NHIAA DIVISION II PREVIEW

The League: Spaulding (1,768 enrollment), Keene (1,762), Dover (1,671), Exeter (1,654), Merrimack (1,593), Timberlane (1,590), Alvirne (1,518), Winnacunnet (1,324) and Bishop Guertin (885).

Defending Champion: Bishop Guertin beat Exeter, 14-7, in the championship game.

Top Story Line: Can anyone challenge BG? The Cardinals appear capable of winning their fifth title in the last six years.

Player to Watch: Timberlane running back Derek Furey rushed for 1,475 yards on 257 carries last season and was one of five finalists for New Hampshire's Mr. Football award. Furey, a senior, needs 696 yards to reach the 4,000-yard rushing mark for his high school career. 

Game to Watch: Exeter at BG (Nov. 7). These teams have met in the last four Division II championship games. This year's contest will be played on the regular season's final weekend and will likely determine the No. 1 seed for the playoffs. It may also determine which team will be at home for the Division II championship game.

Noteworthy: Exeter coach Bill Ball called BG the fastest team in the state. The Cardinals may also be the best team in the state. BG's returning cast includes linebacker Walter Kell and Nick Phillips. Junior Steve Cuipa, who played for an injured Andy Vailas last season, has won the starting QB job. He'll be complemented by running backs Adam Hall and Mike Kelly. "It might be time for them to move up (to Division I)," Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said. ... Exeter may provide BG will it's toughest challenge. Exeter quarterback Carson Cross has accepted a scholarship offer to play baseball at the University of Connecicut. The Blue Hawks have experienced running backs in Zach Kelleher, Ben Callahan and Jason Monroe. Dylan Ryan will spearhead the Exeter defense. Ryan was an All-State selection as a defensive lineman last season. ... There are plenty of good quarterbacks in the league. That group includes Keene's Tanner Luopa, Winnacunnet's Steve Cronan and Merrimack's Tyler King. Cronan passed for 20 touchdowns last fall as a sophomore. Winnacunnet also returns Jason Busfield, its leading rusher from last season. "We'll be on the scoreboard," Auffant said. "The key for us will be defense. ... Furey and Dover's Justin Dube will be among the top running backs in the division. ... Alvirne, which finished second in the UNH 7-on-7 tournament in the offseason, may be the surprise team in the division. ... Spaulding entered preseason with three seniors on its roster and remains in a rebuilding mode. ... "I think you'll see BG and Exeter at the top," Auffant said. "A lot of teams are going to be in the mix for those last two playoff spots."

Coming Thursday: Division I preview.

                                                                                                                -- Roger Brown