Division I South

1.Salem

2.Pinkerton Academy

3. Londonderry

4. Timberlane

5. Merrimack

 Salem head coach Rob Pike has been around long enough to know the pre-season buzz about your team won’t set one block on the edge or direct the football to an open receiver. In a division where the fifth best team could be a playoff team in another part of the division you understand it’s a week to week grind.

 In 2017 Salem just happens to be pretty well equipped to handle that march towards November. “We have some experience at a lot of key positions including quarterback and that always is a big positive,” said Pike of his team. “We’re a work in progress just like a lot of other teams but we don’t shy away from the challenge of getting back to the post-season and being a very good football team.”

 It starts with maybe the best running back in the state. Josh Sibanda can turn a 2nd & 8 into six points in about five seconds and with Adam Maroun joining him in the backfield Salem has weapons galore. “I am obviously a little biased but I think Josh is the best back in New Hampshire,” said Pike of his all-state performer. “He’s a special player; very smart and he understands the offense. Adam (Maroun) would be a lead back for most teams so we are very happy to have them both in our backfield.” Dom Paci will be the team’s fullback in front of Sibanda & Maroun.

 Matt Saldono returns at quarterback after helping to lead Salem to the playoffs last season. “He’s a real leader for us and you love that from your quarterback.”

 The Blue Devils have eight players who will rotate on the offensive and defensive lines led by returning starters Marcus Cardillo & Brady Keenan. Defensively Ben Genest and Maroun will lead a good linebacking group while Cardillo is a player to watch on the defensive line. “ We open with a Nashua South team that could be as good as any in the state so there’s no easing into this…we’ll have to be ready,” said Pike.

 Not even a program as big and powerful as Pinkerton is immune to suffering through a weak cycle. A year ago it was a small senior class and key injuries that took the Astros out of the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. In 2017 head coach Brian O’Reilly feels like a very strong sophomore class from a season ago is ready take over as juniors. “We didn’t have the kind of senior class a year ago that we are used to having here,” said O’Reilly. “Injuries will expose a lack of depth pretty quickly and so that’s what led to what we had last season.”

 Quarterback Aiden Goujon was one of those sophomores forced into action by injuries and he performed very well late in the season. O’Reilly expects more of the same this season. “He was ready last year and this year he is more than capable, to the point where he was named as one of the team captains.”

 It will be a running back by committee as Gannon Fast, Ty Hicks, Kayden Baillargeon and Gennaro Mara will all get carries out of the backfield. Ryan Auger, who could be an all-state performer on either side of the ball, will line up at split end alongside an offensive line that includes Cam Macro, Robbie Fahey, Allen Gault, Josh McCormack and Jared Collins. “We have much better depth on the lines than we did a year ago,” said O’Reilly.

 Many of the same names will lead a defense that will rotate guys in & out to take advantage of their talent. Auger will lead the secondary as a junior while Tyler Mackiernan will be a key member of the defense as well. Mike Sarette has had a good pre-season at defensive end. “This is a strong junior class and it now becomes their time along with the seniors.”

 If there was a break to be found in 2016 Londonderry never got it. The Lancers lost more games by five points or less than any other team in the division and it began with a stomach punch loss to defending champ Goffstown on opening weekend and never got better. “At some point it becomes hard to get it out of the kids’ mindset that the bad breaks are going to keep coming,” said head coach Jimmy Lauzon. “You have to make your own breaks and I like our depth a lot more than a year ago. This team is focused on finishing out games and we expect to have a lot close ones.”

 Mike MacAlister takes over at quarterback for the Lancers and has the confidence of his head coach. “He put in a lot of work over the off-season to be ready and we feel like he is.” Evan Cormier may also see time at the postilion as well as Ben Johnson. Giving Londonderry plenty of options depending on the defense they are facing.

 Sophomore Jeff Wiedenfeld will join Johnson in the backfield along with Jake Dionne. Pat Hagaerty will anchor the offensive line with a lot of new faces while the receiving group will feature Jake Holland in the slot, Cole Keagan, Alex Tsetsilas and Connor Dubois. “We have a very strong sophomore class so getting those players into the rotation and comfortable at the varsity level will tell you a lot about how we do this season,” stressed Lauzon.

 Many of those sophomores will get time on the defensive side of the ball. Jack Ogden and Tim Bajek will lead the linebackers while Jake Holland will lead a secondary that includes McAlister and Shane MacEachern. “The chemistry has been great in the pre-season. We want to stay healthy and develop our sophomores,” said Lauzon. “That would give us a shot at going back to the post-season.”

 A year ago Merrimack had one of the most talented senior classes in New Hampshire and came within a controversial pass interference call (in a game we covered) from beating eventual champion Bedford in the Division I semifinals. That was a team led by Justin Grassini, Tyler DeNeil, Danny McKillop and Justin Weiser that you could almost put on auto pilot without any concerns.

 In 2017 head coach Kip Jackson returns only two starters from that team and it feels a lot like starting from scratch to the veteran coach. “Those guys, that entire senior class, weren't just great players, they were great kids,” said Jackson. “It’s a completely different team this year and so there will be a lot of teaching and hopefully, if we do our jobs, a lot of learning.”

 Both Ben Eichman and Ryan Devanna will see time at quarterback. Eichman, is more of a runner, like his brother, while Devanna is more of a passing quarterback. Whichever player is behind center their #1 option is getting the ball to all-state performer Joe Eichman. “ We’re going to get him the ball at every opportunity without wearing him down,” said Jackson.

 CJ Grace will get carries out of the backfield as well while Jesse Bronchuk anchors a new look offensive and defensive line. Who will emerge amongst the wide receivers? That will be determined in the coming weeks, “ It’s an entirely new group,” said Jackson. ”So naming one or two now is pointless because kids will have to step up amongst a group of capable players.”

 The defense, which hit as hard as any in the state a year ago, must replace 11 starters. Joe Eichman and Tristan Wood will lead the way from the secondary while Adam Thornton, 6’5 Jared Dyer and Cole Keefe all have a lot of potential upfront. “ It’s going to be a learning process but this is a good group and we’ll be in for a battle every week.”

 Some very good prospects for a playoff spot took a very big hit for Timberlane when their do everything but run the 50/50 raffle at halftime running back Jake Post went down with an injury in last week’s Queen City Jamboree. His availability this season is crucial to a Timberlane team Kevin Fitzgerald feels can take the next step. “ Jake is a security blanket for everyone,” said Fitzgerald. “ There’s no running back in the state I’d take over him.”

 Dan Hayes returns at quarterback after a ton of work in the off-season. “ We expect a big year out of him, he’s pout the work in,” said Fitzgerald of his quarterback. Farai Zhou will become the main back if Post is unable to go and will be joined in the backfield by sophomore Matt Licata.

 Brendan Frezza may be poised for a breakout year at wide receiver while Bob Horgan (one of our favorites from hoop season) and Dylan Tremblay will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. “We’re still sorting out the rotation on both lines,” said Fitzgerald earlier this week. Kyle Gleason will play a key role on defense along with twin brothers MLB Justin & Brandon Berube. “ We have a good senior class and they want to get back to the post-season. That’s the goal again this year,” said Fitzgerald.