Patrick Murphy, who served as the head coach at Dracut (Mass.) High School, has been hired as the head coach at St. Anselm College.

Murphy, a Northeastern graduate, gained college experience as an assistant at Harvard, UMass-Lowell and Bryant University. Murphy replaces Ken Knapczyk, who resigned in January.

St. Anselm finished last season 0-10 overall and 0-9 in the Northeast-10. The Hawks will carry a 29-game losing streak into the 2008 season.

Consensus Draft Services has a list of Colonial Athletic Association players who have the potential to be selected in this year's NFL Draft. The list includes three University of New Hampshire players: linebacker Husain Karim, safety Jeff Pammer and quarterback Ricky Santos,

The NFL Draft will be held April 26-27 in New York.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Defensive tackle Steve Charbonneau, who played at the University of New Hampshire, retired last week after spending 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League.

"I've have had a lot of fun throughout my football career, but, at 34, I think it's time for me to move on," Charbonneau said.

Charbonneau played for the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos during his professional career. He helped Edmonton win the Grey Cup in 2003 and 2005. He began his career with Montreal, but was released in 2002 after he refused to take a pay cut.

Earlier this month former UNH defensive back Etienne Boulay left the Alouettes to sign a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets.

Montreal selected Boulay in the second round of the 2006 CFL draft. In two CFL seasons he recorded 41 tackles (24 solo) and five interceptions.

Boulay, a Montreal native, made 223 tackles and intercepted 13 passes during his four-year career at UNH.

MANCHESTER WOLVES 2008 SCHEDULE

April 5 at Mahoning Valley (7:05 p.m.)
April 11 at Green Bay (8:30 p.m.)
April 18 Albany (7:30 p.m.)
April 26 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7:30 p.m.)
May 4 Daytona Beach (4 p.m.)
May 10 at Estero-Florida (7:30 p.m.)
May 16 Tulsa (7:30 p.m.)
May 23 at Albany (7 p.m.)
May 31 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7:05 p.m.)
June 6 Estero-Florida (7:30 p.m.)
June 13 at Mahoning Valley (7:05 p.m.)
June 21 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7:30 p.m.) 
June 27 Albany (7:30 p.m.)
Jul 12 Mahoning Valley (7:30 p.m.)
July 18 at Albany (7 p.m.)
July 26 Corpus Christi (7:05 p.m.)

NOTE: The Wolves roster includes former University of New Hampshire wide receiver David Bailey.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Dale Lennon took a look a Taylor Beasley and apparently he liked what he saw.

Beasley, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound quarterback who spent the 2007 season at Proctor Academy in Andover, will play for Lennon at Southern Illinois University next season. Lennon took over at Southern Illinois in late December, after his teams compiled a 90-24-0 record at Division II North Dakota. He replaced Jerry Kill, who left Southern Illinois to become the head coach at Northern Illinois.

"Taylor possesses the qualities we are looking for in our quarterbacks," Lennon said shortly after Beasley signed a National Letter of Intent. "He has the toughness and instincts that will allow him to develop into a leader."

Beasley, who lives in Winter Park, Fla., completed 85 of 139 pass attempts last season. He threw for 1,331 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was intercepted three times.

Beasley (pictured) also rushed for 306 yards and six TD on 68 carries.

Proctor completed the 2007 season with a 5-3 record.

They're rivals in most sports, but they'll be teammates in football. The proposal to allow Epping High School and Newmarket High School to form a cooperative football team cleared the final hurdle last week.

Rich McFadden, who has served as Epping's head coach since the program was born in 2004, will be Epping/Newmarket's coach next season. The team, which will retain Blue Devils as its nickname, will compete in Division V.

Note: Thanks to Bob Lund, the longtime radio voice of Keene High School athletics, for his contribution to this report.

Keene High School quarterback Tanner Boucher signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Army on Thursday during a news conference at the Cheshire Career Center Conference Room at Keene High School.

"This is something I have looked forward to," Boucher said. "The chance to play college football and to play for (Army coach Stan Brock). I really want to thank Coach (John) Luopa and my teammates at Keene High for helping make this possible. I especially would like to thank my Pop Warner coach, Linwood Patnode (a current Keene High assistant). If it wasn't for him I might still be playing soccer."

Boucher established Keene High School records for touchdown passes (20) and yards passing (just under 2,000) last season.

Boucher's family has an athletic history. His father, Keith Boucher, is the women's basketball coach at Keene State College and played both football and baseball at Plymouth State. His grandfather is the late Lang Metcalf, a longtime boys basketball coach at Lebanon High School.

Boucher is the fourth Keene High School player to earn a Division I scholarship in the last 35 years, joining Charlie Johnson (Boston University in 1995), Troy Wilkes (University of Iowa in 1987) and John Bosa (Boston College in 1982). 

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Tanner Boucher, a 6-foot-4 quarterback from Keene High School, is expected to announce Thursday that he has decided to play football for Army next season.

Boucher, pictured above with Keene coach John Luopa, will join Exeter High School tight end Brad Kelly, who committed to Army earlier this month. Boucher becomes the ninth New Hampshire resident to commit to a Division I school this year. That list includes Londonderry's Alex Theodhosi (Brown), Pinkerton Academy's Bryan Farris (Yale), Portsmouth's Reed Spiller (Yale), Hanover's Carl Cutler (Syracuse), Winnacunnet's Ryan Cronan (Marist), Pinkerton Academy's Josh Lane (UNH) and Londonderry's Ryan Griffin (Connecticut).

In addtion, Exeter placekicker Sean Coleman will play both soccer and football at UNH.  

UNH will play at Army on Sept. 6

Plymouth State University coach Paul Castonia has been named College Football Coach of the Year by MasterSports, a regional non-profit organization that promotes football through coaches clinics and awards scholarships to deserving high school and youth football players. MasterSports has awarded 91 scholarships totaling $72,500.

The Coach of the Year Award is presented to the person the MasterSports board of directors believes best contributes to promoting and teaching the game at the college/university level.The award will be presented to Castonia on March 15 following a clinic at the Sheraton Colonial Hotel in Lynnfield, Mass.

Castonia, who recently completed his fifth season at Plymouth State, was named New England Football Conference Coach of the Year in 2007. He led the Panthers to a 9-1 record and a victory in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl. It was Plymouth State's first winning season since 2001 and matched the most wins in a season at Plymouth since the 1995 team also finished 9-1.

The University of New Hampshire has secured games against the University of Pittsburgh and Boston College, according to a story in today's Union Leader.

UNH will play Pitt at Heinz Field in 2010, and at BC in 2014.

UNH has had nothing but success against Football Bowl Subdivision teams in recent years. The Wildcats beat Marshall last season, beat Northwestern in 2006 and won at Rutgers in 2004.

Rosters for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl were tentatively scheduled to be released Thursday, but according to the Shrine office not all of the consent forms have been returned by players. New Hampshire Football Report was told that the announcement could come next week.

Vermont and New Hampshire will each carry a 36-player roster, with a specified number of players from each division. Players will report to training camp on July 23.

This year's game will be played Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. New Hampshire has a 39-13-2 edge in the series.

Pinkerton Academy lineman Josh Lane is the only New Hampshire resident who signed a letter of intent with the University of New Hampshire this year. Lane will receive a full scholarship, but Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said UNH is getting the better end of the deal. O'Reilly called Lane the best lineman he's ever coached.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Winnacunnet High School quarterback/defensive back Ryan Cronan signed a letter of intent with Marist College on Wednesday. Marist is a Football Championship Subdivision school.

"They want him to play linebacker," Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said. "He could have played quarterback at Springfield College, but I guess the financial package and the chance to play I-AA swayed him."

Cronan helped Winnacunnet hand Exeter its only loss during the 2007 regular season. The Blue Hawks beat the Warriors in the Division II semifinals and went on to win the Division II title.

Auffant said St. Anselm and Merrimack College showed interest in Cronan.

"I think Marist is a good fit for him," Auffant said.

Jimmy Parady is in his 17th year as Marist's head coach. Parady's father, Ken, was the head football coach at Nashua High School and Laconia High School.

Auffant said his son, Sam, who was a tailback/defensive back for Winnacunnet last season, will spend a year at either Phillips Exeter or Phillips Andover before making his college choice.

Both Cronan and Auffant were selected to play in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. 

Among other things, the University of New Hampshire gained size with its 2008 recruiting class. Six linemen were among the 14 players UNH introduced Wednesday, the first day recruits were allowed to sign a national letter of intent.

One player not on that list of 14 is Exeter High School place-kicker Sean Coleman, who is expected to play both soccer and football for the Wildcats.

Pinkerton Academy's Josh Lane is among the linemen headed to Durham.

Elsewhere Wednesday, two former New Hampton Prep teammates -- Londonderry's Ryan Griffin and Bishop Guertin's Jamie Moore -- both signed a national letter of intent to play college football in Connecticut. Griffin is headed to the University of Connecticut, and Moore will play at Sacred Heart University.

Here's where the nation's top 100 recruits are headed.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

He flew under the radar Wednesday, in part because Ivy League schools don't require their incoming football players to sign a National Letter of Intent, but add Portsmouth High School's Reed Spiller to the list of New Hampshire residents who will play Division I football next season.

Spiller, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman, confirmed Wednesday that he's headed to Yale.

"I'm very, very pleased," Spiller said. "My family and I did a lot of hard work trying to find a place where I was wanted. Finding a school that wanted me as much as I wanted them is what it came down to."

Spiller said he had some interest in playing for the University of New Hampshire, but that option became less attractive after a conversation with UNH coach Sean McDonnell.

"He called me when I was on my way for my official visit (to Yale)," Spiller said. "He told me their scholarship spots were filled."

Spiller also played fullback and offensive line during his three varsity seasons with Portsmouth, but has been told he's best suited to be an interior defensive lineman in college.

"They told me that's my best shot of any position to get on the field as a freshman," he said.

Former Pinkerton Academy quarterback Bryan Farris is also part of Yale's 2008 recruiting class. Farris, who kicked the game-winning field goal to give New Hampshire a 23-20 victory over Vermont in last year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, is currently attending Phillips Andover Academy.

A shoulder injury forced Spiller to miss several games last season. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum in November, but said he expects to play varsity lacrosse for Portsmouth this spring.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

University of New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell announced Wednesday that 14 players have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at UNH.

UNH's 2008 recruiting class is heavy on offensive and defensive linemen, and includes two quarterbacks: Matt Welch from Lowell (Mass.) High School, and Josh Vick from Kiski Area High School in Apollo, Pa.

Pinkerton Academy lineman Josh Lane (right) is the only New Hampshire resident in the class. Lane, a two-way starter for the last three years, was one of five finalists for New Hampshire's Mr. Football Award, given annually to the best high school player in the state.

"I feel good about the overall athleticism that our coaching staff has identified in the recruiting process," McDonnell said. "We have filled an important need in the offensive and defensive lines with this recruiting class. This class will greatly improve our versatility as a football program. Many of these players can play at a number of positions and I feel that they will add great depth to our program."

The class also includes running back/linebacker Alan Buzbee (Chester Woods, N.J./Seton Hall Prep); offensive lineman/defensive lineman Mike DiLima (Olney, Md./Our Lady of Good Council); running back/linebacker Matt Evans (Hanover Mass./Thayer Academy); running back/linebacker Ken Howard (Plainfield, N.J./The Hun School of Princeton); offensive lineman/defensive lineman Isaiah Martin (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken); offensive lineman/defensive lineman Walter McCarthy (Warwick, R.I./Milton Academy); wide receiver/defensive back Joey Orlando (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty); running back/defensive back Dontra Peters (Annapolis, Md./St. Mary's); defensive back/running back Tyler Sargent (Fairview, Pa./Fairview); defensive lineman/offensive lineman Jared Smith (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) and offensive lineman/defensive lineman Chris Zarkoskie (West Caldwell, N.J./Seton Hall Prep).

UNH press release

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Many of New Hampshire's top high school football players from the 2007 season will make their college committments official Wednesday during National Signing Day.

Londonderry running back Alex Theodhosi, New Hampshire's Mr. Football for the 2007 season, is among those who will play Division I football next season. Theodhosi spurned an offer from Nebraska and has said he will attend Brown.

Hanover's Carl Cutler (Syracuse), Londonderry's Ryan Griffin (Connecticut), Pinkerton Academy's Josh Lane (UNH), Exeter's Brad Kelly (Army) and Portsmouth's Reed Spiller (Yale) are also bound for Division I schools.

Nashua South quarterback Bill Ferriter and Keene quarterback Tanner Boucher are among the other New Hampshire players considered Division I prospects. 

Here a list of the top 100 recruits in the nation.

Some may also find the following story interesting. California associate media relations director John Sudsbury, who used to work in the UNH sports information department, was among those perplexed by a recruiting hoax that took place last Friday.

Hanover High School linebacker/tight end Carl Cutler is among the New Hampshire high school players who will play Division I football next season.

Cutler (left) has already accepted an offer from Syracuse University and is expected to sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, which is National Signing Day. Cutler originally planned to attend a prep school, but his decision to remain at Hanover didn't eliminate Division I interest.

Note: The Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV and Division V schedules have been posted.

FALL MOUNTAIN

at Bow
at Gilford
Newport
at Winnisquam
Campbell
Inter-Lakes
at Mascoma
Farmington
Franklin
at Newfound

University of Oregon offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, a former assistant coach at UNH, is stil hoping Jeannette (Pa.) quarterback Terrelle Pryor (above) will be wearing Duck colors next season. Many consider Pryor to be the top recruit in the 2008 class, and Oregon is reportedly on the short list of schools he is considering.

With National Signing Day two days away, many of the nation's top prospects have yet to commit to a school.

Note: The Division I, Division II, Division III and Division IV schedules have been posted. The Division VI schedules will be posted Tuesday.

BOW

Epping
at Kearsarge
Stevens
at St. Thomas
Pelham
Bye
Fall Mountain
at Somersworth
at Bishop Brady
Trinity 

Note: The Division I, Division II and Division III schedules have been posted. The Division V schedules will be posted Monday, and the Division VI schedules will be posted Tuesday.

HANOVER

at Laconia
Goffstown
at Lebanon
Kennett
at Plymouth
at Kingswood
Monadnock
at Sanborn
Merrimack Valley 

Will Bishop Guertin coach Tony Johnson be serving a one-game suspension when BG opens its 2008 season against Division I Pinkerton Academy?

That's a question that's has been asked since Johnson criticized the officiating following last year's Division II championship game. Exeter beat BG 14-13 to win the Division II title. The drive that led to Exeter's go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter was aided by a pass interference penalty on a fourth-and-9 play.

Exeter trailed 13-7 until it put together a 13-play, 63-yard drive capped by Brett McAllister's 3-yard touchdown run with 2:23 to play.

Johnson, who is also BG's athletic director, made several critical comments about the officiating to reporters after the game. Johnson's situation is examined in today's Union Leader.

Note: The Division I and Division II schedules have been posted. The Division IV schedules will be posted Sunday, the Division V schedules will be posted Monday and the Division VI schedules will be posted Tuesday.

CON-VAL

9/6 at Hollis-Brookline
9/13 Milford
9/19 at Portsmouth
9/27 Pembroke
10/4 Monadnock
10/11 at John Stark
10/17 at Bedford
10/25 Souhegan
11/1 Goffstown

Note: The Division I schedules have already been posted. The plan is to post the remaining schedules on the following days: Division III (Saturday), Division IV (Sunday), Division V (Monday) and Division VI (Tuesday).

ALVIRNE

9/5 Manchester Memorial
9/12 Goffstown
9/19 at Exeter
9/26 Keene
10/3 Spaulding
10/10 Dover
10/17 at Winnacunnet
10/24 at Merrimack
10/31 Bishop Guertin
11/7 at Timberlane