By Roger Brown

nhfootballreport.com

Last year Pinkerton Academy (Division 1), Bishop Guertin (Division II), Plymouth (Division III), St. Thomas (Division IV) and Bishop Brady (Division V) proved to be the best teams in their respective divisions.

Who are the teams to beat this year?  Pinkerton, BG, Plymouth, St. Thomas and Bishop Brady have to be considered favorites or, at the very least, co-favorites as we enter the 2007 season.

Not everything has remained status quo since last year, however. Three major changes took place in the offseason.

Change No. 1: Trinity elected to play an independent schedule, instead of spending another year in Division I. The Pioneers will compete in a lower division next season. Trinity's 2007 schedule features five Division V teams (Bishop Brady, Newport, Bow, Campbell and Epping), a Division II team (Goffstown), two Division I teams (Londonderry and Manchester Memorial) and a non-league opponent (Marion, Mass.).

Trinity's departure from Division I allowed several Division I schools to schedule games against Massachusetts opponents. Those matchups: Salem vs. Xaverian, Manchester West vs. Everett, Nashua South vs. Lowell, Nashua North vs. Chelmsford, Nashua North vs. Methuen, and Concord vs. Foxboro.

The 38th season of varsity football at Plymouth State University begins Sept. 8, when the Panthers play host to Mount Ida College in a non-conference match-up at Currier Field.

The Panthers and Mustangs are set to kick off at 1:30 p.m. on the Panthers' home field.  It is PSU's only non-conference encounter before completing the season with eight New England Football Conference Boyd Division contests. The Mount Ida Mustangs, visiting from Newton, Mass., are in their ninth season as a Division III Independent.

 Plymouth State, led by fifth-year head coach Paul Castonia (left), is coming off a 2006 campaign that ended with a 4-5 overall record, and a 4-3 mark in the NEFC Boyd Division, tied for third place. It was PSU's first year back in the NEFC after a 14-year hiatus. The Panthers gave league-champion Curry College one of its toughest tests of the season, and will be looking to challenge Curry, runner-up Endicott, and the rest of the Boyd schools for this year's division crown.

 Mount Ida rebounded from a dismal 1-9 season in 2005 to put together a respectable 5-4 record last season. The Mustangs open their 2007 campaign Saturday at home against Norwich before traveling to New Hampshire.

The University of New Hampshire football team played its annual fall Blue/White scrimmage on Thursday and the team excelled in many areas, including the passing game.

The UNH offense scored seven touchdowns, all through the air. Leading the way in the first half was senior quarterback Ricky Santos, who completed 15 of 22 pass attempts for 252 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Keith LeVan caught six passes for 114 yards and two TDs.

The coaching staff also got a good look at other young receivers in the contest, including strong efforts by freshman J.T. Wright, who made six catches for 60 yards. Also playing well for the Wildcats was redshirt freshman receiver Chris Chandler, who made three catches for 69 yards. Freshman wide receiver Terrence Fox made three catches for 42 yards, including a 9-yard TD catch.

The running back corps was depleted due to injuries, but standing out were junior Kaysonne Anderson with 11 carries for 68 yards, and junior Robert Simpson with five rushes for 32 yards.

Junior Tom Bishop booted four punts over 40 yards, including two that went for 47 yards. UNH kickers also made all attempted point-after kicks.

Redshirt freshmen Jamie Cosgrove, Dino Vasso and Bryan Mayhew (Plymouth, N.H.) each had an interception.

The UNH defense recorded four sacks, including two by freshman defensive lineman John Murray. Junior linebacker Matt Parent and senior linebacker Husain Karim each had a sack as well.

Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Steve Young (Rochester, N.H.) and redshirt freshman Devon Jackson each made a team-high six tackles.

The scrimmage was played at Exeter High School due to construction on the Cowell Stadium playing surface.

                                                                                                      -- UNH sports information

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

What do Division V football and the American League East have in common?

More times than not, each turns into a two-team race. The AL East has the Red Sox and Yankees, and Division V has Bishop Brady and Franklin.

Bishop Brady hasn't lost a regular-season game since the NHIAA went to five divisions in 2004, The Green Giants have won the last two Division V titles - they were upset by Bow in the 2004 semifinals - and beat Franklin in the championship game each time. Franklin's only losses in the last two years came against Bishop Brady.

Here's the good news for the rest of Division V: Bishop Brady graduated 12 seniors from last year's team, and Franklin lost nine offensive starters and eight on defense.

"I don't think it will be a two-team race this year," Epping coach Rich McFadden said. "Gilford is a team that has really impressed me. I think you'll see more teams fighting for playoff spots."

Gilford, which is in its fourth season as a varsity program, finished 5-4 last year and should have plenty of offensive firepower. Senior Colby Athanas is in his third year as the team's starting quarterback, and 220-pound junior tailback Eric Dean will likely be the team's primary ball carrier.

High school previews: Division V.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The Friday Night Lights radio show, which can be heard on Sports Radio WGAM (AM-900 in Nashua) and AM-1250 in Manchester) returns for its sixth season Friday.

Friday Night Lights will focus on New Hampshire high school football and will provide listeners with scores, highlights and interviews. WGAM will have correspondents sprinkled at games throughout the state Friday, including Manchester Central/Londonderry, Nashua North/Pinkerton Academy, Manchester West/Alvirne and Souhegan/Milford. Chris Shuker and Darrin Root are this year's hosts.

Friday's show will be an abbreviated one (one hour) and will follow the Red Sox/Orioles game. Once the baseball season concludes, Friday Night Lights can be heard from 6-10 p.m. each Friday throughout the season. There will also be a recap of Friday's action and a look ahead to Saturday's games each Saturday from 8-10 a.m.

For more information visit the Friday Night Lights blog.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Exeter's Pat Nolan, a senior defensive tackle, has been elected to serve as one of three captains for the Colgate University football team this season.

Nolan, who graduated from Exeter High School in 2003, started at defensive tackle in each of Colgate's 11 games last season and received the school's Tom Dodge Unsung Hero Award. He made 35 tackles and was second on the team in tackles for loss with seven. He also had four sacks.

Senior linebacker Mike Gallihugh and senior defensive back Cody Williams will also serve as tri-captains this season.

"It's a terrific honor to be elected captain by my teammates," Nolan said. "I take a lot of pride in sharing this responsibility with Mike and Cody, who are great football players and great leaders. There has been excellent leadership from the past seniors and captains since I have been here and I expect no less from this team."

Nolan was a senior on the Exeter team that beat Dover, 24-21, for the 2002 Division II title. He was a three-year varsity player for the Blue Hawks.

The University of New Hampshire's annual Blue/White scrimmage will be played at Exeter High School on Thursday because of construction on UNH's field.

The Wildcats are scheduled to leave Durham at noon, and the scrimmage will start at 1:45 p.m. Exeter's William Ball Stadium has seating for 3,200.

UNH will open the regular season Sept. 8 at James Madison. The team's first home game is scheduled for Sept. 22 against Dartmouth.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

What current New Hampshire high school football coach has the most career victories?

Plymouth's Chuck Lenanhan? Nope.

Pinkerton Academy's Brian O'Reilly? Guess again.

The correct answer is St. Thomas coach Rod Wotton, who enters the season with a 317-65-3 record overall, and an 86-28 record in his 11 seasons at St. Thomas.

Wotton won most of those games while he was coaching at Marshwood High School, which at that time was located in Eliot, Maine (a new high school has since been built in South Berwick, Maine). Wotton's Marshwood teams won 17 state championships and at least one in each of Maine's four classes. In 1987 Marshwood had the nation's longest winning streak (45 games).

Last season may have been Wotton's best coaching job, however. He guided St. Thomas to the Division IV championship as the No. 4 seed. The Saints, who were 6-3 during the regular season, beat Somersworth (14-10) and Laconia (21-3) on the road en route to the title. It was the fourth state championship St. Thomas has won under Wotton.

"I've never had a championship team that's lost three games before," Wotton said. "In fact, I've never had one that's lost two."

The Saints were an underdog entering last year's playoffs, but they'll be the favorite to win it all from Day 1 this season. St. Thomas returns six starters on defense and five on offense. The returnees include senior wide receiver/defensive back Matt McLaughlin, who caught at least one pass in every game last year.

Hanover and Kearsarge figure to be among the teams that will provide St. Thomas will some resistance this season.

"We'll try to make the playoffs and go from there," Wotton said.

High school previews: Division IV.

Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.

Question: I've always wondered what a football official is supposed to do if, in his mind, an incorrect call is made. Let's say a player is called for clipping, but another official didn't see it that way. Do you guys huddle to discuss things, and who has the final say?
A.S., North Conway

Answer: Our objective is to make the correct call every play. Each official has an area of responsibility and coverage, and those areas overlap with other officials' areas.  If an official makes a call and another member of the crew disagrees with the call, the officials will usually get together with the referee to discuss the call. The discussion can involve rule interpretation, or it can involve judgment. Occasionally, after such a discussion, the official calling the foul will "eat the flag" if either a rule has not been correctly enforced or if another member of the crew was in a better position to see the play and is certain that his perspective provided a better view. In the unlikely event that the officials cannot agree on the correct call to make, the ultimate decision lies with the referee. The referee will ask questions, listen to both officials, and make his decision. However, it almost never gets down to the referee making a decision between two differing opinions, because oneofficial will almost always know that he either interpreted the rule incorrectly or wasn't in as good a position as his crew mate to make the call.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

It's a familiar question, and one that's being asked again this season: Can anyone beat Plymouth?

The Bobcats made it eight championships in 10 years by beating Portsmouth, 35-20, in the Division III title game last year. Plymouth enters the season with a 22-game winning streak and Chuck Lenahan has a 287-63-1 record as the program's head coach.

The Bobcats have won 14 state championships since NHIAA football began using a playoff format in 1972.

Plymouth lost nine starters on each side of the ball, but running back Shawn Sweeney, a First Team All-State selection last season, is among the returning starters. Sweeny rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown in last year's championship game.

"We'll just have to see if anyone can stay with Plymouth," Portsmouth coach Bill Murphy said. "I'm sure they'll be right up there again."

Portsmouth, which returns 6-foot-1, 240-pound fullback/defensive lineman Reed Spiller, is among the teams that should be in the playoff hunt this season. Spiller has drawn interest from some Ivy League schools.

Milford, which returns quarterback Jeff Agnew, Souhegan and Merrimack Valley are also teams that have their sights set on postseason play.

High School previews: Division III.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Bishop Guertin and Exeter. Exeter and BG.

Ask any coach which teams are likely to finish at the top of the Division II standings this season and you'll probably get one of those two answers. Identifying the top teams is easy. Predicting the correct order of finish is not.

BG has won the last three Division II championships, and beat Exeter for the title in both 2005 and 2006. The Cardinals finished 11-1 last season -- BG suffered a regular-season loss to Exeter -- and return 11 starters (six on offense).

Quarterback Ryan Burgess is among the returnees. Burgess came off the bench late in the third quarter and led BG to a 21-14 triumph over Exeter in last year's title game. Burgess, who started two games during the 2006 regular season, led BG to three fourth-quarter scoring drives in that contest. He completed all six of his pass attempts for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Burgess also ran for a TD.

"I know they have a lot back," Exeter coach Bill Ball said. "Offensively we've played well in spurts (during the preseason). My biggest concern is we have to get better defensively. Defensively we seem to have breakdowns at key times that cost us."

The Blue Hawks also return 11 starters from a year ago (six on defense). The team's strength may be in the offensive backfield, where fullback Gabe Bourgeois (939 yards, 11 TDs) and halfback Brett McAllister (775 yards, nine TDs) both averaged 6.7 yards per carry last season. McAllister also caught nine TD passes. 

Exeter, which has reached the Division II championship game in nine of the past 11 seasons, will be at home when it faces BG on Oct. 12.

Alvirne, Keene, Spaulding, Timberlane and Winnacunnet are teams that will be looking to earn playoff berths and prevent a third straight title game that features Exeter and BG.

High School previews: Division II.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Pinkerton Academy has won the last two Division I championships and will carry a 14-game winning streak into Friday night's game at Nashua North. The Astros still have a bulls-eye on their back, but they're certainly not the only team capable of winning this year's title in a division that doesn't appear to be as top-heavy as it's been in recent seasons.

Salem, which has lost to Pinkerton in each of the last two Division I championship games, may be the most likely team to unseat the Astros this year. Quarterback Hal Landers, running back Kevin Sledge and running back Shane McMahon are among the returning starters on this year's roster, which features 29 seniors. McMahon rushed for 1,083 yards last season, and Sledge finished with 658 despite being plagued by injury.

Londonderry and Nashua South also figure to be in the playoff mix. South will be led by quarterback Bill Ferriter, one of 17 seniors on the team; and Londonderry has added New Hampton transfer Ryan Griffin, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound quarterback/tight end who has reportedly received a scholarship offer from the University of New Hampshire.

Concord, Manchester West and Nashua North are teams that will likely be better than they were a year ago, but Pinkerton remains the team to beat until someone proves otherwise. The Astros lost quarterback Bryan Farris (1,789 passing yards last season) and receiver Juan Amador (34 receptions for 757 yards) to graduation, but return 10 starters from their 2006 team, which finished 12-0. Peter Mazzola, a running back who has been shifted to quarterback, is among the returnees.

The Astros have also added former Plymouth State standout Joe Dudek to their coaching staff. Dudek finished ninth in the 1985 Heisman Trophy balloting.

High School previews: Division I.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The University of Maryland media guide lists Dave Philistin as "an athletic reserve linebacker who has appeared in the last 23 games," but that reserve label may soon have to be removed.

Philistin, a 6-foot-2, 231-pound junior who played at Manchester Central High School, was a weakside linebacker during his first two seasons at Maryland, but has been switched to middle linebacker this year. He's battling junior Chase Bullock for the starting job.

Philistin made five tackles during an intra-squad scrimmage Saturday, and had a team-high nine tackles in Maryland's first scrimmage earlier this year.

Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.

Question: Many years ago I was at an Exeter/Dover game and Exeter's kickoffs were all kicked high and short near the sideline. It could have created a jump-ball situation. Just wondering if the kicking team and the receiving team each have an equal right to the football in cases like this, or is it a penalty if a player on the kicking team makes contact with a member of the receiving team while both players are going for the ball?
R.G., Hampton

Answer: If a kickoff has not touched the ground, a member of the kicking team may not touch either the ball or a member of the receiving team (unless the receiving team player blocks a kicking team player). The receiving team must be given an unmolested opportunity to catch the kick. In fact, they can even signal for and make a fair catch. Once the kickoff touches the ground and travels 10 yards, however, it's a free ball that can be recovered by the kicking team.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The Spaulding Football Jamboreee will be held Thursday at Spaulding High School in Rochester.

In recent years the jamboree has featured eight teams that each played two quarters of football, but this year's event has been cut in half. Division V Epping will meet Division III Kingswood at 7:30 p.m., and Division II Spaulding will face Division IV Somersworth at 8:30. All four teams will play two 10-minute quarters.

The NHIAA regular season will begin Aug. 31.

Scott Sicko's name was mentioned frequently at the University of New Hampshire football team's media day earlier this month.

Sicko, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end, was one of two true freshmen to see game action for UNH last season, and may be asked to take on a larger role in the team's offense this year. The Wildcats open the regular season Sept. 8 at James Madison.

For more on Sicko and the Wildcats, read Mike Zhe's UNH Notebook in the Portsmouth Herald.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Mike Boyle and injuries go together like a Whopper and fries. At least that was the case last season, when an uncooperative hamstring and an ankle sprain forced him to miss all of six games and parts of six others.

Boyle, a wide receiver entering his junior season at the University of New Hampshire, rarely left the field in high school. Plymouth Regional had a 44-0 record with Boyle as a starter. He scored 27 touchdowns in 2003, when Plymouth beat Souhegan, 34-0, for its fourth consecutive Division III championship.

"Last preseason camp I pulled my hamstring and I kept coming back a day or two too early," Boyle said. "Last fall I kept re-aggravating it. It took me out of games until we played (James Madison). I was on a limited play count during that game.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

At this time a year ago, University of New Hampshire running back Sean Jellison was no more comfortable than a man wearing a wool suit on a humid day. This year he's more like someone dressed in shorts and a polo shirt.

Jellison's increased comfort level was obvious during spring practice, according to UNH coach Sean McDonnell. Jellison, a redshirt freshman, is currently the fourth running back on the team's depth chart, The three running backs ahead of him - senior Chris Ward, junior Robert Simpson and sophomore Chad Kackert - all have significant college experience.

"We have a lot of depth at running back, so right now I'm hoping to find my way onto the field any way possible, whether it be special teams or just getting some reps at running back every now and then," Jellison said. "It was good to redshirt and get that year to get adjusted. I think it was helpful.

St. Anselm College defensive end Casey Larson has been named to the 2007 D2Football.com Preseason All-America Second Team for the second straight season.

Larson, a senior, holds the school record for sacks and tackles for loss. He led the Northeast-10 in sacks and forced fumbles last season. He was also third among Northeast-10 players in tackles for loss. His average of 0.40 forced fumbles per game placed him sixth nationally in that category.

Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.

Question: Steve, when a team allows a touchdown (or field goal) can it elect to kick off and play defense? I have a friend who says this can be done to avoid an on-side kick attempt that could give a team good field position late in the game. For example, a team trailing by two points could recover the on-side kick, which would make it that much easier to get in range and kick a game-winning field goal. I've never seen this done at any level.
K.D., Dover

Answer: Yes. After a try for point (following a touchdown) or after a successful field goal, the opponent of the scoring team designates which team will kick off. I have never seen a team elect to kick off after its opponent has scored, and officials don't ask the team that's been scored upon if they want to kick off. Rather, it's assumed that the team that's been scored upon wants to receive the kickoff. However, if a team made a request to kick off after being scored upon, that request would be granted.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

For those of you who have an interest in high school football outside of New Hampshire, the following is a list of high school games scheduled to be televised on the ESPN networks this season:

Aug. 25: Booker T. Washington (Fla.) vs. Summerville (S.C); ESPN/noon
Aug. 25: First Coast (Fla.) vs. Berkeley (S.C.); ESPNU/4 p.m.
Sept. 7: Wichita East (Kan.) vs. Dodge City (Kan.); ESPNU/8 p.m.
Sept. 14: Yough (Pa.) vs. Jeannette (Pa.); ESPNU/8 p.m.
Sept. 15: Miami Northwestern (Fla.) vs. Southlake Carroll (Texas); ESPNU/7 p.m.
Sept. 20: Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (Calif.) vs. Birmingham (Calif.), ESPN2/11 p.m.
Sept. 21: McDonough #35 (La.) vs. St. Augustine (La.); ESPNU/8 p.m.
Sept. 28: North Bergen (N.J.) vs. St. Peter's (N.J.); ESPNU/8 p.m.
Oct. 4: Daphne (Ala.) vs. Foley (Ala.); ESPN2/9 p.m.
Oct. 5: Parkway North (Mo.) vs. Parkway West (Mo.); ESPNU/8 p.m.
Oct. 11: Poway (Calif.) vs. Torrey Pines (Calif.); ESPNU/TBD
Oct. 12: Cherry Creek (Colo.) vs. Granview (Colo.); ESPNU/TBD
Oct. 18: Cy-Fair (Texas) vs. Cypress Falls (Texas); ESPN2/7 p.m.
Oct. 19:Clovis (N.M.) vs. Artesia (N.M.); ESPNU/10 p.m.

Perhaps the most intriguing game listed is the Miami Northwestern/Southlake Carroll matchup. Miami Northwestern was 15-0 last season en route to Florida's 6A championship and has 12 starters returning -- six on each side of the ball. Southlake Carroll has won the last three Class 5A-I championships in Texas and will enter the season with a 48-game winning streak. Southlake Carroll's Riley Dodge is considered one of the best high school quarterbacks in the nation. He originally committed to Texas, but has since opted to play for his father, Todd, the former Southlake Carroll head coach who is in his first season as the head coach at the University of North Texas.

The ESPNU High School All-American game will be played Jan. 5 and can be seen on ABC.
 

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Tony Johnson, who has guided the Bishop Guertin football team to the last three Division II state championships, has been selected to replace Andy Krahling as the school's athletic director. Krahling left BG to become the athletic director at Merrimack High School earlier this year.

Johnson, a 1977 BG graduate, will continue to coach football, but will no longer be coaching indoor and outdoor track. He is entering his 13th season as BG's football coach.

A full story appears in the Nashua Telegraph. 

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

If you've ever sat through a slow-moving second half in a lopsided game, you know what the NHIAA football committee was thinking when it approved a mercy rule for the 2007 season.

When a team builds a second-half lead of 35 points or more this year it will trigger the use of a running clock. Normal timing will resume if the point differential becomes less than 35 points.

According to the National Federation of High Schools, 28 states had some form of a mercy rule in place during the 2006 season.

Sixty-three NHIAA games were decided by 35 points or more last year. Here's the breakdown by division: Division I (seven), Division II (seven), Division III (10), Division IV (22) and Division V (17). 

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The championship game in each of the five NHIAA divisions will no longer be played at the home of the higher-seeded team. This year all five title games will be held at a neutral site, with the following exception: If both teams that reach the championship game play their home games on a turf field (Bishop Guertin and Exeter for example) then the game will be played at the higher-seeded team's home field.

Semifinal games will still be played at the home of the higher-seeded team. Here's this year's playoff schedule:

Division I

Semifinals: Nov. 10 at the higher-seeded team (1 p.m.)
Championship: Nov. 17 at Stellos Stadium (1 p.m.)

Division II

Semifinals: Nov. 10 at the higher-seeded team (1 p.m.)
Championship: Nov. 17 at William Ball Stadium (1 p.m.)

Division III

Semifinals: Nov. 3 at the higher-seeded team (1 p.m.)
Championship: Nov. 11 at William Ball Stadium (1 p.m.)

Division IV

Semifinals: Nov. 3 at the higher-seeded team (1 p.m.)
Championship: Nov. 10 at Hanover High School (1 p.m.)

Division V

Semifinals: Nov. 10 at the higher-seeded team (1 p.m.)
Championship: Nov. 18 at Stellos Stadium (1 p.m.)

Note: Games may start at a later time if agreed upon by both schools.

Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.

Question: What is the penalty if a tight end who is covered on the line of scrimmage catches a pass downfield? Is the penalty any different if an ineligible receiver makes no attempt at a catch, but the ball hits him in the back?
T.J., Nashua

Answer: Eligible pass receivers include backs and linemen on the end of their line (ends) numbered 1 through 49 or 80 through 99. A tight end is "covered" if there is a teammate on the line of scrimmage outside of the tight end. In this situation, the tight end is not an eligible receiver, regardless of his number. If he goes downfield (generally more than 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage) before the pass is thrown and the pass crosses the line of scrimmage untouched by the defense, he has committed a foul for ineligible downfield. If he then catches a pass or touches the pass in an attempt to catch it, he has committed illegal touching. If he makes no attempt to catch the ball, but the ball strikes him, he has not committed illegal touching, but he is still ineligible downfield. The penalty for ineligible downfield is 5 yards from where the ball was last snapped (the previous spot), and the down is replayed. The penalty for illegal touching of a pass beyond the line of scrimmage is 5 yards from the previous spot, plus a loss of down.

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

He's the lowest-paid high school head coach in the state. His name is John Elliot and he'll be calling the shots at Winnisquam Regional High School this fall.

Elliot, a 38-year-old Northfield resident, is in his first season as Winnisquam's head coach and he'll be coaching for free.

"We're a self-funded program," Elliot explained. "The school gives us no money. We're fully sponsored by our booster club. We do everything with fundraising, so it didn't make sense to pay me to coach."

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Dartmouth didn't receive much respect in this year's Ivy League media poll, which was released Monday.

Dartmouth was picked to finish eighth in the eight-team league. The Big Green, which ended the 2006 season with a 2-5 league record (2-8 overall), received 28 points.

"The only poll that matters to us is the one at the end of the season," Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens said in a release issued by the school. "Our players will read this, and from a league standpoint, that's how the media views Dartmouth football. As a group, Dartmouth football needs to address this. We'll present this to our players and they are intelligent young men. It will provide more inspiration and motivation."

By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

HANOVER -- With 34 seconds remaining in Saturday's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, New Hampshire appeared to be in a no-win situation.

The game was tied and Vermont had just taken over on downs at its own 28-yard line. Seconds later an improbable ending began to unfold.

First, New Hampshire defensive back Eric Laliberte intercepted a Sam Reynolds pass and returned the ball to the Vermont 31-yard line with 11 seconds left. New Hampshire quarterback Bryan Farris hooked up with wide receiver Marty Plante for a 21-yard gain on first down, and then Farris kicked a 27-yard field goal that turned out to be the difference in New Hampshire's 23-20 victory at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. 

54th Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl

New Hampshire vs. Vermont

When and where: Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.

Team records: New Hampshire leads the series 38-13-2.

Head coaches: Milford's Keith Jones is the New Hampshire head coach. Otter Valley's Dennis Perry will be guiding Vermont.

2006 result: New Hampshire won 24-7.

Last Vermont victory: 2000 game (47-40).

Tickets: Tickets are $10 and will be available at the gate.

Noteworthy: This year's game carries the same questions as most: Can the Vermont defense slow down the New Hampshire offense? Can the Vermont offense move the ball against the New Hampshire defense? It's a long-winded way of asking if this Vermont team has a chance. We won't know for sure until Saturday afternoon, of course, but if nothing else Vermont should be able to put an entertaining offense on the field. That offense will feature Burlington's Andew Plumley, Vermont's Gatorade Player of the Year, in a one-back set, and U-32's Marcus Hass, a 6-foot-4 receiver, split wide. Plumley ran for 2,576 yards and 26 TDs last fall and led Burlington to the Division II championship. He gained 409 yards in one game. ... Corey Robinson, who played for Perry at Otter Valley, has been named Vermont's starting quarterback, but there are plenty of Vermont residents who will tell you that Rutland's Sam Reynolds is the best QB on the roster. ... New Hampshire may not have the star power of some Granite State teams, but it's another solid roster with plenty of depth on both sides of the ball. Jones knows how to make the most of his talent having had success with the wishbone and spread offenses at Milford. ... Pinkerton Academy's Bryan Farris has been named New Hampshire's starting quarterback. Farris led the Astros to a 12-0 record and the Division I title last season, when he threw for 1,763 yards and 10 touchdowns. He completed 84 of 139 pass attempts during his senior season. Manchester's Central's Joe Robinson and Bishop Guertin's Eric Laliberte are the other QBs on the New Hampshire roster. ... Whoever is taking snaps for New Hampshire will be complemented by a stable of quality running backs. Portsmouth's Rod Walker may be the back Vermont is chasing the most. Walker led Division III in rushing last season (more than 1,200 yards) and will attempt to extend his playing career as a walk-on at the University of New Hampshire. ... Vermont offensive coordinator Brian Grady was Vermont's head coach in 2000, when the Green Mountain State prevailed, 47-40. ... Brattleboro running back David Velazquez, one of four Vermont captains, will attend UNH in the fall. ... Perry has a 60-27 record as a high school head coach, which includes a 43-25 record during his time at Fair Haven. Jones has a 42-20 record during his six seasons at Milford. ...  Both teams will unveil new uniforms for this game. ... The first Shrine Game was played in 1954 at Nashua's Holman Stadium. ... Prediction: New Hampshire 21, Vermont 20.

More coverage: Varsity Magazine has a preview of each team.

Editor's Note: Tom Haley has been covering high school football for the Rutland (Vt.) Herald since 1987. He has been selected as the Vermont Sportswriter of the Year seven times and has received the Contributor to Football Award from the Vermont Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame. Before moving to the Rutland Herald, Haley worked as the sports editor at the Claremont Eagle Times and as Fall Mountain Regional High School's athletic director. He covered Vermont's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl victory in 1975 and hasn't missed a Shrine Game since. He recently participated in the following interview regarding this year's game, which will be played Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Dartmouth's Memorial Field:

NHFR: Tell us a little bit about Vermont high school football. How many teams are there, and how many divisions?

Haley: Vermont football has 34 teams and three divisions, down from four the past several seasons. (There are 51 NHIAA schools with varsity football, and those teams are spread across five divisions.)