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."

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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.