Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Although offense gets most of the attention in the days leading up to the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, it's defense that often determines the game's outcome.

Both teams will play a 40 defense in this year's game, which will be played Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. Teams aren't allowed to stunt or twist, and each defensive tackle must line up opposite the offensive guard.

"Compared to the offense it's much simpler," New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said. "In short-yardage or goal-line situations you can walk two guys up to the line of scrimmage, and you can change secondary coverages."

Although Vermont coach Mike Law runs the Wing-T at U-32 High School in East Montpelier, Kozens said he expects Vermont to throw the ball 75 or 80 percent of the time Saturday.

Kozens said three of Vermont's four offensive sets use the shotgun formation with three or four wideouts.

"They only have one set where it looks like they want to bring the quarterback up to the line of scrimmage, so I wouldn't be surprised if they throw it 30 or 40 times," Kozens said. "Our strength is that we're deep. We'll be rotating defensive tackles and defensive ends every three or four plays to keep bringing in fresh legs.

"Our secondary and linebackers are extremely athletic. Team speed should be an advantage for us defensively. We do fly to the ball."

New Hampshire will hold its final practice Friday, a walk-through at Memorial Field. New Hampshire Football Report will have a final Shrine update Friday night. A game preview will be posted Friday night as well.

***

New Hampshire wil be the home team for Saturday's game, and will wear red shirts with silver pants.

The New Hampshire roster for Saturday's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl is full of exceptional athletes, but perhaps no New Hampshire player is more well-rounded than Kearsarge's Bobby Williams, a quarterback who has shifted to split end for Saturday's contest.

Williams was also a standout for the Kearsarge baseball team, and a key contributor for Kearsarge's boys basketball team.

The 55th Annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl between New Hampshire and Vermont will be played Saturday (2:30 p.m.) at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.

Skyler Schlenker will bring a unique perspective to Saturday's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. Schlenker lives in Vermont, but will suit up for New Hampshire.

Although Schlenker lives in Norwich, Vt., he attended Hanover High School. He's been named a starter at defensive end for Saturday's contest.

A story on Schlenker ran in Thursday's Rutland Herald.

Former University of New Hampshire defensive back Corey Graham (pictured) has opened some eyes in his second season with the Chicago Bears.

Graham, a cornerback who was hampeed by an ankle injury last season, has been practicing with Chicago's No. 1 defense in training camp. The Bears selected Graham in the fifth round of the 2007 draft.

Among Graham's goals this season: Meet UNH alum and former Bear defensive back Jerry Azumah.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Two days of practice remain before this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, and New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said he still isn't sure what those who attend this year's game are going to see from his team's offense.

"It could be 80 percent spread and 20 percent I, or it could be 20 percent spread and 80 percent I," Kozens said. "I just don't know right now. We'll have to see how they react to both sets. We are deep at running back."

Vermont coach Mike Law said stopping New Hampshire's running game will be the key for his team. "If I had those running backs and that line I think I'd run the ball and see what happens," Law said. "We know if we can't stop the run we're going to get a heavy dose of that. We've told our front seven that."

New Hampshire had a simulated game Wednesday and Kozens said his team looked game-ready.

"We covered every situation and the coaching staff was very pleased," Kozens said. " We looked very polished. I think we're readay."

Perhaps the New Hampshire player who stood out the most Wednesday was St. Thomas place-kicker Greg Molloy, a Newarket resident who made field goals from 47 and 52 yards under game conditions. Molloy is expected to handle the place-kicking and punting duties for Saturday's game, which will be played at Dartmouth College's Memorial Field (2:30 p.m.).

"His name was 'kicker' the first couple of days," Kozens said. "Now he has a real name. One thing I'm glad I did was pick specialists -- a kicker, a guy who can snap. It's nice to know that you can make a kick to win a game if you find youself in that situation."

The players traded helmet decals Tuesday night. The New Hampshire team got its first look at Memorial Field after it went out for ice cream Wednesday.

Kozens, the head coach at Laconia, said there were only two players who wanted to wear the same number Saturday -- Concord's Marshall Gleason and Laconia's John Sands. Sands got the number he wanted by winning a coin flip.

"I know Sands is a Laconia guy, but it was fair," Kozens said. "I flipped it and everyone was there to see."

New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens has named his starters for Saturday's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. He selected 13 offensive starters, which include two players at wingback and two at split end .

"Those are the guys who will be bringing in the plays," Kozens explained.

Kozens selected 12 defensive starters and said he'll rotate three defensive ends at two spots throughout the game. The starters:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Billy Ferriter (Nashua South).
Running back: Alex Theodhosi (Londonderry).
Split end: Bobby Williams (Kearsarge).
Split end: Matt McLaughlin (St. Thomas).
Wingback: Kyle Brown (Concord).
Wingback: Sam Auffant (Winnacunnet).
Fullback: Jamie Moore: (Bishop Guertin).
Left tackle: Tim Tuttle (Bishop Guertin).
Left guard: Reed Spiller (Portsmouth).
Center: Joe Marquis (Laconia).
Right guard: Josh Lane (Pinkerton Academy).
Right tackle: John Morin (Salem).
Tight end: Nick Croteau (Bishop Guertin).

DEFENSE

Defensive end: Skyler Schlenker (Hanover).
Defensive end: Marshall Gleason (Concord).
Defensive end: Tyler Kuehl (Plymouth).
Defensive tackle: Josh Lane (Pinkerton Academy).
Defensive tackle: Reed Spiller (Portsmouth).
Linebacker: Michael Lefavor (Nashua South).
Linebacker: James Stewart (Salem).
Linebacker: John Sands (Laconia).
Cornerback: Ryan Cronan (Winnacunnet).
Cornerback: Shawn Sweeney (Plymouth).
Safety: Brett McAllister (Exeter).
Safety: Peter Mazzola (Pinkerton Academy).

Note: Greg Molloy (St. Thomas) will handle the punting and place-kicking duties.

"We're athletic on both sides of the ball," Kozens said. "We're deep. We foresee everyone getting some quality minutes."

Kozens and Vermont coach Mike Law each cancelled Tuesday's third practice. New Hampshire is scheduled to practice twice Wednesday (9:30-11:30 a.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m.), twice Thursday and once Friday. New Hampshire Football Report will have an update following each day's final practice, as well as a game preview on Friday.

This year's game will be played at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

The New Hampshire team will head into Hanover following Wednesday's final practice. Kozens said the team will go out for ice cream and then get a chance to walk around Memorial Field.

"We're happy with where we're at," Kozens said. "All our specials (special teams) are in. We have to fine-tune our goal-line package and our two-minute package -- we have to clean that up.

"We could play tomorrow if we had to." 

The Con-Val Regional High School football team may be playing its home games on a lighted field as soon as the 2009 season, according to a story in Tuesday's Keene Sentinel.

The Sentinel reported that Con-Val athletic director Jon Hall has begun exploring the possibility of adding lights to the school's football field. The field would be used by other Con-Val athletic teams as well.

Con-Val will play its first home game under the lights Oct. 3, when it faces Monadnock Regional. Temporary lighting will be in place for that contest.

Defensive end Anthony Gargiulo was among five players released by the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday, according to the team's web site.

Gargiulo, who played college football at Dartmouth, hasn't played for the Stampeders since he suffered a broken leg and tom ligaments during a 25-24 loss to the British Columbia Lions last November. Calgary placed him on the retired list May 29, but he was moved to the practice roster July 13.

Gargiulo posted 21 tackles, five sacks and recovered a fumble during his rookie season with Calgary, which signed him as a free agent in 2007.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Portsmouth High School's Reed Spiller, Pinkerton Academy's Josh Lane and Nashua South's Billy Ferriter (pictured) have been named the New Hampshire captains for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

Each of the 36 players on the New Hampshire roster was allowed to vote for two captains, and New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens announced the results to his team Sunday.

Spiller, a three-year starter for Portsmouth as an offensive lineman, suffered through an injury-plagued senior season after he separated his shoulder in a preseason scrimmage against Marshwood High School of South Berwick, Maine. Spiller, who also played defensive line and fullback in high school, helped Portsmouth reach the Division III championship game in his junior season. He'll play on the offensive line in Saturday's game against Vermont, and will then continue his football career at Yale.

"Coach Kozens did the math and there are about 2,500 high school football players in New Hampshire," Spiller said. "We're the captains, the leaders of those 2,500. It's a great honor."

Lane is an offensive lineman who helped Pinkerton Academy win the Division I championship in each of the past three seasons. He accepted a scholarship offer from the University of New Hampshire, and said he will play either guard or center for the Wildcats. His brother, Jason, was a captain on the New Hampshire Shrine team that beat Vermont, 23-20, last season. Jason currently plays for Northeastern.

"I knew that if UNH offered me that's where I was going," Josh Lane said. "A lot of it was about the convenience of staying in state. You only need one hunting and fishing license when you're in-state.

"This (being on the Shrine team) is one of the best football experiences I've had. I have friends who played in this game who told me it was going to be an awesome time. Being named a captain was a big deal. It definitely meant a lot to me."

Ferriter, who will likely take most of the snaps at quarterback Saturday, was named New Hampshire's Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Nashua South to a first-place finish in Division I. The Purple Panthers were upset by second-seeded Pinkerton in the Division I championship game.

Ferriter ran for 1,269 yards and 21 touchdowns during his senior season. He also completed 99 of 159 pass attempts for 1,012 yards. He'll play baseball for the University of Connecticut.

"I never got an offer for football," Ferriter said. "If I had it would have been a tough decision (choosing between the two sports).

"This looks like a great team. It's nice to have 275-pound linemen in front of you. Both the defense and the offense look very good."

Kozens said Monday's third workout was crisp and may have been his team's best practice since camp began.

"We'll review and polish things (on Tuesday)," Kozens said. "We're in game-mode now."

Kozens said Greg Molloy, who played at St. Thomas Aquinas, will handle the punting and place-kicking duties for New Hampshire. New Hampshire Football Report will announce the rest of the New Hampshire starters following Tuesday's final practice.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Sunday was a day away from football for the New Hampshire and Vermont teams that will participate in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. Both teams traveled to Springfield, Mass., to visit the Shriners Hospital for Children. Undoubtedly, it was a sobering experience for many players.

"We left (Kimball Union Academy) around 11 (a.m.) and got there a little after 1 (p.m.)," New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said. "The head of the Springfield Shriners gave a very interesting speech. He explained who the Shriners are and what they do. He talked about how the Shriners wanted to help the needy, and how that evolved into helping needy kids.

"They broke us up into tour groups, about eight kids at a time, and we got to see the whole hospital and what each area does. The kids interacted with the small children there, and then we had a cookout with Vermont. The coaches from each team mingle a lot, but the teams don't see a lot of each other.

"I think every kid should experience what these kids did today. They learned a lot, including what it means to volunteer. It's definitely why we're here."

New Hampshire will practice three times Monday. This year's game will be played Saturday at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for this year's game are $8 if purchased in advance and $10 on game day. Reserved seating is also available for $20.

"We couldn't be any happier with the team we picked," Kozens said. "We haven't had one issue with animosity. My concern is depth. We have seven offensive linemen and five defensive tackles. We are practicing as two units (offense vs. defense) now, and if we can stay healthy we're fine."

Working on special teams is on Monday's to-do list, Kozens said. He also said the team has voted on captains, and that announcement will be made Monday. New Hampshire Football Report will post a story that includes comments from this year's three captains Monday.

"As coaches we're all having a blast," Kozens said. "The cafeteria food (at Kimball Union Academy) is good and you can eat as much as you want, but we're all dying for a home-cooked meal though. At times it seems like all we do is practice and eat. I know that the parents must be noticing a difference in their grocery bill, because these kids can pack it away." 

After Friday's morning practice at Kimball Union Academy, Mike Law, the Vermont head coach for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, said that his team's defense was clearly ahead of its offense. The offense may have gained some ground during Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, however.

Ethan Sylvain, Vermont's likely starter at quaterback, was Law's QB at U-32 High School. He'll have a talented group of receivers to throw to in this year's game, inlcluding two 6-foot-3 tight ends in Andrew Baker (Rutland) and Adam Chicoine (Burlington).

A detailed report on the Vermont scrimmage can be found in Sunday's Rutland Herald. 

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The New Hampshire team came out of Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage healthy, according to head coach Craig Kozens.

As planned, New Hampshire ran four sets of eight offensive plays in the scrimmage with different backfields in each set. Two groups were used on defense, and each group was in for 15 plays against the "Vermont" offense.

"We were on the field for about two hours," Kozens said. "(Nashua South quarterback) Bill Ferriter looked very good. He stood out, as did Tim Tuttle from Bishop Guertin up front. Defensively, Brett McAllister (Exeter) and Peter Mazzola (Pinkerton) looked good in the secondary.

"The important thing is we're going into the final week healthy. I talked to Mike (Vermont coach Mike Law) today and he lost two more kids to injury. We'll give the players a little pop early next week. After that we'll lighten up on them."

Kozens said a staff meeting was held Saturday night to discuss possible starters. He said he expects to announce starters and team captains early next week.

There will be no practices Sunday, when both teams will visit the Shrine Hospital for Children in Springfield, Mass.

"It's an off day," Kozens explained. "We'll have a late breakfast, leave at 11 (a.m.) and we don't get back until 8 at night. It's a complete day off from football."

New Hampshire Football Report will have another Shrine update Sunday, after the teams return from Massachusetts.

This year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl will be played Saturday at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for this year's game are $8 if purchased in advance and $10 on game day. Reserved seats are available for $20.

* * *

Saturday's Shrine coverage included a notebook on the Vermont team in the Rutland Herald.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Earlier this week New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens was wondering how much of a problem Windsor High School running back Trevor Varney would cause his team's defense in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl. Now it appears Varney will be no problem at all.

Vermont coach Mike Law said Varney left the team Tuesday with a fever, and he's not sure if Varney will participate in the game (Aug. 2). Varney rushed for 2,612 yards and scored 40 touchdowns in his senior season.

"He just doesn't think he's going to be ready," Law said. "If he's out for four or five days, he won't be. I'm not sure if it's food poisoning or what."

If Varney doesn't play, Vermont will be without six players who were originally selected to the team. That group includes U-32 running back/defensive back Tucker LaClair and Essex linebacker Andrew Fournier. LaClair, who is still recovering from knee surgery, was Vermont's kicker.

"Fourner's not here, and I'm not sure why," Law said. "He hasn't returned our calls. I'm really in the dark."

Vermont also had  three players dismissed for disciplinary reasons before training camp began.

Both New Hampshire and Vermont will hold an intra-squad scrimmage Saturday. New Hampshire's scrimmage is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and will be held on Kimball Union Academy's turf field. Vermont will scrimmage on the school's old game field. Both scrimmages are open to the public.

"We have 32 scripted plays and we have three sets of backs who will each run eight," New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens explained. "The fourth (series of eight plays) will be our spread set. We'll also look at some things Vermont likes to do. It'll be about a 60-play scrimmage."

The game day officials will be on hand to officiate each scrimmage. New Hampshire Football Report will have an update following the New Hampshire scrimmage.

"It'll be an evaluation to see where kids are," Kozens said. "We'll settle on some starters and get the kids into roles where we can us them to the best of their ability."

Kozens said the New Hampshire players will likely vote on captains this weekend.

"We'll probably announce them early next week," he said.

* * *

Friday's Derry News ran this story on New Hampshire running back Alex Theodhosi, who played at Londonderry High School and will continue his football career at Brown.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Although much of the state was hit with heavy rain Thursday, the New Hampshire team was able to conduct each of its three practices outside in preparation for the Aug. 2 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said all of the team's I-formation package has been installed, and the New Hampshire coaching staff will begin working on the spread-formation plays Friday. New Hampshire quarterback Bill Ferriter ran the spread at Nashua South.

"This is what Ferriter does," Kozens said. "This is his baby, so (Friday) should go smooth. If I didn't have this type of quarterback I wouldn't have installed this set.

"We've kind of thrown the kids right into the fire, and they've responded pretty well." 

Kozens said New Hampshire hasn't had much contact with the Vermont team, which eats its meals and begins practice 30 minutes before New Hampshire does.

"I don't much about what they're doing, and I don't think they know much about what we're doing," Kozens said. "We're not even allowed to walk by while their practicing. I do know (Windsor High School's) Trevor Varney is very explosive. He's a touchdown waiting to happen. He's someone we'll have to be concerned with."

New Hampshire will have three more practices Friday. Both teams will have an intra-squad scrimmage Saturday, and each scrimmage is open to the public. New Hampshire's scrimmage will be on the turf field and is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Friday will also be media day for both teams. New Hampshire Football Report will have an update on the New Hampshire team following Friday's final practice.

Kozens said he's pleased with the talent New Hampshire has on the offensive and defensive lines, and added that his team has an abundance of team speed.

"We have a ton of athletes -- guys like (Alex) Theodhosi from Londonderry, (Gabe) Bourgeois from Exeter, (Brett) McAllister from Exeter, (Kyle) Brown from Concord, (Bobby) Williams from Kearsarge, (Shawn) Sweeney from Plymouth and (Sam) Auffant from Winnacunnet. We have great teams speed.

"We have a lot of parity at a lot of positions. There's two or three guys in competition just about everywhere. The team has come together quickly. It seems like we've been here a week, and we've only been here two days."

* * *

The Shrine Lobster Bowl Classic, Maine's version of the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, will be held Friday (7:30 p.m.) at Biddeford's Waterhouse Field. For those who don't know,. Biddeford, which is about 30 minutes from the New Hampshire border, is among the best high school football towns in New England.

The Lobster Bowl is an all-Maine affair, where the all-stars from the East take on the all-stars from the West. The West leads the series 14-4, but the East has won the last two games.
 

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Perhaps the biggest news to report following the first day of practice for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl is a change to the New Hampshire roster. Salem High School offensive lineman John Morin replaced Pelham High School center/defensive end Max Roth.

"Roth was recovering from a shoulder injury and didn't feel he was ready to play, so he withdrew," New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens said.

The New Hampshire players reported to camp at Kimball Union Academy on Wedneday morning, underwent physical exams, and practiced for the first time at 2 p.m. The team's second practice, which began at 6:45 p.m., was moved indoors because of rain.

"We installed four plays during our first session and three more in the second session, so we have seven plays in," Kozens said. "Defensively we got a couple of sets in, but we're limited in what we can do on defense. All the specialty guys are working out on their own because we have to get ready for Saturday's scrimmage. We'll start working on special teams next week."

There are two practice fields at KUA. One has a turf playing surface, the other has natural grass. Vermont and New Hampshire rotate their practices on each field each day.

Kozens said his team is scheduled to practice three times on Thursday: 9:30-11:30 a.m.; 2:30-4:30 p.m.; and 6:45 until dark. New Hampshire Football Report will have a Shrine update following Thursday's third practice.

"We'll continue to install the offense," Kozens said. "Hopefully we'll put in nine more plays (Thursday) and review what we put in (Wednesday). Nine sounds like a lot, but since we're practicing three times it's only three plays per practice."

Saturday's scrimmage, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will be held on the turf field. This year's game will be played Aug. 2 on Dartmouth's Memorial Field, which also has a turf surface. Kozens said Vermont had the option to hold half of its intra-squad scrimmage on the turf field, but chose to remain on the grass field instead. 

"It's a real good group and it doesn't take them long to pick things up," Kozens said. "We had a good first day -- a real good first day. We're right on schedule in terms of where we want to be."

The University of New Hampshire was selected to finish second in the Colonial Athletic Association's North Division, behind the University of Massachusetts, in the CAA's preseason poll. The league's 12 head coaches and selected media voted in the poll, which was released at the league's media day Wednesday.

UMass, which returns 12 starters from a team that won last year's CAA championship, was picked to win the league's overall title. Richmond was selected to finish first in the CAA's South Division.

UNH's Scott Sicko, a junior tight end, was named to the CAA's preseason all-conference team.

UMass quarterback Liam Coen was picked as the league's preseason offensive player of the year. Maine defensive lineman Jovan Belcher was selected as the CAA's preseason defensive player of the year.

CAA PRESEASON POLL

Overall Champion: Massachusetts

North Division (First-place votes)

1. Massachusetts (17)
2. New Hampshire (2)
3. Hofstra (1)
4. Maine 
5. Northeastern
6. Rhode Island

South Division (First-place votes) 

1. Richmond (11)
2. James Madison (7)
3. Delaware (1)
4. Villanova
5. William & Mary
6. Towson 

Wednesday's Manchester Union Leader takes a look a the new landscape in NHIAA football. New Hampshire, which now has 55 varsity programs, has expanded from five to six divisions, and many programs will be competing in new leagues this fall.

Bedford, Sanborn, Mascoma and Inter-Lakes will field first-year varsity programs this season. Mascoma and Inter-Lakes will be among the 10 teams in Division VI, which also includes Fall Mountain, Campbell, Gilford, Winnisquam, Farmington, Franklin, Newfound and Newport.

Bedford has been placed in Division III, and Sanborn will play a Division IV schedule.

Among the other changes is Plymouth's drop from Division III to Division IV. The Bobcats have won nine of the last 11 Division III state titles.

The mother of a professional surfer who was fatally beaten outside her California home is suing the five men -- including former University of New Hampshire quarterback Hank Hendricks -- who were accused of committing the crime.

Hendricks pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the death, which is a felony.

CN8's Colonial Athletic Association television schedule will start with the Sept. 13 contest between the University of New Hampshire and the University of Rhode Island (noon) in Durham. Later that day CN8 will televise the University of Massachusetts at James Madison game (3:30 p.m.) from Harrisonburg, Va.

Thirty-six CAA regular-season games will be televised this season, with 12 of those airing on CN8.

This Keene Sentinel story focuses on Fall Mountain's drop from Division IV to Division VI. In recent years no team has struggled like the Wildcats, who will enter their 2008 schedule with a 24-game losing streak.

The article also explains why Keene will not be playing its traditional non-league game against Brattleboro, Vt., this season. Keene coach John Luopa said he expects Brattleboro to return to his team's schedule in 2009.

The local football season will turn the corner Wednesday, when players from New Hampshire and Vermont report to training camp for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

Practices, which have been held at Plymouth State University in recent years, have been moved to Kimball Union Academy in Meriden this year. New Hampshire will practice twice Wednesday, three times Thursday and three times Friday in preparation for Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage, which is open to the public.

This year's game will be held Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.

New Hampshire Football Report will have updates on the New Hampshire team following the team's final practice each day.

In addition, the Colonial Athletic Association will hold its football media day Wednesday at the ESPNZone in Baltimore. The league's preseason poll and preseason all-conference teams will be released at this event.

Absolute Broadcasting's sports radio WGAM is looking for local reporters for the seventh season of "Friday Night Lights -- High School Football in Action."

FNL correspondents will report about the action taking place on the field live on the air at WGAM. Correspondents are responsible for their own travel to high school games throughout the state. Candidates should be punctual and passionate about sports. On-air experience is a plus, but is not required.

Those interested should contact Friday Night Lights producer Michael Mutnansky at fnl@wgamradio.com. Resumes and background experience can also be sent to Michael Mutnansky, Sports Radio WGAM, 1 Indian Head Plaza, Nashua, N.H., 03063.

The sixth annual Tsunami Football Camp, a limited-contact camp that is open to anyone entering grades 4 through 9, will be held from July 27 to July 31 at Dover High School. The camp will be directed by Dover High School head coach Ken Osbon and his staff.

The camp will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each night. Those who attend must be dressed in helmets and shoulder pads. Mouthpieces are also required. No live scrimmaging will take place.

The camp will focus on teaching proper technique with an emphasis on improving individual skills. Campers will receive a t-shirt and instruction on both offense and defense. There will also be a specialty period each night.

The high school staff will also conduct a weight-training clinic on one of the nights. The camp offers an indoor program in the event of inclement weather. A certified athletic trainer will be on site at all times.

The cost of the camp is $70. For more information or to register call 516-6954.

Please check the Chalkboard for more information on camps, clinics and coaching vacancies.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Craig Kozens, New Hampshire's coach for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, said his team's playbook will contain 18 base plays for this year's game, and he wants all 18 plays installed during the first three days of workouts.

Practice for this year's game will begin Wednesday, when the players on the New Hampshire and Vermont rosters report to Kimball Union Academy in Meriden. "We're going to have two practices the first day, three (on Thursday) and three (Friday), so we want to have everything in by then so we'll have a good idea where we are by our scrimmage on Saturday," Kozens said. "That will allow us to head into the second week in good shape. Any gadgets we might have would probably go in after that."

This year's game will be played Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. New Hampshire won last year's game, 23-20, and leads the series 39-13-2.

Mike Law of U-32 High School is Vermont's head coach.

Kozens said Vermont will run a spread offense, and he plans to rotate defensive tackles to keep his defensive line fresh.

Each team will hold an intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday. Both scrimmages are open to the public.

Kozens said he'll have a better idea of which players will play what positions by the second week of practice.

"We'll see what fits best," he said. "After the scrimmage they'll be on one side of the ball, with a couple of exceptions.

"We still have our orginal 36-player roster. We're happy about that."

New Hampshire Football Report will have updates on the New Hampshire team following the final practice each day.

Note: The following story was submitted by ConVal head coach Greg Leonard following a meeting with former University of Houston coach Bill Yeoman. Yeoman (left) and Leonard are pictured above.

Just about everyone who coaches, plays or watches the game of football has heroes in the game. Often they are players, but sometimes they're coaches. Some of those coaches become legends, like Red Blaik, Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne, Tom Osborne, Joe Paterno and Bud Wilkinson. I think many of us would love to spend time with one of our coaching heroes and pick his brain for a few hours, draw up some x's and o's, or review some film. Some of us see those dreams become a reality.

On July 13, Kern Klaflin, an assistant coach on the ConVal staff, and I spent four hours on a porch at the Woodstock (Vt.) Inn and Resort with College Hall of Fame coach Bill Yeoman. Coach Yeoman has a storied football past, playing for the likes of Blaik at West Point, which had an assistant coach by the name of Lombardi. Yeoman also spent seven years on Duffy Daugherty's staff at Michigan State as a defensive backs coach, but his real claim to fame came when he took over the football program at the University of Houston in 1961 and coached there until 1986.

Yeoman still works at the University of Houston in the fundraising office. His teams won the Cotton Bowl four times during his tenure, but one of his greatest contributions to football was the Houston Veer Offense, which is also known as the split-back veer. It's a triple-option offense that gives the quarterback three options on each play - he can hand the ball off to the dive back, keep the ball for himself or pitch the ball to a trailing halfback. 

MaxPreps has begun publishing its team-by-team high school football previews for the upcoming season. Nashua South, which lost to Pinkerton Academy in last year's Division I championship game, is among the schools that have been previewed.

Nashua South lost quarterback Bill Ferriter, the state's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007, but will build around all-state running back David Zocco. The Purple Panthers will open their season with a non-league game against Exeter, which beat Bishop Guertin in the 2007 Division II championship game. The Exeter roster features one of the best players in the state in quarterback/defensive back Andrew Kukesh (pictured).

 Previews can also be found for Alvirne, Bishop Guertin, Laconia, Pelham, Plymouth and Souhegan.

Reggie Williams, an All-American linebacker during his playing days at Dartmouth College, will be attending the enshrinement ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame this weekend, but getting there won't be easy.

This story describes the physical toll football, including a 14-year career with the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, has taken on Williams, who played in two Super Bowls.

Williams (pictured) played at Dartmouth from 1973 to 1975, and still holds the school record for career solo tackles (243).

The University of New Hampshire has announced that WGIR-AM 610 in Manchester will begin carrying UNH sporting events this season.

WGIR will carry all regular-season and postseason football and men's hockey games, as well as selected men's basketball, women's basketball and women's hockey contests. In addition, WGIR will broadcast the UNH coaches shows (football and hockey), which will run on Monday nights throughout the season.

"This is exciting news for New Hampshire fans and radio listeners in southern New Hampshire," UNH athletic director Marty Scarano said. "This is positive in all aspects for all parties involved, including the many loyal listeners and supporters of WGIR-AM."

The Wildcat Sports Network currently has four additional affiliates around the state: WTSN-AM 1270 (Dover/Rochester/Portsmouth); WUVR-AM 1490 (Lebanon); WNTK-FM 99.7 (New London) and WCNL-AM 1010 (Newport). WTSN will serve as the flagship station for the 2008-09 season.

Goffstown High School has an opening for a freshman football coach. Goffstown is also looking for an athletic trainer (part time) and a strength and conditioning coach (part time).

Those interested can send a resume and a letter of intent to Steve Fountain, athletic director, Goffstown High School, 27 Wallace Road, Goffstown, N.H., 03045. Candidates can also email that information to sfountain@goffstown.k12.nh.us.

Check the Chalkboard for more information on camps, clinics and coaching vacancies.

Although the 55th Annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl won't be played until Aug. 2, fans can get their first peek at the New Hampshire team on July 26. That's when New Hampshire coach Craig Kozens (Laconia High School) will hold an intra-squad scrimmage that is open to the public.

Vermont coach Mike Law (U-32 High School) will conduct a scrimmage on the same day. Both scrimmages will be held at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, the practice site for this year's game.

The New Hampshire team is scheduled to practice from 9 a.m. until noon, from 1-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. each day. New Hampshire Football Report will offer daily updates on Shrine practice beginning July 24, one day after the teams report. New Hampshire Football Report will also publish the times for each scrimmage when they are announced.

The New Hampshire and Vermont teams will visit the Shrine Hospital for Children in Springfield, Mass., on July 27.

This year's game, which will be played at Dartmouth's Memorial Field, is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased the day of the game, through the Shrine ticket office (448-1042) or at the following New Hampshire locations:

Andover: Irving Oil, Lake Sunapee Bank.
Bradford: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Charlestown: Jiffy Mart.
Claremont: Jiffy Mart (Elm Street), Jiffy Mart (Maple Ave.), Lake Sunapee Bank.
Cornish: Twelve Percent Solution.
Dover: Philbrick's Sports Store:
Exeter: George & Phililps.
Grantham: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Hanover: Irving Oil, Lake Sunapee Bank.
Hillsborough: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Keene: Timolean's Rest.
Lancaster: Jiffy Mart
Lebanon: Exit 18 Truck Stop, Deli Mart (Hanover Street), Cravens, Lake Sunapee Bank (Hanover Street), Lake Sunapee Bank (Centerra), Lake Sunapee Bank (Heater Road), Jiffy Mart (Hanover Street), Jiffy Mart (Exit 18).
Manchester: Indian Head Athletics.
Milford: Nancy Hubert Reality, Lake Sunapee  Bank.
New London: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Newbury: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Newport: Jiffy Mart (Elm Street), Jiffy Mart (North Maine Street), Lake Sunapee Bank.
North Walpole: Aumand's Furniture.
Peterborough: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Plymouth: Noyes Insurance.
Rochester: Collins Sports.
Sunapee: Lake Sunapee Bank.
Walpole: Diamond Pizza, Jiffy Mart, Murray's Restaurant, Reel to Reel, Walpole Village Store.
West Lebanon: Irving Oil, Golf & Ski Warehouse.

This story extends beyond New Hampshire borders, but high school football fans may find it interesting that Nicholas Montana (far left in photo), son of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, is one of four quarterbacks who transferred to the Oaks Christian School in Californaia during the offseason.

Oaks Christian usually has some high-profile recruits on its roster. Current Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was a senior at Oaks Christian in 2006.

Trevor Gretzky, son of NHL great Wayne Gretzky, is among the other quarterbacks who transferred and will play for Oaks Christian this season.

New Hampshire Football Report is pleased to announce that Steve Hall's "Officially Speaking" column will return for the 2008 season. "Officially Speaking" is a feature that allows readers to submit questions about high school football rules.

Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more the 200 varsity games. He has also officiated nearly 30 playoff games and worked his 11th championship game last year (Pinkerton Academy vs. Nashua South in Division I). Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last eight years.

Anyone who has a question about high school rules, be it a strange play, an unusual formation or a ruling that you didn't understand, can send that question to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. "Officially Speaking" will run each week throughout the 2008 season, or as often as questions allow. This year's first "Officially Speaking" column is scheduled to appear the week before the NHIAA regular season begins.

Questions are currently being accepted.

Check the NHFR archives for "Officially Speaking" columns from 2007.  

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

It's been a long time since St. Anselm College won a football game. The Hawks will enter the 2008 season carrying the extra weight that comes with a 29-game losing streak.

After his team went 0-10 and was outscored 486-117 last season, Ken Knapczyk resigned as St. Anselm's head coach. His replacement is 36-year-old Patrick Murphy, who spent the last four seasons as the head coach at Dracut (Mass.) High School.

Murphy (pictured) has a simple blueprint that he hopes will help spark interest in St. Anselm football and help the Hawks win some football games as well: He wants to make St. Anselm a more attractive option to in-state recruits.

"Fourteen players on last year's roster were from the state, and there will be even fewer this year," Murphy said. "When I took this job there were tapes of six New Hampshire players on my desk and all six went out of state. You look at the rosters and it seems like there are two to four New Hampshire kids on most teams in our league. You have to mine your backyard before you go to anyone else's."

Although Murphy made it clear that recruiting within the state is his No. 1 priority, he'd also like to cherry pick from Vermont, southern Maine and Massachusetts. If St. Anselm can consistently pull good players from those areas, he said, victories will follow.

"If you're from New Hampshire and you're not a UNH kid and you're not a Dartmouth kid, we want to be their home school, so to speak," Murphy explained. "If we kept that talent pool in northern New England at St. Anselm, that would make us a very strong program."

This isn't the first time Murphy has had to rebuild a program. Dracut had a 9-35 record in the four seasons prior to Murphy's arrival, but was 27-17 during his four seasons as the program's head coach. He has college experience on his resume as well, including six years at the Division 2 level (UMass-Lowell and Bryant College).

"I knew enough about St. A's when I interviewed," Murphy said. "But I definitely did more research and had some questions. Mainly, why has the record been as bad as it's been for the last few years? The facilities were there."

Murphy said he decided to leave Dracut after meeting with the St. Anselm administration. He said he came away from those meetings convinced that the school -- inlcuding the admissions department -- will support the football program. 

"I wanted the job. I didn't need the job," Murphy said. "I wasn't going to leave a good situation for one that was going to struggle. I like to win. I've been to places where football wasn't important." 

Murphy's committment to New Hampshire recruits appears to be more than just talk. He said his first recruiting-related move last spring was a trip to see Bishop Guertin coach Tony Johnson. BG has won three of the last four Division II state titles and has produced its share of college talent during that period.

Center Mark Spinney, who is a redshirt-freshman at Boston College, is the most high-profile recruit to come out of BG in recent years.

"There's a lot of Division 2 and Division 3 talent in New Hampshire, Vermont and southern Maine," Murphy said. "I know there are a lot of local kids at NESCAC schools. That's good football."

Murphy, who played football at Northeastern, said St. Anselm will run a spread-option offense this season that emphasizes a running quarterback.

"It'll be similar to UNH, but more run game from the QB ... like West Virginia," he said. "We'll have to bring in speed and we'll have to teach them how to win.

"We don't want to leave any stone in northern New England unturned, but we want New Hampshire kids. Kids who can play."

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Bob Clarke said he wasn't looking to leave his position as Bow High School's offensive coordinator until he stumbled upon what he considers to be the perfect job.

Clarke, who had been an assistant football coach at the high school level since 1976, landed his first varsity head coaching position last month, when he was picked to replace Bill Raycraft as John Stark's head coach. Raycraft, John Stark's first head coach, accepted a job as football coach and athletic director at Windham High School.

"I would still be (at Bow) if I did not get this job," Clarke explained. "I had a sense of loyalty to Paul (Bow coach Paul Cohen) and I was happy there. Nothing against any other school, but if the job had not opened up at John Stark I would not be a head coach."

Clarke, a 55-year-old Henniker resident, teaches technology education at John Stark, and said being a teacher at the school is one of the reasons the John Stark job was so appealing.

"I really wanted to coach with Bill at John Stark," Clarke said. "His office was close to my classroom and we used to talk football a lot between periods. When he told me he was taking another position I had to come home and think about whether or not I wanted to be a head coach. I was happy doing what I was doing."

Clarke was Bow's offensive coordinator for seven seasons. He also spent 14 years as an assistant coach at Newport High School and was on Herb Hatch's staff for the 1995 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

Clarke was introduced to his team on June 16 and said he expects the transition to a new head coach to be smooth.

"All of Bill's assistants have expressed a desire to stay on," Clarke said. "I'm more of a Wing-T man than the Double-Wing, which was what Bill ran, but the offenses are similar."

When New Hampshire expanded from five to six divisions after the 2007 season John Stark was placed in Division IV by enrollment, but the school petitiioned up to remain in Division III. Clarke said the move was the correct one and that John Stark should be able to compete at the Division III level.

"This is my first time being a head coach, but I have some high hopes," Clarke said. "I'm hoping to have a good season with the kids, and I'm hoping to build on the tradition Bill started at John Stark."

The start of the 2008 high school football season is closer than you think. Practice for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl will begin July 23 at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden.

New Hampshire won last year's game 23-20 and leads the series against Vermont 39-13-2. The 55th Annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl will be played Aug. 2 at Dartmouth's Memorial Field. Tickets to the game can be purchased by calling (603) 448-1042.
Here are the updated team rosters by school:

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Winnacunnet (2): Sam Auffant, Ryan Cronan.
Exeter (2): Gabe Bourgeois, Brett McAllister.
Concord  (2): Kyle Brown, Marshall Gleason.
Bishop Brady (1): Chas Cornell.
Souhegan (2): Ryan Cray, Sean McLaughlin.
Bishop Guertin (3): Nick Croteau, Jamie Moore, Tim Tuttle.
Spaulding (1): Ian Culling.
Nashua South (2): Billy Ferriter, Mike Lefavor.
Timberlane (1): Mike Furey.
Bow (1): Ian Hanson.
Plymouth (2): Tyler Kuehl, Shawn Sweeney.
Pinkerton Academy (2): Josh Lane, Peter Mazzola.
Laconia (3): Joe Marquis, Robert Moss, John Sands.
Gilford (1): Joshua McCutcheon.
St. Thomas (2): Matt McLaughlin, Greg Molloy.
Trinity (1): Ryan Olsen.
Milford (1): Max Pikcilingis.
Con-Val (1): Lee Powers.
Pelham (1): Mark Roth.
Hanover (1): Skyler Schlenker.
Portsmouth (1): Reed Spiller.
Salem (1): James Stewart.
Londonderry (1): Alex Theodhosi.
Kearsarge (1): Bobby Williams.

VERMONT

Rutland (4): Andrew Baker, Jon Bassett, Chris Kiernan, Justin Stewart.
Burlington (2): Adam Chicoine, Richard Poquette.
Essex (3): Ethan Clark, Andrew Fournier, Gabe Nicasio.
Poultney (2): Michael Crandall, Kurt Hewes.
North Country (1): Brian Cubit.
Mount Anthony (1): Kyle Curran.
Windsor (1): Jeff Danyew.
Middlebury (4): Eric Fifield, Chad Foley, Tyler McNally, Lance Robinson.
Fair Haven (1): Zach Gilligan.
U-32 (4): Philip Hall, Tucker LaClair, Michael Rus, Ethan Sylvain.
Bellows Free Academy (2): Ryan Jacobs, Nick Manning,
Brattleboro (1): Dylan Larabee. 
Hartford (2): Peter Lynch, Sean Stone.
Lyndon Institute (1): Logan Macomber.
Otter Valley (2): Ian McElroy, Nick Pattis.
Colchester (1): Jamie Mumley.
Rice (1): F. Joseph O'Brien.
Spaulding (2): Dante Rossi, Mike Rubalcaba.
Windsor (1): Trevor Varney.

Center Mark Spinney, who helped Bishop Guertin win the Division II state championship in 2005 and 2006, is listed as the No. 3 center on Boston College's preseason depth chart.

Spinney (pictured) is a 6-foot-4, 273-pound redshirt freshman who lives in Westford, Mass. He was a two-time all-state selection at BG and was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2006.

Spinney originally committed to Syracuse, but did not sign a national letter of intent.