With no more Brady, teams are in a bunch
NHIAA DIVISION VI PREVIEW
The League: Epping-Newmarket (603), Gilford (571), Winnisquam (538), Newfound (464), Raymond (459), Farmington (443), Franklin (437), Mascoma (436), Newport (409), Inter-Lakes (388).
Defending Champion: Inter-Lakes beat Winnisquam, 6-0, in last year's Division VI championship game.
Top Story Line: Who's No. 1? This league appears to have at least six teams capable of winning the state title.
Player to Watch: Newfound defensive back Shawn Downes was a First Team All-State selection last season. Teams win with defense in this division more than any other. The losing team hasn't scored a point in either of the last two Division VI championship games.
Game to Watch: Newfound at Inter-Lakes (Oct. 23). The matchup should feature two of the top teams in the divison.
Noteworthy: One of the biggest questions in Division VI is this: Can Inter-Lakes recover from the loss of running back Kevin Brady? Brady gained 2,213 yards last season. ... Campbell and Fall Mountain each moved up to Division V in the offseason. ... Newfound may be able to take another step forward after qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in the program's history last season, but the Bears will play all but one game on the road. Franklin, Gilford, Inter-Lakes, Newport, Raymond and Winnisquam all look like possible playoff teams. ... Winnisquam noseguard Jordan Riberdy will be among the top defensive players in the division. ... Epping-Newmarket and Farmington will each play six of their nine games at home ... Newport will play a Thanksgiving Day game at Stevens.
-- Roger Brown.
