After a much discussed and badly needed re-alignment Division III goes from the least competitive division in 2017 to the most competitive in 2018.

 Scores of 56-7 were more than commonplace, they were a week to week reality in recent years but with the creation of Division IV for many of the smaller programs a new division was formed, made up of a mix of successful programs from Division II & Division III.

 It’s hard to get 10 football coaches to agree on anything but the feelings towards their new division have been unanimous. “I love it,” said Monadnock head coach Ryan Avery. “ To me, it’s as competitive as Division I, you’re not going to be seeing teams overwhelmed, it’s teams at the same level and you have to bring it every week or you’re going to get left behind.”

 Craig Kozens of Laconia, whose Sachems left behind some long-time rivals in Division II agrees. “It’s really good timing for us because we lost a very big senior class a year ago. We are excited to play programs like Monadnock & Kearsarge again and play really good football programs like Somersworth, Campbell & Stevens. It’s the right move for our school.”

 “Winning or losing games by 40 plus points isn’t good for anyone, for either team,” said Stevens head coach Paul Silva. “That’s no knock on the teams in Division IV, who have some very good coaches and good players but in football, it’s about the numbers and right now Division III looks like a great fit for everyone.”

 Laconia, Lebanon, and Hillsborough-Deering-Hopkinton join their new neighbors in a 12 team division where 8 teams will advance to the post-season.

 Today in our third of four pre-season previews we take a look at a wide-open Division III race.

 Today’s preview is sponsored by our longest running partner (over 10 years of supporting high school sports coverage in New Hampshire) Sentinel Title Services in Rye, NH.

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 *- Playoff team

Division III

 

1. Campbell  *
2. Monadnock  *
3. Laconia  *
4. Lebanon  *
5. Kearsarge-Mount Royal  *
6. Stevens  *
7. Hillsborough-Deering/Hopkinton  *
8. Somersworth  *
9. Trinity
10.  Newport
11.  Epping-Newmarket
12.  Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough

 

 The defending champion Campbell Cougars have depth, playmakers, confidence, and excitement surrounding the addition of several very good (former) Division II programs.

 Add to that to the fact that the loss of Greg Gush (who won two titles as head coach) was softened by moving defensive coordinator Glenn Costello over to head coach and you have the makings of a pretty good title defense. “It’s felt like a very smooth transition and the kids get the credit for that,” said Costello. “We have a lot of players who were on the field at UNH last year and they want to get back again.”

 Adam Breton returns at quarterback for an offense that will go to more of a spread look. Still, don’t expect a Campbell team that threw the ball about four times a game to turn into the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. “We’re still going to run the football but we want to spread the defense out and get our playmakers out in space,” explains Costello.

 Playmakers like Keegan Mills, who even as a junior might be the best running back in the division. Joining Mills in the backfield will be returnees, Cam Barrett & Conor Sweeney. “We have a lot of confidence in our backs and receivers.”

 Campbell also returns one of its best two-way players in Pete Tarrier favorite Carter Vedrani, who will play tight end and lead a strong group of linebackers. Chad Martel & Jason Rubino will line up at wide receiver.

 The offensive line returns six of seven players led by Logan DeCarolis (265 lb.)  & Leo Carten (255 lb.). Connor Sweeney and Paul Taraszuk have had a good pre-season on defense, as has Robert Ladd. “It’s a very competitive division so if you take a week of you’re going to lose,” said Costello. “The kids are ready to get after it.”

 Justin McIsaac, Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I will bring you full coverage of tonight’s Campbell/Somersworth game with a post-game interview with the entire winning team.

 If you didn’t think there was unfinished between Monadnock and Campbell, the team that came behind late in the fourth quarter to beat them in the title game last November, all you had to do was watch when the two teams met a year ago in a regular season basketball game.

 The Huskies felt like they let one slip through their fingers. The good news…several of their best players and one of the most respected coaches in the division return.

 Whoever is the last team standing in Durham this time, well Monadnock is going be tough to knock off. “It’s a group that knows how to work together and we’ve had a very good pre-season,” said head coach Ryan Avery.

 “Our depth is still a concern with only 34 players on the roster but as far as our starters & key reserves go we will compete with anybody.”

 Tim Santaw returns at QB and at 6’4 can look over the line or barrel over your linebacker for a first down. “He has a very good grasp of what we want to do, He’s everything you want in a leader/quarterback,” said Avery.

 2017 NHsportspage Division III Player of the Year Chandler Matson returns at running back/linebacker and will line up in the backfield alongside returning starter Tim Hart, who gives Avery a Dion Lewis-type back. “Chandler is just a very smart, very dedicated football player,” praised his head coach. “He’s the guy getting everyone in the weight room and keeping us focused.”

 Monadnock will have to replace three starters on the offensive line but will be anchored again by Joey Joslyn, who is a three-year starter. Lincoln Blodgett has worked very hard over the off-season (“He’s tough as nails,” says Avery) and will lead the linebackers along with tackling machine Matson. Joey Drew will lead the Huskies defensive line.

 “We are really excited about the new division,” said Avery. “Teams like Lebanon and Laconia are programs we have battled in the past so we are really looking forward to facing them again.”

 The Laconia Sachems are happy to compete in their new division; they just aren’t quite ready…yet.

 “We’ll compete from Day 1 but we have been hit with the injury bug like no other time in my 20-plus years of coaching,” said head coach Craig Kozens. “ We can’t seem to go even a few days without somebody going down but luckily none of them have been season-ending. We’ll have everybody back, just not to start the season.”

 Junior Ryan Dee was set to start at quarterback before he became one of the walking wounded. Jack Ancora has stepped right in and done a good job with the offense and will be joined in the backfield by all-state performer Jakob Steele & Kelby Brooker.

 Kozens teams like to take their shots down the field and wide receiver Ryan Chiasson will fill that need for the Sachems. Tight end Tyler Richter has had a good pre-season while the offensive line will be anchored by Bryce McCrea, Jordan Brown & Musaab Abu Zaid at center.

 Kozens expects a big season out of Richter at linebacker. He plays alongside Brooker & Tyler Harding while Steele is an all-state performer in the secondary.

 “We are really banged up early but the division isn’t going to wait on us. We’ll be ready to go and add players coming back as we go week to week.”

 Count Chris Childs of Lebanon among the coaches that like the move to a new division. “It’s where our program has been for a long time,” said Childs. “When you have 35 kids on your roster and you’re competing against St Thomas and Windham with more than double that, it’s difficult.”

 Jon Willeman, who has battled injuries in the pre-season, returns at quarterback for the Raiders with Jack Stone also in line to see snaps as well.

 Wade Rainey gives Childs a strong runner in between the tackles while Ryan Sullivan gives Lebanon speed that can break to the outside. Brad Plodzik gives the Raiders a good threat at wide receiver while Josh Mondragon (an instant member of the all-name team) and Mason Adams anchor the line.

 Childs is expecting a big year from Rainey at linebacker while Caleb Smith and Cole Ames will apply pressure from the defensive end spot.

 Among the benefits to the new alignment…shorter bus rides. “We now have most of our road games ½ hour from Lebanon so that means more fans will come with us to places like Stevens and Kearsarge.”

 Your dark-horse in the Division III race is Kearsarge-Mount Royal.

 Zach Matthews’ team returns several key starters from a year ago and goes into the season with a lot of confidence. “We’ve had a terrific pre-season and I really like the attitude of the kids,” said the Cougars head coach.

 Quarterback Jack Jallah returns and has played well early on. “Jack has played better week by week.” Gavyn Magistro was a second team all-state selection a year ago and will get the bulk of the carries out of the backfield.

 Kearsarge will transition to a spread offense to negate their small offensive line and take advantage of their athlete's speed and ability. “You have to play to your strengths as a head coach and we have a lot of very good athletes. We want to get them the ball with room to create.”

 Noah Cooper and Brendan Akpan will line up at wide receiver along with newcomer Andrew Normandin, an all-state basketball player from Mount Royal who has joined the program. “Andrew has been terrific,” praised his head coach. “He’s got good speed and he’s a very hard worker. He’s going to step in and help us right away.”

 Brendan Ross-Thompson will anchor the offensive line while 6’4 Kyle Hernon will cause pressure off the end at defensive end. Nathan Harris & Jake Galluzzo are a pair of underclassman that will start at linebacker.

 “This is a very fun group to coach and a very good division to compete in,” said Matthews. “We’re excited to get going.”

 Paul Silva and the Stevens Cardinals are only two years removed from a Division III title. How they stack up in a new look D3 will depend on players stepping up in the trenches. “A year ago at this time we had a lost just about all of our playmakers but we had experience on the offensive and defensive lines. A year later, it’s the opposite.”

 Junior quarterback Quentin Bicknell returns as does all-state running back Keaghan McCallister. “Quentin has the ability to elude tacklers; he does a really good job using his speed while Keaghan is only going to get better as a junior. We feel like he’s set up for a big year.”

 Damon Roy, Baylor Rozzell, and Gabe Spaulding will all get their hands on the ball for a Cardinals team with big play ability. Josh Stithen will anchor the line and is joined by Phil Mason, Noah Sandonato, and Tucker Derosier. “They are working hard as a group,” said Silva. “Like everyone else, it has been a shorter pre-season and for us, a very challenging one but they will work to get better as a unit week to week.”

 McCallister and Owen Taylor will help lead the defense from the linebacker position. “We are a very good fit in the new alignment for Division III and excited to get going again.”

 The move to Division III has breathed new life into a fairly new program at Hopkinton/Hillsborough Deering where head coach Jay Wood returns 20 players including 12 starters from last season’s Division II team.

 Caleb Yiankopolos leads the defense from the nose tackle position while Thayer Maughn will anchor the offensive line. Jack Horne is set for a breakout year at wide receiver.

 Somersworth head coach Dan Hodsdon will have to create experience in a hurry as the Hilltoppers, a perennial playoff team, lost a big senior class and have a roster of 33 players with 30 under-classman.

 “We knew this was coming down the line,” said the veteran head coach of the fact his team has only three seniors. “We have a very good junior and sophomore class. They’ll need to step into bigger roles faster than usual.”

 Brogan Bonsaint returns at quarterback while all-state back Christian Abkarian returns as well. “We are really happy with our skill players,“ said Hodsdon. “ We want to get them out in space and it’s on us as a coaching staff to put them in a good position to succeed.

 Anthony McHugh will line up at fullback and contribute on defense from the linebacker spot. Chase Sprague will anchor the key units on the offensive & defensive lines while Collin Perreault (WR/DB), Jason Suwu (WR/DB), Matt Mahadeo (WR/CB) and Ethan Turgeon (WT/DE) will all step in and contribute right away.

 “We are now playing a 9-week schedule with no bye,” said Hodsdon, “so it’s going to be a grind week to week for all of us but I know from other coaches, and speaking for myself, that we are all excited about the new Division III.”

 

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Next Week: Division IV