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# A look at some of the top performers in New Hampshire football in 2018
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/a-look-at-some-of-the-top-performers-in-new-hampshire-football-in-2018/
- Published: 2018-11-28T14:30:04.000Z
- Updated: 2018-11-28T14:30:04.000Z
- Description: Here are my choices for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year from three football divisions for 2018.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Fall Sports, awards, Coach of the Year, Division I, Division II, Division III, football, Player of the Year, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

Here are my choices for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year from three football divisions for 2018.

### Division I

**Player of the Year:** Ryan Toscano, Bedford.

After spending last season as a backup on offense and out of position on defense, Toscano exploded onto the scene as a senior from the first game of the year and maintained that level the whole way through. While he was a threat to score every time he touched the ball, Toscano might have been more valuable to the Bulldogs on defense. Whenever Bedford needed a big play or a stop, Toscano was in the middle of it.

Toscano gets the nod ahead a handful of outstanding players, including Pinkerton's Gannon Fast, Nashua North's Curtis Harris, Merrimack's Ben Eichman and Londonderry's Evan Cormier,

**Coach of the Year:** Rob Pike, Salem.

Always a hard choice, but this year seemed even more so, with Kip Jackson of Merrimack and Justin Hufft of Goffstown making surprise runs to the playoffs. Bill Raycraft nearly got Windham there, too, in its first season in D1, while Londonderry's Jimmy Lauzon turned in a great year. Derek Stank of Bedford and Brian O'Reilly of Pinkerton also deserve a ton of credit for what they did with their respective teams this year.

But the final choice is Pike, who lost some really big pieces from a final four team in 2017 to graduation, and then lost key seniors throughout the season, including Josh Maron, Dom Paci and Riley Mulvey for all or part of the year. Despite that, Salem was a playoff team for the fourth year in a row and once again made it to the semifinals.

### Division II

**Player of the Year:** Owen Brickley, Plymouth.

In his senior, Brickley was a one-man wrecking crew for the Bobcats, leading the offense with his speed and versatility running the ball. In three playoffs games, he rushed for over six hundred yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Brickley was also a key part of Plymouth's defense and special teams.

Brickley is the pick in D2 over several other deserving players, including St. Thomas' Shawn DeKorne, Alvirne's Kyle Gora and Manchester West's Jaymeson Maheux.

**Coach of the Year:** Keith Jones, Milford

Coming off a two-win season, and losing a lot to graduation, Jones helped lead the Spartans back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015\. A big reason Milford was able to get there was the coach's ability to once again put in an offense that best fits his players, as the Spartans went to more of an option game this season behind quarterback Gavin Urda.

Jones is the pick ahead of a handful of other deserving candidates, including Plymouth's Chris Sanborn, Alvirne's Tarek Rothe, Bow's Paul Cohen and Souhegan's Robin Bowkett.

### Division III

**Player of the Year:** Colby Quiet, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton.

While other players around the division got more headlines, Quiet did just about everything on the field for the Redhawks. The team's leading rusher, the junior was also a reliable receiver in the passing game. He was also a leader on the HDH defense and played a big part on special teams.

Quiet is the pick over some strong competition, including Monadnock's Chandler Matson, Campbell's Keegan Mills, Laconia's Jacob Steele and Trinity's Josh Thibault.

**Coach of the Year:** Jay Wood, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton.

In just three years, Wood has helped lead the Redhawks from a team playing a junior varsity schedule to a program that won the program's first playoff game and reached the semifinals. HDH's seven wins this season was also a program best.

While Wood is the pick in D3, Monadnock's Ryan Avery, Campbell's Glen Costello and Trinity's Rob Cathcart also deserve consideration.

***Editor's Note:*** There are no awards for Division IV because I did not see any action from D4 this season and do not feel I can fairly evaluate the division. If you have questions, or would like to complain, send an email to nhhighschoolsports@gmail.com.