Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

Laconia High School running back Christain Birt will not participate in this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl because of a committment to the University of Massachusetts.

Franklin coach Greg Husband, New Hampshire's coach for this year's Shrine game, said Birt was removed from the roster earlier this week. A replacement has not been named.

"He has a chance to play at UMass earlier than he expected," Laconia coach Craig Kozens said. "They don't think they're going to redshirt him. He's on their two-deep preseason depth chart and he's headed out to UMass in a couple weeks.

"He wants to play in that game as much as anybody, but this is good news for him."

Birt rushed for 1,171 yards last season, when he helped Laconia reach the Division IV championship game. He scored 24 touchdowns, 19 of which came on the ground.

Birt scored Laconia's only TD during its 14-7 loss to Plymouth in the Division IV championship game.

Birt also helped Laconia win the 2007 Division IV title. He rushed for 1,308 yards and 18 TDs on 150 carries as a junior, when Laconia capped an 11-0 season by beating Hanover, 35-14, in the Division IV championship game. He also intercepted six passes that season.

In another recent change, Winnacunnet linebacker Brett Sanchez has replaced Timberlane's Brian Nicoll. Sanchez, a three-year-starter, was a Division II All-State selection at linebacker following his senior season. He has committed to play football at Marist.