By Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Alignment for the 2008 and 2009 seasons came closer to being finalized last week, when the Newmarket School Board approved a proposal to sponsor a cooperative team that would include players from the Epping and Newmarket school districts.

"It's still a little early, but it looks good," Epping coach Rich McFadden said. "The NHIAA has a cooperative committee that still has to approve it. It looks encouraging."

Epping has competed in Division V since it began fielding a varsity team in 2004, but NHIAA football will expand to six divisions starting next season. McFadden said a cooperative team between Epping and Newmarket will compete in Division V. Otherwise, the Blue Devils will be placed in Division VI.

Freemont residents, who used to attend Epping, are now being sent to Sanborn Regional High School. Epping dressed 21 players for its final game last season.

"There are 40 kids (from Newmarket) who have shown interest," McFadden said. "We won't get all 40, but we may get 20 or 25. We think we'll be pretty close to doubling our roster. It looks like Division V could be the division with 10 teams next season (five of the six divisions will have nine teams). It'll either be Division V or Division VI."

McFadden said the program will be funded by both schools and the team's booster club.

"I want to say it's a formality, but you never know," he said.