Division I East

1.Exeter

2.Winnacunnet

3. Dover

4. Portsmouth

5. Spaulding

 Exeter (whose coverage this year is sponsored by Sandy Healy of Re-Max on the Move) was one big play away from turning the tide in their favor against Bedford a year ago at UNH. After back to back runner-up campaigns head coach Bill Ball has as much depth as any team in the state and a proven system that wins in November…and September..and October. “ We rotate a lot of guys in and have several different players carry the football..all with the expectation that they are ready when they are upperclassman to carry the load,” said Ball of his 2017 team.

 Pitcher, second baseman, punter, shooting guard, safety & now quarterback Cody Morissette will take over for the graduated Kyle Ball as the signal caller for the Blue Hawks. The new quarterback has the confidence of his head coach. “ He’s a big game player, he’s proven that in a couple of different sports,” said Ball. “He’s good in pressure situations so becoming the starter should be a smooth transition.”

 Brayden Lowery, Ryan Jackson and  Zach Tucker headline a very talented and deep backfield. “ We will play six backs on a lot of nights, I like our depth at the position,” said Ball.

 Exeter will rotate players in & out of the offensive and defensive lines with Liam McIIveen and tight end Bobby Cliche anchoring a deep line. Defensively Willem Froumy, Brian Whitney and Zack Zuzel will play in front of an experienced secondary that includes Morissette, Jake Ross and Tucker. “It’s hard every year to get to the post-season and advance once you do,” said Ball. “We like the depth of this team and we’ll need to play very well against some very good teams to get back.”

 In 2016 injuries forced a very good Winnacunnet team to become very inexperienced in some very key spots. One year later with two key playmakers back and inexperience in the rear view Ron Auffant’s team has its eye on getting back to the post-season. “ This is a talented group but staying healthy is the key,” said Auffant. “ Our first team guys have the potential to become a very good football team but if we start losing guys like we did a year ago it could get ugly quickly. We just don’t have the experience to go too far down the depth chart.”

 Patrick MacDougall is a three year starter at quarterback and is set up to have a big very big senior season. “He’s come a long ways and has worked hard along the way,” said his head coach. Billy Powers nearly ran for 1,000 yards a year ago and has as much breakaway ability as any back in the state. Jordan Fuller will join him in the backfield while Evan Welch & Tyler Hoar will give MacDougall two very good weapons going down the field.

 Four starters and the tight end return to the line in another example of last year’s injuries providing much needed experience. Ryan Hanson and Andrew Mills will lead the group as Auffant points to the defensive line as the key to the Warriors defense. “ Our run defense is going to tell a lot about how successful we’re going to be this season.”

 Corey Markland will be a player to watch on that line as will be the play of Carter Havey, who returns to play linebacker after being injured last season. Fuller and John Rooney will lead the Winnacunnet secondary. “ We open with Dover so we will have to be ready to go,” said Auffant.

 Ken Osbon was my pick as Division I coach of the year last season as it took a close loss on the last day of the season to knock Dover out of the playoffs.

 That took the focus off of Dover’s low numbers in recent years but with injuries already affecting the 2017 outlook the Green Wave are already to the point where another key injury or two may be too much to overcome.

 And we’re still only in August.

 “ Several factors have hurt us with our numbers and depth, injuries are a part of it but we have some key players returning and we’ll need to be ready to go on opening night with the group we have,” said Osbon.

 Carson Webb returns at quarterback, giving Dover the ability to get down the field quickly. Aaron Oroh will be part of a running back by committee that includes Cam Duchesne and Angel Segarra. Johnny Cantwell could have a breakout season at receiver as he will line up with basketball teammate Ty Vitko to give Dover two very good athletes on the edge. “ We will move John around quite a bit to get the football to him,” said Osbon.

 Julian Nicholson returns as a starter on both lines and will be joined by Noah Schwartz & Mason Rodney. “ That is a position where we can’t afford any more injuries,” said Osbon of the offensive and defensive lines. “That position, along with running back, is where we have been hit the hardest.”

 Seth Clark will lead the defense from the linebacker spot alongside Luc Normandeau, Dylan Murphy will be one of the team’s top corners while Cantwell will start at safety.

 How far Portsmouth (whose coverage is sponsored by Kane Insurance) goes in 2017 will depend on the availability of quarterback Cody Graham, who suffered a PCL injury a year ago and played through it for an entire basketball season. Graham is still waiting to be cleared to play after surgery last March. “ We’re waiting to hear what the doctor says,” said head coach Brian Pafford. “ He wants to play and in this offense there isn’t a better quarterback in the state. He understands this offense so well and what (offensive coordinator) Johnny Iafolla wants to do that we've given him some play-calling responsibilities.”

 Jack Russo is part of a very good sophomore class and will play quarterback until Graham returns. After the breakout year of Christian Peete a year ago it will be Hunter Adams’ time as a senior this season.

 Adams may be the team’s best defensive player at linebacker and will line up in the backfield at running back as well. “ Hunter is one of our best wide receivers,” said Pafford, “ but we are going to move him around to utilize his ability. He has a chance to have a big year for us.”

 Will Conner will join Adams out of the backfield along with Keondray Lucas. The offensive line hopes to gain depth from a strong sophomore class as Thomas Lalime and Harrison Flagg will anchor both lines. Adams is the team’s best open field tackler and will be joined at linebacker by Conner.

 Russo will lead a secondary that includes Owen Kane, who was one of the team leaders in interceptions as a sophomore. John Gore is a late transfer who has looked very good in practices and may jump right in Friday night when we cover the Clippers game against Spaulding LIVE.

 “ We have a really strong sophomore class and so how those players step up at the varsity level will tell you a lot about how our season goes,” said Pafford.

Coming this afternoon: Division I South