Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

The New Hampshire roster for this year's Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl is scheduled to be announced in the middle of February, according to New Hampshire coach Chris Childs.

"The letters have gone out," Childs said. "We're waiting to hear back from the players. When we do the team will be released. Right now eight of 36 [players] have returned the letter."

New Hampshire is allowed to select nine players from Division I, eight from Division II, six from Division III, six from Division IV, four from Division V and three from Division VI.

Childs, who guided Lebanon to the Division IV state championship last season, said he plans to use a two-platoon system for this year's game with 18 players concentrating on offense and the other 18 on defense.

"We'd like to have every kid go one way," Childs said. "That way they only have to worry about one side of the ball. That should get the kids more playing time."

This year's game will be played Aug. 6 at Windsor (Vt.) High School.

New Hampshire extended its winning streak to 10 games by posting a 34-20 victory in the 2010 contest. That victory gave New Hampshire a 42-13-2 edge in the all-time series.

Champlain Valley Union's Jim Provost is Vermont's coach. Provost also served as Vermont's head coach for the 1990 Shrine Game. New Hampshire posted a 35-0 victory that year.

Childs said the New Hampshire team will have its first meeting March 6 at the Lebanon Elks.

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Childs said Lebanon running back Cody Patch learned last week that he will continue his football career at Dartmouth.

"It's great news for him," Childs said. "He'll be close to home and get an Ivy League education. It's the place he wanted to go."