D IV All State selections and congrats to Coach of the Year Gary Leonard!

D IV All State Selections announced (per Thaler blog). Congrats to all!

First Team defense
DE - Billy Mahoney; Laconia, sr.
DE - Kyle Reisert; Plymouth, so.
DE - Jackson Weeks; Trinity, jr.
DE - Chris Henry; Lebanon, sr.
DT - Nick D'Ambruoso; Plymouth, sr.
LB - Josh Hughes; Trinity, sr.
LB - Mike Leonard; Trinity, sr.
LB - Ryan Carrier; Trinity, jr.
LB - Zach Poole; Trinity, so.
LB - Dustin Stewart; Kennett, sr.
LB - Dylan Drew; Lebanon, jr.
LB - Ian Smith; Hanover, jr.
LB - Jacob Bumford; John Stark, jr.
ILB - Nick Patterson; Monadnock, jr.
OLB - Derek Lotito; Monadnock, jr.
OLB - Cole Brooker; Plymouth, sr.
DB - Ronnie Steele; Laconia, sr.
DB - Michael Lautenschlager; Kennett, sr.


First Team offense
QB - Carmen Giampetruzzi; Trinity, so.
RB - Adam Chambers; Trinity, sr.
RB - Jesse Leiby; Monadnock, sr.
RB - Nick Massa; Kennett, jr.
RB - Carl Keating; Hanover, jr.
RB - Carson Dunn; John Stark, so.
RB - Kohl Meyers; Kingswood, sr.
WB - Nick Reisert; Plymouth, sr.
TB - David Mahoney; Laconia, jr.
FB - Taylor Newberry; Plymouth, sr.
WR - Dan Gorman; Hanover, sr.
WR - Dean Poirier; Merrimack Valley, sr.
TE - Andrew Lauderdale; Trinity, sr.
TE - Graham Nyhan; Laconia, jr.
OT - Colin Bouchard; Trinity, jr.
OT - Nick Blake; Plymouth, sr.
OT - Nick Dragon; Monadnock, sr.
OG - Raige Hollis; Laconia, sr.
OL - Alexander Morrill; Lebanon, sr.

Coach of the Year - Gary Leonard; Trinity

Honorable Mention
HANOVER - Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris (WR, jr.); Shawn Cavallaro (QB, so.); Rob Sabbatelle (DT, jr.)

JOHN STARK - Timothy Barnes (OL, jr.); Kellen Brien (OL, so.); Nicholas Simeone (WR, jr.); Nic Lloyd (DB, jr.); Chris Procum (DE, sr.); Jeremy Bolton (DL, sr.)

KENNETT - Jesse Wheeler (QB, sr.); Cody Richard (OG, sr.); Connor Gillette (K/P, sr.); Austin Weber (KR, sr.); Conor McDonald (LB, jr.); Ryan Cottrell (DE, sr.)

KINGSWOOD - Kevin Bisson (OC, sr.); B.J. Smith (LB, sr.); Abe Demaio (LB, so.)

LACONIA - Tyler Grant (OL, sr.); Drew Morin (P/K, jr.)

LEBANON - Phil Hwang (RB, jr.)

MERRIMACK VALLEY - Cody Thurston (RB, jr.); Ivan Niyomugabo (QB, fr.); Tim Barton (RB, sr.); Connor Dempsey (DL, sr.); Justin Abbott (P, sr.)

MONADNOCK - Wyatt Fabienski (OC, so.); Brandon Wilfore (OT, so.); Drew Bolewski (RB, so.); Dan Rehmer (DE, sr.); Jake Poulin (ILB, jr.); Zack Jarvis (OLB, jr.); Sam Bednar (S, jr.)

PLYMOUTH - Will Horan (QB, sr.); Matt Bownes (OC, sr.); Brandon Goodale (FB, jr.); Calime Littlefield (DT, sr.); Ryan Farina (LB, jr.); John Thomas (LB, so.)

TRINITY - Austin Chambers (DB, so.); Tristen Theroux (LB, so.); Romeo Masuku (DB, jr.)

HC's Coach Picks 2011

As the season ends, I'd like to present to you the D IV - All Head Coach's Team. You may see some of these guys get All State honors as well. Many of my picks could go either side of the ball, this is just the team I would take to match up against any in the state.

 My personal picks.


Defense -

ILB - Dylan Drew - Lebanon - Big, Strong, Fast makes good reads. Would be the leader of my defense.
ILB - Ryan Carrier - Trinity - Good Tackler, big inside, plays fast between the hashes. Go ahead and try and run up the middle with these two.
OLB - Cole Brooker - Plymouth - Nose for the football and has exceptional quickness.
OLB - Jake Poulin - Monadnock - Snuck up on me this year. All 3 times I saw them play this kid was flying all over the place making plays.
LB - Nick Patterson - Monadnock - Another one you don't hear a whole lot about, but this kid flat out made plays this year for the Huskies.

DL - Alexander Morril - Lebanon - An absolute force to reckon with.
DL - Nick Dragon - Monadnock - Another force in the middle.
DL - John Thomas - Plymouth - Fast, tenacious, good tackler.

DE - Kyle Reisert - Plymouth - Tall, fast holds the edge well.
DE - Jackson Weeks - Laconia - Strong, focused, gets after the ball.

DB - Adam Chambers - Trinity - Plays the pass well and supports the Run.
DB - Ronnie Steele - Laconia

S - Romeo Masuku - Trinity - Big hitter, good hands, exceptional speed and agility.


Offense -

QB - Will Horan - Plymouth - Came up just a bit short in the title game but an outstanding season.
QB - Cody Thurston - MV - Nice mechanics, good pocket presence, excellent arm strength.

RB - Taylor Newberry - Plymouth - Had a truly amazing high school carreer. Plymouth will miss him next year.
RB - David Mahoney - Laconia - Probably the best pure running back in the Division and possibly the state.
RB - J. Lieby - Monadnock - Came on strong this year and had a fantastic senior season leading his team to the playoffs.
RB - Josh Hughes - Trinity -  What can you say that has not been said. Good hands, good speed, excellent power and leadership...the complete back.
RB - Nick Massa - Kennet

OL - Raige Hollis - Laconia - An absolute beast, who holds his blocks downfield.
OL - Billy Mahoney - Laconia - See above.
OL - Colin Bouchard - Trinity - Title anyone
OL - Sam Rainey - Trinity - see above
OL - Chris Henry - Lebanon - Versatile can play anywhere on the line, quick strong, plays through the whistle.

TE - Andrew Lauderdale - Trinity - Can block well, much better hands, big target.

WR - Dan Gorman - Hanover - Fast, Tall, can jump and has great hands.
WR - Justin Abbot - MV - Great hands, great routes.
WR- Cyrus Rothwell-Ferraris - Hanover - See Dan Gorman**

KR/PR - Shawn Cavallaro - Hanover - Great vision, Fast, Fast, Fast.

D IV Title game! Pioneer Power takes home the Title!

Pioneers cap a perfect season and take home the title...dominating and frustrating the Bobcats wire to wire.

I gotta tell ya, the way the wind was whipping and as cold as it ended up being with that wind chill at Gill on Saturday I'm amazed at how well the Pioneers threw the ball, but throw they did. Giampetruzzi showed poise and precision at the helm on Saturday and led his team to a 30-14 victory and the D IV State Championship.

Josh Hughes capped his outstanding high school carreer with 130 yards on the ground.

After a 3 and out by Plymouth on the opening drive, Trinity took the ball over around midfield and the train started chugging. 9 plays later and Giampetruzzi punches it in from the 1 yard line, failed 2 point conversion 6-0 Pioneers. The score stayed that way as the 1st quarter expired. While I don't have the time of possession it was clearly in favor of the Pioneers. The Bobcats simply could not get anything going early and they went 3 and out again on their 2nd possession.

Trinity responds with another time consuming drive mixing carries between Hughes, Chambers, and Masuku. Down at the 10 yard line of Trinity, Giampetruzzi hands off to Chambers around the edge for 10 yard TD run. 2 pt conversion later, and it's 14-0 Pioneers and the Plymouth faithful are silenced...but not for long.

3rd time was a charm for Plymouth, QB Will Horan starts to get it rolling a bit. Goodale, Newberry and Brooker, started to get a little flow to their game and the Bobcats put together a nice little drive capped by a counter to N. Riesert from 11 yards out for the score. Missed PAT and the game goes into halftime with Trinity up 14-6.

Now at this point, I had a deja -vous kind of feeling...(those of you who attended last year's championship game will appreciate this). Trinity came out and simply chunked away the yardage, controlled the clock in the first quarter and a half, jumping out to a 14-0 lead over Lebanon. They then allowed Lebanon to score just before the half and the game was all Lebanon in the 2nd half. It was an eerily similar situation as Plymouth rolled right down the field to get back in the game as the half closed...but the results were not to be the same this year.

As Trinity opens with the ball in the 3rd, it looks like more of the same, Hughes, Carrier, Chambers...chunk, chunk. Add a little Spread to the equation Giampetruzzi up the gut and Masuku for good measure every now and again. However, from inside the Plymouth 20, they go for it on 4th and short and Plymouth's John Thomas stuff it. Bobcats ball...oh my could this really be a deja vu?! Nope.

The Trinity D would not be denied, Will Horan scrambles to his left and throws a pass intended for Reisert and the ball floats on him a little bit. Trinity DB Masuku goes up for it and makes a spectacular one handed grab for the pick. Then while returning the pick is upended and appeared to tweak his leg as he returned the pick into Plymouth territory.

A few plays later and Hughes scampers into the end zone from 15 yards out to put the Pioneers up 22-6.

The Bobcats would not go quietly however, as on the next possesion, Brandon Goodale goes up the middle and makes a nice cut upfield, turns on the jets and just outruns a diving Hughes and scampers into the corner of the end zone for a 45 yard TD run. Newberry converts the 2 pt conversion 22-14 Pioneers.

Fourth Quarter, you're on your own 35, and you have 1 yard to go for a first. That's right, I said you're own 35. Punt or go for it...punt right? Nope not Coach Leonard...this is one where you're a genius if it works and your questioned forever if it comes back and bites you. Well, call Coach Leonard a genius...he goes for it and goes with his horse (Hughes) who rumbes 30 yards deep inside Plymouth territory. You could feel the wind come out of the Bobcats sails on that play. If that wasn't bad enough, their entire ship sank a couple plays later as Giampetruzzi throws a strike to a leaping Lauderdale who goes up and over Newberry to haul in a 15 yard TD Pass in the endzone. 2pt conversion later and you can now close the books on 2011. Congratulations to your undefeated 2011 Champion Trinity Pioneers!

Great Season guys and Gratz to both teams on a great title game and fantastic seasons!!!

Monadnock @ Trinity Playoff Preview

I was corrected early on this season to watch out for the Huskies of Monadnock. At the time I had not thought much of it and now I stand completely corrected. Coach P has his Huskies primed and ready for an upset against the Pioneers of Trinity. Lieby, Rehmer, Poulin, Dragon, Bednar, Bolewski (the mini and getting bigger Bus) are getting more and more write ups as the season flows through to the Playoffs. Frankly I've seen this team play twice this season. Both times I was fully impressed with the Defense of the Huskies. To a man they flow to the ball well. All 11 guys take good angles and pursue the play to the whistle. More importantly they never feel like they are out of a play. I remember back week 1 or 2 I was on the Husky sidelines and they were down to Plymouth in the 4th quarter by one score. I could hear Coach P yelling to his players as time was ticking down and they had the ball, "we need a hero, who wants it boys". Well they might not have gotten it that day, but this season these guys have shined.

Everyone expected the Pioneers to be tough, however, I don't know if we expected they'd be undefeated rolling into the playoffs. That said, the return of Masuku has provided them with some added speed and Carmen has been riding the helm of the Trinity Train like a veteran. Hughes and Chambers have had excellent years on both sides of the ball and are the true anchors of this team. The leadership they've shown to this young team has no doubt helped them win the tough ones. The return of Lauderdale to the lineup removes any question marks they may have had to their Offensive line and the Defense has been set since last year. Their Linebackers are right up their with the best the division has to offer.

Ultimately though, it's just like last year. Someone has to figure out a way to stop their methodical march downfield or it will be a well earned 13-0 championship for the Pioneers. The Huskies came close during the regular season, but it will take perfection on Saturday to stop this train. Can they do it, sure they can. The playoffs demand the best, anything less means a quick end to your season. I suspect though the home town Gill crowd, might be too much in this contest. Hughes and company on top 28-14.

Good luck to all !!!

Playoff Preview Laconia @ Plymouth

Laconia @ Plymouth - a Playoff preview
   
    What a game this will be! The Home team riding a 8-1 Record and oh so close to being undefeated. You've got two rockstar running backs in Taylor Newberry and Brandon Goodale. Newberry is extremely difficult to bring down due mainly to his incredibly high knees and powerful running style. Goodale is a speedster, who's got breakaway speed and excellent lateral quickness. Add to that Cole Brooker at FB lead blocking and giving a little smash mouth taste to this backfield and it's a dangerous trio to plan for defensively. Will Horan is throwing the ball smartly and with precision to some big wideouts (Reisert among them) who have great hands. Defensively they have a gang tackle mentality. Not a whole lot of solo tackles, but when an opposing ball carrier goes down it's in a veritable sea of Bobcats.
   
    We've talked about them a lot this year. The Sachems line might be the best in the D IV - Hollis, Mahoney, Chiasson, Grant, Mears, Hurley, and Weeks will be out for blood this game. Make no mistake that these guys took last game personally and they will leave it all on the field come Saturday. In the backfield you have probably the most versatile running back in the Division in David Mahoney who was hobbled in their last meeting but has been on a tear of late. An HC favorite in Ronnie Steele with speed and agility and the ability to break plays both out of the backfield and on special teams and Chris Frontiero has good speed as well. Scott Ruggieri has been leading the Sachem team well at QB and throwing the ball well all year. Add all that talent together and you go from Sachem Red to the big Red HURT!
   
    Plymouth found a way to win a few weeks ago, the question is can the magic happen twice. They have home field advantage which has been huge for these guys but the playoffs are a different animal. It's all going to come down to execution and limiting mistakes. Once the adrenaline fades and they settle in this will be one for the ages in this rivalry.

Week 9 on to the playoffs!

Laconia routes the Huskies 45 - 28 on senior night. The Mahoney brothers, combined for 6 TDs, 4 of them by David as Sachems controlled the trenches and ultimately controlled this one from the start. They left no doubt and made a statement with this win, that they will not be an easy out as they travel to Plymouth in the first round for a rematch against the rival Bobcats. This game could be one heck of a slugfest.



Trinity 43 Lebanon 7 - Without Zander Morril the young Raider Defense was overwhelmed. Drew had a very strong game defensively including a forced fumble for Lebanon, however, they were simply overwhelmed by a stacked Pioneers methodically marched up and down the field. Hughes and Chambers had big games for Trinity and they completed there undefeated regular season and now look forward to a 1st round playoff matchup against Monadnock this weekend.


Hanover ends their season in stellar fashion, chalking up their 4th win 56-20 over MV. The Marauders have built up some momentum for next season, as they've won 3 of their last 4 to close out 2011 and with a young team look for this exciting young team to make noise next year!

Kennet closes out their season with a win over winless Kingswood 42-21.

Plymouth rolls Stark 35-14 as they prepare for a 1st round match up against the Sachems this weekend. More on that one later.