening weekend so we will need to be ready.”

 Head coach Orion Binney takes over at Fall Mountain after spending years on Jon Luopa’s staff at Keene and a year as the middle school coach. The team he inherits will feature a good running game as well as speed on defense.

 For a program looking to break a long playoff drought the players have come in ready to work from Day 1. “ The kids have been great,” said Binney during the pre-season. “ It’s not easy for them with the change in terminology but they have listened to the coaching staff and gotten after it every day. I’m very pleased.”

 Jacob Shoemaker will run the offense at quarterback and will be joined in the backfield by running back Chris Bashaw. “ He’s a big back capable of getting yards after contact.” Bradley Andrzejczyk will line up at split end while Ferman Gomez will be the team’s primary slot receiver.

 Clay Prior is the lone returning starter on the offensive line and will line up on the defensive line as well. The defense lacks size but has speed as Aaron Blair (OLB) and  Morgan Wilbur (DB) will lead the way. Tristan Fisher is a player to watch at defensive end. “ We open up against an Inter-Lakes Moultonborough team that has been to the championship game back to back years so we have to be ready to go. We’re working hard to get there.”

 

 Coming Tuesday: Division II