Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Pinkerton Academy's C.J. Trieb may not be a household name among New Hampshire high school football fans at the moment, but it appears that will soon change.

Syracuse, Boston College and Maryland are among the schools that have shown interest in Trieb, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive linemen who is currently a junior.

"They are certainly interested in him," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "People are going to be interested in anyone who is 6-5, 300 pounds and athletic, which he is. He can move his feet.

"As a junior he became very aggressive. Big kids can't always be aggressive with their friends growing up, but he turned the corner the past year."

Trieb, who's been a starter on Pinkerton's offensive line for the past two seasons, recently attended spring practice at Syracuse. Trieb's father, Dave, said his son has also been invited to attend spring practice at BC and the University of New Hampshire. He also plans to attend a one-day camp at the University of Maryland.

Trieb also wrestled and played lacrosse, but gave up both sports following his sophomore year to concentrate on football. He currently works out with a personal trainer five days a week, including once a week with Erik Kaloyanides -- a former Syracuse football player -- at Athletic Evolution in Woburn, Mass.

"Ideally, like most New England kids, he probably wants to go to BC," Dave Trieb said. "He was very impressed with Syracuse. He wants to play at the highest level where he can compete."

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Nashua's Billy Ferriter, who was an outfielder on the University of Connecticut baseball team, has switched sports and has joined the UConn football program as a walk-on.

Ferriter was a quarterback and defensive back at Nashua South. He's trying to make the UConn football team as a defensive back and special teams player.

Ferriter was New Hampshire's Gatorade Player of the Year for football in 2008, when he completed 99 of 159 passes for 1,012 yards, and rushed for 1,269 yards and 21 TDs. Ferriter was also the starting quarterback for New Hampshire when it beat Vermont, 42-0, in the 2008 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

High School: Nicoll puts focus on wrestling >> Lawrence Eagle-Tribune

College: Feathers will fly with Kelly leading Ducks >> Manchester Union Leader

College: Jamokha headed to Dartmouth >> OC Varsity

"I had other offers before. I felt like it was the right time. I felt like I had an adequate background as an assistant coach."

                               -- Oregon  head coach Chip Kelly

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Chip Kelly knows a good thing when he sees it, and he's seen plenty of University of Oregon football.

Although Kelly was elevated from Oregon's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to the program's head coach on March 13, in many ways his job begins Monday, when the Ducks begin spring practice. Kelly's task? Don't screw things up.

"The team was very, very successful before I got here," Kelly said. "You have to put your stamp on the program, but I'm not going to make wholesale changes. I'm not designing new uniforms -- they're pretty good at that here. I'll tweak things. There will be changes, but they'll be subtle.

"We've won 19 games in the two years I've been here. The question now is: "How do we do it better?"

Kelly, 45, served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of New Hampshire for eight years before he accepted a job at Oregon before the 2007 season. Former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti named Kelly as his successor last December, and the change came when Bellotti decided he'd prefer to be the school's athletic director.

The process may have been accelerated by the fact that several schools -- Syracuse among them -- were interested in Kelly as a head coach..

"I wasn't shopping around," he explained. "I was contacted by a couple of schools. Like I did at UNH, I kept the head coach informed.

"There are a lot of positives to taking over a top-10 program. The schools that contacted me were letting their head coaches go. I had a little bit of an idea (he would be Oregon's next head coach), but I didn't know it would come as quickly as it happened."

Kelly's responsibilites will be shifted. As a head coach, he'll meet with the media more, and spend less time on the road recruiting. He said the recruiting trips are something he won't miss.

"The NCAA doesn't allow the head coach to be on the road as much (as an assistant)," Kelly said. "Spending so many nights sleeping in a hotels is not something I enjoy. What I do enjoy is coaching good players.

"I'll take an active role in the evaluation process, but the assistants will lay the groundwork. We have an unbelievable staff.

"Not every kid is the right kid for your school -- that's something I learned from (former UNH head coach) Bill Bowes and (current UNH head coach) Sean McDonnell. A lot of it is how the player develops once they're in the program. Sean is the best at that that I've seen."

Kelly, 45, was born in Dover, and grew up in Manchester. He was a quarterback at Manchester Central and played college football at UNH. He lived in Portsmouth while he was coaching at UNH.

"I still own property in Portsmouth," Kelly said. "I never sold my place. I still pay taxes, so (Portsmouth High School) is my hometown team. I called Murph (Portsmouth coach Bill Murphy) before last year's (Division III) championship game to wish him luck. The only job I would leave Oregon for is Murph's job, but I'm not sure he's ever going to leave."

Kelly said it's likely he will continue to call Oregon's offensive plays this season, although he still has an opening to fill on his staff. He said he has several candidates in mind, but none with ties to New Hampshire.

"I'll probably still call plays," he said. "I don't know what I'd do in practice and games if I didn't. I say probably because I still have to hire a coach, and he could be the world's best offensive coach. I'm not going to rush to my decision. I want to make sure I hire the right guy."

Undoubtedly, Oregon is hoping it hired the right guy as well.

"I had opportunities to be a head coach earlier in my career," Kelly said. "I feel like I'm ready, and we'll see."  

Oregon Records Under Kelly

• Rushing yards in a game: (465) at Washington, Oct. 20, 2007
• Total offense in a game: (694 yards) at Oregon State, Nov. 29, 2008
• Points in a Pac-10 game: (65) at Oregon State, Nov. 29, 2008
• Rushing yards in a season: (3,641) 2008 (old record: 3,272, 2007)
• Total offense in a season: (6,303) 2008 (old record: 6,078, 2007)
• Points in a season: (545) 2008 (old record: 496, 2007)
• First downs in a season: (321) 2007

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers handed the Manchester Wolves a 59-28 loss Friday night in the af2 season opener for both teams.

The Pioneers extended their series lead with the Wolves to 12-10 and have now stretched their home winning streak against the Wolves to 9-3

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton quarterback Ryan Vena completed 20 of 35 passes for 230 yards and seven touchdowns. The Wolves fought back from a 17-0 first-quarter deficit and closed the gap to 24-21 when quarterback James Pinkney hit Emery Sammons with a 19-yard scoring strike at 12:35 of the third quarter, but the Pioneers poured it on the rest of the way and grabbed a 52-21 advantage with under four minutes to play in the game.

The Wolves added their final touchdown with 1:39 left, when Pinkney connected with Deyon Williams on a 40-yard scoring strike to bring it to 52-28. Pinkney, who completed 21 of 38 throws for 233 yards and three touchdowns. He was also intercepted three times, and sacked three times for a loss of 13 yards.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensive back Micheaux Robinson, who led the league in interceptions last year, picked off a pass and recorded 11 unassisted tackles.

The Wolves have a bye next week before heading to Green Bay to face the defending Midwest Division champion Blizzard on April 10th.

SCORING SUMMARY:      1        2        3        4       FINAL      
MANCHESTER:                  0       14       7         7          28            
WBS:                               14      10       7       28          59         

PASSING:
PINKNEY (MAN): 21-38-233-3 INT; 3 TDs
VENA (WBS): 20-35-230- 0 INT; 7 TDs

RECEIVING:
(MAN:) D. Williams 10-125- 2TDs
(WBS): JJ Outlaw 8-89- 4 TDs

The University of New Hampshire has reportedly made a scholarship offer to Andrew Tallman, a 6-foot-5, 237-pound tight end/defensive from Dorchester, Mass.

Tallman (pictured), a junior at Boston College High School, missed most of his junior season with a hip injury.

Scout Publishing is among the media outlets that have reported UNH's offer to Tallman, who is also drawing interest from several FBS schools.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Londonderry resident Ryan Griffin, a freshman tight end at the University of Connecticut, may see significant playing time sooner than he expected.

Griffin, who redshirted last season, moved up the depth chart when sophomore tight end Yianni Apostolakos suffered a sprained knee during spring practice. Apostolakos is expected to miss at least three weeks. The team's Blue/White Game is April 18.

The Huskies are looking to replace two senior tight ends who were on the roster last season. Three redshirt freshmen -- Griffin (pictured), John Delahunt and Corey Manning -- are the other tight ends on this year's roster.

"Griffin is probably the best pass receiver, Manning is probably the better blocker, and Delahunt gives you a little bit of both," UConn coach Randy Edsall told the Hartford Courant. "The big thing for those kids is they've got to get stronger. We like all of their ability, but the biggest thing is the weight room after spring ball is over."

Griffin played at New Hampton Prep before he transferred to Londonderry High School for his senior season. He played several offensive positions in Londondery's single-wing offense, and was a First Team All-State selection as a defensive back.

Griffin helped Londonderry secure the No. 4 seed for the Division I playoffs in 2007. The Lancers lost to Nashua South in the Division I semifinals.

Darenerius Watson, the player who anchored the Manchester Wolves offensive line for the past four years, has returned to the team and and will start at center when the Wolves open their 2009 arenafootball2 league season on the road against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on Friday night.

"Having Watson back for this game is huge," Manchester head coach Danton Barto said. "I believe that all good football teams are built up the middle and having a good center, quarterback, and middle receiver is a must. This gives us an opportunity to be successful. Obviously, I believe that Watson is one of the best centers in all of the af2."

Watson (6-foot-2, 300 pounds), who was a starter on the Wolves playoff teams in 2005 through 2008, was assigned to the team by the league. Terms of the deal were not released.

Watson will be snapping the ball to second-year quarterback James Pinkney, who kept his starting job after a spirited battle for the position with rookie Mike Potts throughout training camp. 

Watson will be flanked by second-year tight end Rich Ranglin and newcomer Rory Thomas, who saw limited af2 action as a rookie at guard last year. Ranglin started 15 games last season before a leg injury forced him to the sideline.

The Wolves and Pioneers have tangled 21 times, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton holding an 11-10 edge in the series. The Pioneers are 8-3 against the Wolves at the Wachovia Center, which is considered one of the toughest places for a visiting team to play in af2.

Friday's game, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., will be the first of four regular-season meetings between the Wolves and Pioneers, who are considered to be the top two contenders in the East Division of the American Conference.

College: Kelly says he's not going to change >> Portland Tribune

High School: Yukica chapter honors Hogan, Hauser >> Foster's Daily Democrat

AFL2: Tough schedule ahead for Wolves >> Manchester Union Leader

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Ball State, which will play the University of New Hampshire in the second game of the 2009 season for each team, has published its 2009 preseason prospectus, which includes a brief Q & A with head coach Stan Parrish. UNH will play at Ball State's Scheumann Stadium (FieldTurf/22,500 capacity) on Sept. 12.

The Cardinals, who began spring practice on March 19, were ranked as high as 12th in the BCS standings last season, when they won their first 12 games before losing to Buffalo in the MAC championship game and to Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl. Ball State returns 11 starters from its 2008 team, including seven defensive starters.

Ball State must replace four starters on its offensive line. The Cardinals will also be looking for a new starting quarterback, as Nate Davis surrendered his final year of eligibility to enter April's NFL Draft.

UNH is 4-0 in its last four games against FBS opponents. UNH defeated Army in 2008 (28-10), Marshall in 2007 (48-35), Northwestern in 2006 (34-17) and Rutgers in 2004 (35-24).

Ball State defeated Northeastern 48-14 last season.

New Hampshire Football Report will post an interview with Chip Kelly (pictured) within the next week. Kelly was elevated from the University of Oregon's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach to head coach last month, when former head coach Mike Bellotti resigned to become the school's offensive coordinator. Oregon will begin spring practice on Monday.

Kelly, a 45-year-old Dover native who played high school football at Manchester Central, served as the University of New Hampshire's offensive coordinator before he accepted a similar position at Oregon before the 2007 season.

"Very rarely do you get the opportunity to become a head football coach in college football, and to come into a situation like this," Kelly said at his introductory press conference. "Usually you get the opportunity to be a head coach because you have to turn a program around. To get a chance to take a team that finished ninth in the country last year; is one of the preeminent programs in the country; has a name, no matter where you go in the country, people know what the University of Oregon is; and to be picked to be the successor to Mike Bellotti, it's tough for me to put into words."

Here are some of the questions Kelly will be asked:

• Will he still call plays for Oregon this season?
• How much will he be involved with the team's defense?
• Will the open position on the Oregon coaching staff be filled by someone with ties to UNH?

The Manchester Wolves have named returning veteran James Pinkney as the team's starting quarterback entering the 2009 season.

Pinkney, who broke his leg in a first-round playoff victory last season, was locked in a spirited training camp battle with rookie Mike Potts from William and Mary. While both quarterbacks impressed in camp with their strong arms, leadership, and work ethic, Wolves head coach Danton Barto said Monday that he would stick with his proven veteran.

Pinkney, who started 12 of 16 regular-season games and completed 220 of 342 pass attempts with 59 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2008, will call the signals when the Wolves open their 2009 season Frdiay against the Pioneers in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The Pioneers are the defending East Division champions.

"Wilkes-Barre is a very tough game right out of the shoot," Barto said. "We've got our work cut out for us right away and it's important to get off to a good start. This game is going to be like a prize fight. They'll take some jabs and we'll take some jabs. It's important to keep it close. We've got to answer the bell every round."

Barto said the decision about the team's final cuts were difficult, but the coaching staff decided on the team's final roster by the league deadline Monday afternoon.

Wide receivers Steven Savoy and Emery Sammons, defensive backs TC Myers and Al Phillips, linebacker/fullback Dwan Wilson, defensive linemen Marvin Wright and David Tash, all join Pinkney as returning starters from last year's team. Defensive specialist Rob Green, who played for the Wolves in two previous seasons, has returned to the secondary after a stint in the af2 coaching ranks, and kicker Chris Koepplin, who filled in for the injured Connor McCormick last year and holds the record for longest field goal (53) in franchise history, takes over the kicking duties.

Promising rookies on the roster include Deyon Williams, Brandon Isaac, Antwan Stewart, Aryan Barto (no relation to the coach), Howard Gilmore, and Martel Van Zant. Rory Thomas, Matt King, and Xavier Lawson-Kennedy are newcomers who have previous af2 experience and will lend size and muscle on the line.

The Wolves will practice this week and depart for Pennsylvania on Thursday morning in preparation for the season opener against the Pioneers at the Wachovia Center (7:30 p.m. kickoff).

Martel Van Zant read the play all the way, timed it perfectly, and stepped in front of the receiver to intercept the ball and return it for a touchdown. Teammates and fans at the Manchester Wolves intra-squad scrimmage clapped and cheered loudly for Van Zant, but he couldn't hear them.

Van Zant, a 6-foot, 210-pound cornerback, is deaf. He has never heard the cheers, even though they came often for him when he played college football at Oklahoma State. He couldn't hear the OSU marching band, or anything else. Van Zant was born without ear drums after his mother contracted chicken pox while she was pregnant.

Van Zant's disability never stopped him from becoming an exceptional student-athlete. He won the Mike Johnson Award given to the OSU player who demonstrates spirit and enthusiasm, and he was a finalist for the FedEx Orange Bowl FWAA Courage Award, which honors a coach or player who has displayed courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap.

Van Zant, who made the Wolves final roster on Monday, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. Coming out of the competitive Big 12 Conference in 2008, the NFL scouting report called him "a strong, physical safety who's quick up the field, easily sheds blocks, likes to get involved in the action, and brings an opponent down on initial contact. Competitive and hard-working, he's an imposing figure in the secondary."

Brian Hug, the Wolves assistant head coach, said he didn't think Van Zant's disability would be an issue. Hug is the son of deaf parents.

"I knew sign language before I knew how to speak," Hug said. "I knew about Martel and (head coach Danton) Barto knew about him too and also knew he is deaf. When we talked about bringing him in, he asked me if we can coach him. I told him that it would take work if we invited Martel to camp, but it wouldn't be that hard. It would just take some learning on both ends."

Hug called Van Zant's agent, Kelli Masters, and sold her on the Wolves, an arenafootball2 franchise in New England. Convincing Van Zant's mom, Alice, back home in Tyler, Texas was a little tougher.

"Martel's mom was worried about him coming all the way up here all by himself," Hug said. "She was also worried that he'd be separated from his interpreter."

So far, it's working well. While Van Zant no longer has the services of the interpreter Oklahoma State assigned to him while he was in school, he does have a new interpreter the Wolves brought on board when he arrived in camp. He also has Hug.

"His sign language is old school," Van Zant said. "I'm learning from him and he's learning from me."

Van Zant, who earned his degree in business management, is among the players who stood out during preseason practice.

"We like his size and his speed," Hug said. "He's a good learner and a good player. He just needs playing time and more reps. As for the on field communication, we've got to get used to him seeing us out there and then relaying the signs."

Van Zant, who went to camp with the NFL's Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent last summer, would not be the first deaf player to make a professional football roster. There are at least two others: Bonnie Sloan played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973, and Kenny Walker was a Denver Bronco in the early 1990s.

"This isn't the same as the NFL or the CFL, but I am learning arena football and getting used to the rules, which are very different," Van Zant said through Hug. "So far, my experience here has been positive. I'm making friends with my teammates and enjoying the interaction. Some of the players want to communicate with me and are trying to learn to sign."

Returning veteran TC Myers, who was assigned to be Van Zant's roommate and is also fighting for a starting role in the defensive backfield, is one of them.

"He helps me a lot,"Van Zant said. "He helps me with the playbook and in practice, and he asked me to teach him how to sign. So I'm teaching him now. We also write things down when we need to communicate. He's been great. I was a little nervous at first. I was nervous about going so far away from home and from my mom and being away from my interpreter.

"Now I'm excited to be here. Everyone has been so good to me. I'm relaxed and ready to go."

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The Manchester Wolves will finalize their 22-player roster Sunday or Monday morning, according to head coach Danton Barto.

"It's always tough to make cuts," Barto said following the team's intra-squad scrimmage Saturday. "I hate it because I've been in that position myself. It's never fun. We had a great group of guys who really worked hard in camp and you don't want to crush their dreams.

"I always go back to what my father told me and I truly believe it. He said that cutting a player is actually easier than keeping a player. The guys you keep reflect the organization and yourself and everything you stand for. When you cut a player, it's unfortunate for him, but fortunately for you, that's not your problem. The guys you keep reflect your decisions and your philosophy. I try to live by that, but it's never fun. I've told a lot of these guys that if any other team needs help at a certain position I will pick up the phone and go to bat for them. "

Another tough decision may be selecting the team's starting quarterback. Returning veteran James Pinkney, who came off the bench last season as a first-year player and led the Wolves into the playoffs, has been challenged in camp by rookie Mike Potts, who went to camp with the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers last summer and survived until the final NFL cut.

"Pinkney's been a big help to Mike," Barto said. "They've had a very professional competition where they both tried to help each other out. They congratulate each other when one's doing well and both have treated each other well. That's been very healthy for the team to see the guy who led us last year and the guy he's competing against both praising each other."

The Wolves will open the 2009 season Friday night against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Epping-Newmarket, a co-op football program that competes in Division V, has an opening for a varsity head coach.

Rich McFadden, who had served as Epping's head coach since it gained varsity status in 2004, resigned earlier this month to become head coach of the New England Hawks, a semipro team that competes in the New England Football League. Epping and Newmarket formed a co-op program after the 2007 season.

Those interested can contact Epping High School athletic director Larry Averill at 679-5472 or laverill@sau14.org.

All sponsorships include a logo that would link to a company's or organization's web site. A special rate is available for booster clubs and other team organizations that would like to promote their team on New Hampshire Football Report. Team logos can be created if necessary.

If you would like to promote football in New Hampshire by becoming a sponsor, or if you know of a business that might be interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact New Hampshire Football Report publisher Roger Brown at rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. These sponsorships help cover the costs of maintaining a free site.

Manchester Wolves coach Danton Barto said he will select the team's final roster for the 2009 arenafootball2 league season following Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage.

Final cuts will be made following the scrimmage, which will be held at the Hampshire Dome in Milford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The scrimmage is open to the public.

One player to keep an eye on is rookie quarterback Mike Potts (6-4, 220), who was in camp with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers last summer and is vying for the starting job with returning veteran James Pinkney. 

The Wolves open the 2009 regular season March 27 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and then have a bye week before they play at Green Bay on April 10.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Chris Setian's name has been added to the list of players who will be joining the University of New Hampshire football program next season.

According the the Springfield (Mass.) Republican, Setian (pictured) committed to UNH last week shortly after learning he had been accepted into the school. Bryant, Marist and Rhode Island were among the other schools he was considering.

Setian, a 5-foot-10, 220-pound running back/linebacker, is a non-scholarship recruit who lives in East Longmeadow, Mass.

"I'm not a walk-on, I have a spot on the team,"Setian told the Republican. "They set it up so your scholarship is based on how much you play, where you are on the depth chart. I have control of my own destiny and I love that challenge."

Setian, 19, was named the 2008 Class B Prep School Player of the Year after he led Suffield (Conn.) Academy to a Super Bowl championship. He gained 1,529 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in nine games with Suffield.

Setian joined the Suffield program after playing high school football for East Longmeadow High School. He led East Longmeadow to a Super Bowl appearance in 2007, when he ran for 2,023 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. After his senior season he received the Norman Dagenais Award as the top player in Western Massachusetts.

The Manchester Wolves will hold a scrimmage Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The scrimmage will be held at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, and is open to the public.

Manchester will open its afl2 schedule March 27, when it plays at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Sporting News Draft Guide has former Manchester Central standout Dave Philistin (6-1, 228) listed as the No. 12 inside linebacker available for this year's NFL Draft.

Philistin (pictured) played both inside linebacker and outside linebacker during his college career at the University of Maryland. He is projected as a sixth-round selection. Here's what The Sporting News Draft Guide wrote about Philistin:

Strengths: Smart. Plays hard from snap to whistle. Is consistently around the ball. Reads the run quickly. Uses his hands to keep blockers from locking on and sheds them to make tackles. Sniffs out screen passes.

Weaknesses: Is a straight-line athlete who lacks ideal agility. Lacks sideline-to-sideline speed and only reaches ballcarriers when given a clear path. Lacks quick closing burst to break up passes in zone coverage.

Bottom line: Philistin shows good instincts, but it's unclear if he has enough to be a starter in the NFL. He looks destined to be a career backup because of his lack of physical tools, but Philistin would be a solid late-round pick for a team in a 3-4 scheme.

The New England Hawks signed 17 new players to contracts at the team's first informational meeting for the 2009 season.

Lamar Bryant, a 6-foot-4, 330-pound offensive and defensive lineman, was among the new players the Hawks signed. Bryant played his college football for the University of Maryland and was most recently a member of the Manchester Wolves AFL2 team.

The other new recruits are Rick Lapierre, Wilson Pierre, Shane Lee, Guy Cooper, Adam Asadoorian, Matthew Rivera, Chris Abate, Carlos Novoa, Shawn Ford, Shaun Mueller, Marion Wilder, Rick King, Evan Roderick, James Boos, Corey Hayward and Nathan Bunnell.
 
The Hawks, a semipro team that plays in the New England Football League's AAA Division, are attempting fill out their 65 man roster. The 17 new players increased the current active roster to 52 players.

Anyone interested in playing for the Hawks can contact general manager Mike Bernier at (603) 766-1350 or mik@nehawks.com.

*****

The Hawks also announced the signing of two coaches for the 2009 season. Rich McFadden has been named the team's head coach and defensive coordinator, and John Kuhne has been signed as the team's offensive coordinator. 

McFadden comes to the Hawks from Epping High School, where he helped the school start a varsity football program and served as that program's head coach for the last five seasons.

Kuhne is the offensive coordinator at Stoneham (Mass.) High School. He has also coached at Woburn (Mass.) High School and with the Timberlane junior football program in Plaistow. He also has NEFL coaching experience with the Northeast Knights and the Northeast Hurricanes.

The Hawks are still seeking a special teams coach, other assistant coaches and scouting and recruiting personnel.

The Manchester Wolves' roster received a boost earlier this week when wide receiver Emery Sammons rejoined the team and reported to training camp.

Sammons was assigned to the Wolves by the arenafootball2 league office on Friday and terms of the deal were not released.

"Having Emery back is obviously great for our football team," Manchester coach Danton Barto said. "He is a very good football player who had a very good year for us last year. Not only is he a great wide receiver, but he is a great special teams player who does a lot of things for us and all of the little things that make a difference. There is a sense of relief having a guy like him back for this season."

Sammons, who played his collegiate ball at Norfolk State, was an immediate impact player with his explosive speed and sure hands during his rookie season in 2008. Despite missing one game to injury and working with four different starting quarterbacks throughout the regular season, he caught 85 passes for 1,156 yards and scored 21 touchdowns to finish as the Wolves second leading receiver. He also returned 30 kickoffs for 554 yards and returned two missed field goals for 42 yards.

During the playoff run that took the Wolves to the American Conference title game, Sammons was the leading receiver with 26 receptions for 280 yards and five touchdowns. 

Sammons, Bradley Chavez and Steven Savoy, set a Wolves team record as the first trio of receivers to each gain more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season. With Savoy also back for this season, returning starting quarterback James Pinkney will have two of his favorite targets running routes downfield.

"I'm pretty excited to be coming back and I'm looking forward to my second year with the team," Sammons said. "I think this is really going to be a good year for us. Last year, James, Steve and I were all new, but now we're veterans with experience who really know each other and Coach Barto's system. Things will be moving a little faster than last year."

*****

WOLVES NOTEBOOK: Because this is the 10th anniversary season of the af2, the league named its Top 10 All-Time list in several categories and many of the former and current Wolves were voted in by their peers and the media and fans across the country. Danton Barto was named the fourth best head coach in history, Brian Jones made it as the fourth best quarterback, Jarrail Jackson and J.J. McElvey were listed as the seventh and 10th best wide receivers, William "Roc" Haith tied for the 10th best defensive back, and Jackson and Steve Gonzalez were named the second and sixth best kick returners, respectively....The Wolves are currently holding two-a-day practices at The Hampshire Dome in Milford and the sessions are open to the public.... There will be an intra-squad scrimmage and Fan Fest for season ticket holders on March 21, and Barto will make his final cuts for the 2009 roster after the scrimmage. ... The new Lady Wolf Pack dance team will debut at the Fan Fest ...The Wolves open their season on the road against East Division foe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on March 27...Tickets for the Wolves home opener on The Acting Loft Field at the Verizon Wireless Arena on April 18 are being offered for $10 in honor of the af2's 10th Anniversary season. The $10 tickets are good for the best available seat in the arena.

College: Oregon's Kelly has limited track record >> Oregonian

College: Bellotti makes way for Kelly >> GoDucks.com

Bishop Guertin coach Tony Johnson said he's uncertain where quarterback/defensive back Andy Vailas and guard/defensive tackle Kyle Endyke will end up next fall, but offensive tackle Anthony Ferlan is one member of BG's 2008 team who has committed to play college football.

Ferlan, a two-year starter for the Cardinals, will play for Tufts University, a program that competes at the NCAA Division III level. Ferlan also received interest from several NESCAC schools -- Amherst, Colby, Middlebury and Wesleyan -- as well as Assumption, Bentley, Washington & Lee and RPI. Former BG tight end Nick Croteau was a freshman on the Tufts roster last year.

Johnson said Vailas will likely play prep school football for Phillips Andover Academy, and Endyke may end up at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Ferlan, Vailas and Endyke were part of a BG team that beat Exeter, 14-7, in the 2008 Division II championship game. The Cardinals completed the season 10-2 overall, and 9-1 in Division II.

All three players were named to the Division II All-State First Team (offense).

College: Bellotti steps down, clears way for Kelly >> The Oregonian

College: Bellotti resigns to become AD >> ESPN.com

The next fundraiser for Milford football coach Keith Jones and his family will be held Sunday in Nashua. The event is a concert at the Sky Lounge and Bistro (522 Amherst St.) that will feature three bands: Pop Farmers, Russell Hill and the Sellouts.

The concert is being organized by parents associated with Souhegan High School football. The Souhegan High School booster club has also donated $2,700 to help cover medical expenses for Harris Jones, Keith's son. Harris Jones suffered multiple injuries when he was hit by a snowmobile earlier this year, and is still undergoing treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

Tickets for the concert are $20 for adults, $10 for students/children and $50 for a family of four. All proceeds will go to the Jones family.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

When the Epping/Newmarket High School football team begins practicing for the 2009 season, it will do so without a significant piece of the program's short history. 

Rich McFadden, who has been the program's head coach since it gained varsity status in 2004, resigned Thursday and cited family reasons for his decision. McFadden said he has accepted an offer to coach the New England Football League's New England Hawks, a semipro team that played its home games at Exeter High School last season.

McFadden, who played high school football at Spaulding, played for the Hawks during the 2000 season.

"It came down to the time I can spend with my family," McFadden said. "That's a big part of it. I still wanted to stay in football. In high school you're spending three hours a day, six days a week. The Hawks practice two nights a week and it's later at night. It's much less of a time commitment."

McFadden, 42, was instrumental in forming a varsity program at Epping, which became a co-op program when it partnered with Newmarket starting with the 2008 season. Epping remained a Division V program when the NHIAA expanded to six divisions last season.

"I wasn't excited about the upcoming high school football season like I normally am," McFadden said. "If I couldn't give it my all I'd be a detriment to the team."

Epping posted a 22-6 victory over Gilford in its first varsity game, but is still seeking its first playoff berth. The Blue Devils finished 2-7 in 2004, 4-5 in 2005, 1-8 in 2006, 2-8 in 2007 and 1-8 in 2008.

"The next coach has to be someone up for a challenge,"McFadden said. "It's a tough division and it's a co-op program, so it does offer some unique challenges. I think new blood will do the program good -- I really do."

Dover High School, a Division II school with an enrollment of 1611 students, is looking for an opponent to complete its 2009 schedule. Dover has an opening for a non-league game the weekend of Nov. 6-7.

Anyone interested can contact Dover athletic director Peter Wotton at peter.wotton@dover.k12.nh.us

Terrance Fox, a wide receiver on the University of New Hampshire football team, has been suspended for the 2009 season by the NCAA for violating the association's banned substance use policy. Fox (pictured), a sophomore who lives in Piscataway, N.J., will sit out his junior year as NCAA rules mandate 

"I'm very disappointed that we had a positive result during random NCAA drug testing for a banned substance," UNH football coach Sean McDonnell said. "Terrance is a great  kid who made a mistake, Terrance has always been a fine member of our program.

"We have an ongoing education program to inform our student-athletes about these issues and they are reminded often. They are encouraged to talk to our athletic training and/or strength and conditioning staff. Terrance made a bad decision and will pay a heavy price.  We will use this incident as a coachable opportunity to further educate our athletes."

Fox, a communication major, will lose his athletic scholarship for the fall semester. According to UNH athletic director Marty Scarano, there will also be zero tolerance for any additional actions that break team rules.

The NCAA conducts at least one random drug test per year. UNH also coducts its own random drug test.

Here's a list of Rivals.com's top 100 high school football players who will be entering college in 2010.

Pat Tatro, who was a senior quarterback on the 2008 Manchester Central football team, will extend his athletic career in college, but he won't be playing football. Tatro has decided to play lacrosse at Cabrini College.

Cabrini is an NCAA Division III school located in Radnor, Pa. Cabrini has qualified for the NCAA tournament in each of the past seven seasons.

Tatro was a Second Team All-State selection in football last year. He has been a starter on Central's lacrosse team since his sophomore year.

The first Tomahawk Football Camp, which will be conducted by Merrimack High School coach Joe Battista, will be held July 13-17 at Merrimack High School. This will be a no-contact camp open to ages 8 to13.

• When: Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17
  8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Drop-off 7:00 a.m., Pick-up 5:00 p.m.)
• Where: Merrimack varsity football practice field, O'Gara Drive (off Baboosic Lake Road).
• What to bring: Bag lunch, sun screen, water bottle.
• What to wear: Shorts, t-shirt and cleats
• Cost: $100.00 per player, $70.00 per sibling

Anyone with questions can contact Kathy Bigwood at 424-5198 or email kathybigwood@msn.com

A registration form can be found here.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Dustin Chickering, a Hillsborough resident, signed a letter of intent Tuesday to play football for Merrimack College, a Division II program that competes in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Chickering (pictured) is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound two-way tackle who played for the Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton RedHawks, a co-op high school program that is aiming for NHIAA varsity status in 2010. Chickering didn't play organized football until his senior year in high school. He also plays basketball and baseball for Hillsboro-Deering.

Hillsboro-Deering coach Sam Cavallaro called Chickering a leader on his his team and in the community.

"You have to realize how important of a day this is as Dustin is the first player ever to play college football from his great town," Cavallaro said. "Dustin has so much potential as his learning is on a sharp curve upward, and at Merrimack (heach coach John Perry) is a fantastic teach. We cannot wait to watch him, and I know his teammates from both Hopkinton and Hillsboro have an immense sense of pride hearing the news today."

Perry is a 1992 UNH graduate who coached at both Dartmouth and UNH before being named Merrimack's head coach in 2007. 

Here's the Manchester Wolves practice schedule for March. All practices will be held at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, and are open to the public.

March 11: Morning practice (9-11 a.m.)
March 11: Afternoon practice (3-5 p.m.)

March 12: Afternoon practice (4-6 p.m.)

March 13: Scrimmage (4-6 p.m.)

March 14: Afternoon practice (noon-2 p.m.)

March 15: Morning practice (6-8 a.m.)
March 15: Evening practice (6-8 p.m.)

March 16: Morning practice (9-11 a.m.)
March 16: Afternoon practice (4-6 p.m.)

March 17: Morning practice (9-11 a.m.)
March 17: Afternoon practice (4-6 p.m.)

March 18: Morning practice (9-11 a.m.)
March 18: Afternoon practice (3-5 p.m.)

March 19: Morning practice (9-11 a.m.)
March 19: Afternoon practice (4-6 p.m.)

March 20: Afternoon practice (4-6 p.m.)

March 21: Scrimmage (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)

March 22: Evening practice (6-8 p.m.)

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Milford High School quarterback Jeff Agnew will continue his football career at Bentley College, a Division II program that competes in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Agnew was a three-year starter for the Spartans, who reached the Division III playoffs in each of those three seasons. Milford lost to Portsmouth in the 2006 semifinals, Souhegan in the 2007 semifinals and Portsmouth in the 2008 semifinals.

Agnew was plagued by a foot injury during his senior season, when he also played wingback. He was one of 36 players selected to represent New Hampshire in this summer's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

Bentley finished 5-6 last season. One of those victories was a 30-12 triumph over St. Anselm College.

Exeter High School, a Division II school with an enrollment of 1,654, is looking for an opponent to complete its 2009 schedule. The Blue Hawks have an opening for a non-league game the weekend of Oct. 30-31.

Anyone interested can contact Exeter athletic director/football coach Bill Ball, at bball@sau16.org.

Nine members of the University of New Hampshire football team were honored at Saturday's annual Football Awards Banquet held at the Granite State Room on the UNH campus. All nine players were key to the Wildcats finishing the 2008 season with a 10-3 overall record, the CAA North Division title, their fifth straight appearance in the NCAA FCS Tournament and their fourth finish in the FCS Quarterfinals in the past five seasons.

• Senior offensive lineman and tri-captain Eric Cumba was selected as the eighth recipient of the Bill Bowes Coaches Award. Cumba was a starter on an offensive line that helped the UNH offense compile 404.2 yards per game in 13 games played. His blocking ability also was important as UNH scored 463 points on the season and averaged 35.6 yards per contest. He played a starting role three straight seasons for the Wildcats.
• The defensive MVP for the 2008 season was senior free safety John Clements. In addition to compiling 86 total tackles, good for fourth on the team, he also scored four touchdowns with a combination of two interception returns, one kickoff return and a punt return. He was fourth on the team with three interceptions in 2008 and led the Wildcats with an average kickoff return of 29.9 yards per return.
• Wide receiver Mike Boyle (Plymouth) was recognized as the team's offensive MVP. Boyle led the Wildcats with a team-high 67 catches and topped the 1,000- yard receiving mark with 1,116 in 2008. Boyle caught a team-high 10 touchdown passes last season and averaged 85.8 receiving yards per contest. He was also UNH's top punt return man with 10 returns for 68 yards, and carried the football 16 times for 138 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The University of New Hampshire recently offered Souhegan High School's Steven Jellison a full scholarship, according to Souhegan head coach Mike Beliveau.

Jellison is a 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior who played linebacker and fullback for Souhegan. He rushed for 1,355 yards on 146 carries (9.3 yards per carry) last season, when he helped Souhegan win the Division III championship. He also caught 19 passes for 140 yards and scored 28 touchdowns.

Jellison scored four touchdowns during Souhegan's 28-14 triumph over Portsmouth in the Division III championship game. He scored on a 28-yard interception return, and runs of 43, 50 and 34 yards. Jellison gained 238 yards on 25 carries in that victory. 

Beliveau said Jellison will give the UNH offer serious consideration and weigh it against Ivy League opportunities and any possible Football Bowl Subdivision offers. He said UNH made its offer on Feb. 28.

Sean Jellison, Steven's older brother, attends UNH and is a running back on the football team. Sean Jellison holds the New Hampshire high school record for career rushing yardage (5,890), career touchdowns (103) and touchdowns in a season (41).

Sean Jellison has two years of athletic eligibility remaining.

Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit Milford football coach Keith Jones and his family will be held March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Windows on West Street, Milford High School.

Tickets are $10 per person and are available at Milford High School, or by contacting any Milford football player, cheerleader or member of the school's football booster club.

A 50/50 drawing will also be held at the dinner, which is the latest in a series of fundraisers to help the Jones family pay medical expenses. Harris Jones, Keith's 2-year-old son, was hit by a snowmobile earlier this year and is still undergoing treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

As the Manchester Wolves players report on Friday and prepare for their first practice of the season, there is plenty of optimism and enthusiasm in the Wolves camp.

"I am very excited about all of the guys we have signed for this upcoming year," Manchester coach Danton Barto said. "This is one of the best years I have had recruiting players and we have a great group of veterans returning."

Quarterback James Pinkney is among those veterans. Pinkney came off the bench in his rookie season last year and led the Wolves into the playoffs. He finished the regular season with a quarterback rating of 115.7 and threw 59 touchdown passes.

Pinkney completed 220-of-342 passes and was intercepted 12 times. He scored 15 rushing touchdowns on 70 carries, and returns with a full understanding of Barto's system and the arena game.

"Getting James back for the organization is huge," Barto said. "I expect him to have a huge year for us."

Pinkney will be aided by one of his favorite targets, starting wide reciver Steven Savoy, who was one of three Manchester wideouts to have more than 1,000 yards receiving last year.

On the other side of the line, the returning veteran starters include defensive backs Al Phillips and Carlton Brown, and linebacker Dwan Wilson.

"Al is a player who joined us late in the season and was  big part of our success," Barto said. "I believe that Al is going to have a monster year for us. Carlton led us in interceptions last year. He is still learning the game and I expect him to make huge strides this year. Dwan was having a monster year for us last year before a foot injury slowed him down. I believe that Dwan will be a 10-plus sack guy from the linebacker position, which is huge."

All of the players assigned by the league or traded to the team in the off-season will report on Friday for physicals and be on the practice field at the Hampshire Dome in Milford on Saturday for conditioning drills from noon to 2 p.m. On Sunday, the coaching staff will get its first good look at the new team when the first practice is held at the Hampshire Dome from 4 to 6 p.m..
 
The coaches will be especially interested in how the rookies stack up once they put on the helmets and pads. Offensive lineman Charles Manu, defensive backs Antwan Stewart and Martel Vanzant, plus wide receiver Deyon Williams will get a long look.

"Charles is a guy who was a top player for Nevada-Reno and attended camp with the San Diego Chargers and I believe that he has all of the tools to be a shut-down offensive lineman," Barto said. "Antwan made plays at a big time program at Tennessee. With his size and speed, he should be a big part of what we do. Martel has unique size and speed for the defensive back position. He was a big part of what Oklahoma State was able to do in the Big 12. Deyon is a guy who made a lot of plays for Virginia. He performed at a high level in college."

Some of the players on the training camp roster with local connections include three offensive/defensive linemen: Marvin Wright (6-2, 265) is from the University of New Hampshire; Tyler King (6-5, 265) is the son of former New England Patriots linebacker Steve King; and Kaiser Tupu (6-7, 400), recently acquired from the Corpus Christi Sharks, is the cousin of former Patriots stellar fullback Mosi Tatupu and current All-Pro Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

The Wolves will be in training camp until the end of the month and then begin their 2009 campaign on the road against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. The Wolves home opener at the Verizon Wireless Arena is April 18.

The New England Hawks of the semipro New England Football League (NEFL) are seeking to fill their head coaching vacancy for the 2009 season. The team also has an opening for a defensive coordinator.

The Hawks are currently recruiting players, and will hold their first team meeting of the year Saturday (6 p.m.) at the Winner's Circle Sports Bar in Salisbury, Mass. 

Anyone interested in either coaching opening or playing for the Hawks should contact Mike Bernier (603) 766-1350 or Mike Isola (617) 212-6727 for more information.

No, not that Exeter.

Exeter High School in Reading, Pa., has selected Matt Bauer as its new varsity football coach.

Bauer, 32, played at Muhlenburg (Pa.) High School and earned a scholarship from the University of New Hampshire. Bauer came to UNH as a tight end, but was moved to guard.

This is Bauer's first job as a head coach.

Marist College has become an appealing option for New Hampshire players looking to play Division I college football.

Marist has landed a New Hampshire recruit in each of the last two years. Winnacunnet High School linebacker Brett Sanchez signed with the Red Foxes last week. He'll join Ryan Cronan, a 2008 Winnacunnet graduate, on the Marist roster. Cronan was a quarterback/defensive back in high school, but plays linebacker in college.

The 2008 Marist roster included two other New Hampshire residents: senior Jake Dembow (Merrimack) and junior Benjamin Wyatt (Merrimack).

Marist head coach Jim Parady (pictured) has New Hampshire roots. Parady was born in Nashua, and played at the University of Maine. His father Ken served as the head coach at both Laconia High School and Nashua High School.

Jim's sister, Vicki, is an NHIAA football offical.

Marist, which is located in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., finished 4-7 last season, and will compete in the Pioneer League in 2009. The Pioneer League includes Drake, San Diego, Campbell, Jacksonville, Morehead State, Valparaiso, Davidson and Dayton.

NORTHEAST CLINICS will be offering its 27th Annual Quarterback/Receiver Camp and its 14th Annual Lineman/Linebacker Camp this year from July 10 to July 12. Players in grades 6 through 12 are eligible for the camps, which offer day and overnight sessions.

Each camp will be held at The Governor's Academy in Newbury, Mass.

The Quarterback/Receiver Camp is open to high school, junior high school and youth quarterbacks and receivers, including tight ends, wideouts and running backs in a passing offense. The following sessions will be offered:

• Overnight Clinic ($415): Players should arrive on July 10 at 8 a.m.
• Extended Day Clinic ($365): The clinic will meet July 10 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., July 11 from 9 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., and July 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Day Clinic ($325): The clinic will meet July 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and July 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Lineman/Linebacker Camp is open to high school, junior high school and youth linemen and linebackers, including tight ends. Players will be grouped according to age, experience and ability. The following sessions will be offered:

• Overnight Clinic ($415): Players should arrive on July 10 at 8 a.m.
• Extended Day Clinic ($365): The clinic will meet July 10 from 8 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., July 11 from 9 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., and July 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Day Clinic ($325): The clinic will meet July 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and July 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A $100 registration fee (non-refundable) must accompany a player's application for either camp. Team and sibling discounts will be offered. Coaches, parents and guests may attend the practices and lectures free of charge.

Enrollment for each camp is limited. For more details, call (603) 887-4907. Coaches may secure team reservations by telephone. NORTHEAST CLINICS can also be reached by fax: (603) 887-3502; by email: northeastclinics@hotmail.com; or regular mail: Northeast Clinics, INC., P.O. Box 839, East Hampstead, N.H.,
03826.