Extra work proving positive for Souhegan football coaches

AMHERST – Mike Beliveau wondered something that all football coaches who participate in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl have likely thought.

Will 10 extra days of coaching be too much?

For Beliveau, and his Souhegan High School assistants who also participated, the answer so far has been no.

“I thought I would be tired and I thought it would set us behind,” Beliveau said. “Actually, because we practiced the defense we’re going to play this year, and the offense and some of the schemes we’re changing, we practiced that for 10 days at the Shrine game, we’re ahead of the game as coaches. We hit the ground running and I think its gone great.”

There was another concern for Beliveau. After spending a week and a half working with a team of all-stars, he opened the preseason with more inexperienced players than the Sabers have had in a while. But that hasn’t slowed Souhegan down in practice.

“In years past, we could put on the varsity travel bus, 35 kids who were ready to play ball,” Beliveau said. “That number right now might just be 25. We hope to still have 35, but we’re not there yet.”

While the Sabers have less depth at some of the skill positions, Beliveau likes the way the offensive line is shaping up. Souhegan returns four linemen with plenty of experience, and there could be as many as a dozen that could get varsity time this season.

“We have four pretty solid, experienced o-linemen,” Beliveau said. “Then players five through as many as 12 could develop into a starter or quality backup. That’s deeper than ever.”

Souhegan is scheduled to scrimmage at Bedford at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and the Sabers will once again take part in the Bo Dickson Memorial Queen City Jamboree on Friday, taking on Manchester West at 4:30 p.m. at Gill Stadium.