Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com

MERIDEN -- New Hampshire coach Mike Beliveau gave his Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl team a passing grade after the first day of practice at Kimball Union Academy on Thursday, but it was hardly an A+.

"It was not a bad first day, but it certainly could have been better," Beliveau said Thursday night, shortly after rain forced his team inside for its final practice of the day. "After the players checked in and got acclimated to the dorm, we had team photos. From a football standpoint we had a two-hour offensive-themed practice, and at night we had a special teams practice where we installed our kickoff, kick return and PAT."

New Hampshire will be trying to extend its winning streak to 12 games when it faces Vermont on Aug. 4 at Dartmouth College (2:30 p.m.).

Beliveau said he was particularly impressed with the team's offensive line Thursday. "I thought that the two Exeter linemen -- Adam Morin and Brad Tiernan -- looked really good," he said. "Really focused. Alexander Morrill (Lebanon) also looked really good. Others were good, but they stood out a little."

Morin is playing right tackle, Tiernan is playing left tackle and Morrill is at left guard.

New Hampshire and Vermont have exchanged formations in past years, but that will not be the case this year. Restrictions have been lifted on the defensive side of the ball as well.

"It makes it harder, but it also makes it more like realistic football," Beliveau said. "I wouldn't say we know their personnel, but we have a bit of an idea what their head coach [Rutland's Mike Norman] likes to do offensively. We think they want to run before they pass. What we saw on film was a lot of formations."

New Hampshrie is scheduled to practice three times Friday. Beliveau said the team will have an offensive practice in the morning (9:15-11:15), a defensive practice in the afternoon (2:30-4:30) and a special teams practice at night (6:45-7:45).

New Hampshire practiced on the turf field Thursday, but will use the grass field Friday.

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General admission tickets for this year's game are $8 if purchased in advance or $10 on game day. Reserve tickets are priced at $20 and can be obtained by contacting the Shrine Bowl Football office in Lebanon at (603) 448-1042.