A way-too-early look at the 2019 football season

At some point during Championship Saturday, there was a question that was passed around the press box at Wildcat Stadium that seemed to stump everyone of whom it was asked.

Looking ahead to the 2019 football season, who would be the top returning quarterback in the state?

There was no consensus, but that's not because there aren't any talented signal callers returning next season. Rather, it's because there's a ton of experienced ones graduating.

That includes a handful of multiple-year starters, including Manchester Central's Alex Hawkom, Pinkerton's Aiden Goujon, Bedford's Thomas Morgan, Goffstown's Charlie Keith, Nashua North's Mike Loveless, Concord's Zach Miles, Windham's Cody Potter and Timberlane's Dan Hayes.

And that's just in Division I.

How much does having an experienced quarterback matter in New Hampshire high school football? Plymouth just won its third Division II title in a row with a sophomore starter in Cody Bannon, while Monadnock won the Division III title behind second-year starter Tim Santaw.

In D1, every championship team since 2013 won with a quarterback who had some starting experience heading into that championship season.

We won't know if that holds up until November of 2019, but we can guess. So assuming that there are no major changes to football by the NHIAA, here is what to look for next football season.

Division I

So who are the top returning quarterbacks in the division? There are a handful of them in the West Conference, where Merrimack's James Dowling and Nashua South's Dante Young were both juniors.

Bishop Guertin played two quarterbacks all season, with junior Hayden Moses and sophomore Joey DaSilva sharing time. North's Curtis Harris got a lot of time at quarterback, including a start in the Turkey Bowl, but if someone else emerges, the sophomore could go back to running back full time.

Goffstown sophomore Jarrett Henault started the Grizzlies' final three games of the year in place of an injured Keith, but the list is short after that.

If the division still has four conferences next season, the matchups are scheduled to be North vs. South and West vs. East. Both finalists, Pinkerton and Bedford, will be hit hard by graduation, as will Salem, Londonderry, Winnacunnet, North, Windham and Central.

That'll likely mean the road to the playoffs will be wide open. Here's the way-too-early prediction of what the D1 postseason will look like in 2019.

North/South cluster: Bedford, Pinkerton, Londonderry, Goffstown.

East/West cluster: Exeter, Merrimack, Nashua South, Nashua North.

Division II

When the 2017 season ended with Plymouth hoisting the championship trophy, the big question was would the Bobcats be able to reload and win a third title in a row. Here we are a year later, and Plymouth has done it again, and faces the same questions.

The safe bet is to assume Chris Sanborn and the Bobcats coaching staff will find a way to get Plymouth back to the postseason, and maybe even UNH. But the Bobcats won't be the team to beat.

That title should belong to Alvirne, which doesn't lose much to graduation, and will have sophomore quarterback Kyle Gora returning. Milford, which bounced back from a two-win season to make the playoffs, should be in the mix again with its quarterback, Gavin Urda, returning, along with a handful of others.

St. Thomas and Souhegan could take a dip, especially with the loss of quarterbacks Shawn DeKorne and John Lohnes, respectively, while Hollis Brookline could return to the playoffs.

Here's the way-too-early prediction of what the D2 postseason will look like in 2019.

Playoff teams: Alvirne, Plymouth, Milford, John Stark, Hollis Brookline, Hanover, Souhegan, Bow.

Division III

In the last three years, Monadnock has compiled a record of 31-2 in D3, but the Huskies did so behind a core of players that will be graduating in the spring. So while Monadnock, like Plymouth, will reload, it might not be as dominant as it has been.

Campbell will also lose some key seniors, but its core will still be around, led by Keegan Mills, Conor Sweeney and Carter Vedrani, and the Cougars likely enter 2019 as the favorite.

There will be plenty of team right behind Campbell and Monadnock, including fellow semifinalist Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, which will have Colby Quiet for another season. Trinity returns John Thibault and should be even better after returning to varsity football this season.

Somersworth, Laconia and Lebanon should also be in the mix for the top playoff spots.

Here's the way-too-early prediction of what the D3 postseason will look like in 2019.

Playoff teams: Campbell, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Trinity, Monadnock, Somersworth, Laconia, Lebanon, Kearsarge-Mount Royal.

Division IV

Winnisquam went undefeated behind a stellar year from sophomore quarterback Philip Nichols. With Nichols and a large supporting cast returning, the Bears likely are the favorite going into 2019.

Two other playoffs teams, Raymond and Newfound, also return a lot from this year and should be in the mix as well.

Playoff teams: Winnisquam, Newfound, Raymond, Bishops Brady.

Only 37 weeks until the start of the 2019 preseason.