The Blue Hawks will have plenty of experience in the offensive and defensive lines. Defensive end/outside linebacker Jake Pleadwell is among the returning starters on defense. Pleadwell, who also plays halfback, rushed for 114 yards in a loss to Nashua North. He'll have a bigger role on offense this year as well.

"Last year was tough to handle," Pleadwell said. "We're such a good program. Kids are used to playing a high level of football here. We're not used to losing.

"The first days after the season guys were in the weight room right away. I can't say it was the best offseason Exeter has ever had, but it was the best offseason since I've been here.

"Sometimes you have to break yourself down to break to build yourself into something better."

Friday
Nashua South at Winnacunnet

South has one of the state's top playmakers in running back/receiver Armond McCrae, who had 782 yards rushing, 639 yards receiving and scored 20 touchdowns last fall.

The Panthers graduated Keith Farkas, a three-year starter at quarterback, but appear to be in capable hands with sophomore Trevor Knight taking over at QB. Knight's father, Scott, is South's head coach.

South isn't particularly big, but isn't lacking at the skill positions.

It's become fashionable to look past Winnacunnet this season. Those who do will likely be making a mistake.

This year's Winnacunnet team will resemble the 2004 Winnacunnet team that lost to Bishop Guertin in the Division II championship game. That team won with a stingy defense and a strong running game.

The Winnacunnet defense will build around two Division II honorable mention players: defensive tackle Matt Myers and middle linebacker Mitch Lapierre.

"The offense should come around as the season goes, but our defense will have to carry us early," Winnacunnet coach Ron Auffant said. "We're not gonna score 30 a game, but our defense has a chance to keep people under 10, 14 points a game. We'll have to win low-scoring games

"We're not on anybody's radar this year, which is good."

Saturday
Trinity at Portsmouth

The Clippers were without three of their best players -- tackle Ricky Holt (injury), running back/linebacker Matt Feeney (injury) and running back/defensive back Billy Lane (personal issue) -- for this contest.

All three are expected to be in uniform when Portsmouth opens its season with a non-league game against Manchester Central.

Trinity, the runner-up in Division IV last season, returned seven players on each side of the ball.

"We have three players we have to replace on our offensive line, and the other issue we have to deal with is depth," Trinity coach Gary Leonard said. "We have 40 kids on the team, but experience-wise it drops off after our first team."

Leonard said it's possible Trinity could move to Division III next season.

"We have to talk about that as a school," he said. "I know we tried to move to Division III last time and we didn't get that. Three or four is where I would like to keep the school. The problem for us in [Division IV] is travel.

"Someone's gotta go to three because I know Pelham is leaving. Pelham can't stay there in that division. We'll see what happens."