Quarterbacks lead the way in Division I football

There are several teams that could make an argument that they are the ones with the best shot at winning the Division I title in 2017.

One thing that almost all of those teams have in common is a returning starter at the quarterback position.

There are plenty of three-year varsity signal callers returning for a senior season, all with the same goal in mind.

Bedford, Salem, Nashua South and Winnacunnet all return quarterbacks with that much experience, while Dover, Bishop Guertin, Pinkerton, Timberlane and Manchester Central also have the luxury of experience.

Will other teams be able to overcome that? What other players, and from what other positions, will step up throughout the course of the year?

We will begin to find out when the season kickoffs on Friday.

Favorites

• Salem (6-4): The Blue Devils have almost their entire starting lineup back from the team that reached the quarterfinals a year ago. That includes quarterback/defensive back Matt Soldano, a three-year starter, and running back Josh Sibanda, who will be in the mix for Division I Player of the Year.
• Nashua South (6-4): The Panthers came on strong at the end of 2016, giving Exeter a scare in the quarterfinals. South has some holes to fill on defense, but the key contributors are there, including quarterback Sean Holland and offensive standouts Derek Downing, Owen Amigo, Tony Agor and Taevon Olson.
• Bedford (12-0): The Bulldogs took a big hit, losing almost two dozen seniors, but like it always had, Bedford reloads. Conor Robert is back for his third season at quarterback and he has some big weapons in Noah Chaberek and Thomas Norfleet. Spencer Adams is back to lead the defense.
• Exeter (10-2): After finishing as the runner-up in each of the last two years, the Blue Hawks will be hungry for a third shot at a title. Exeter has one of the biggest programs, both in numbers and size of players, including Willem Froumy, who has committed to play at Syracuse.

Contenders

• Manchester Central (5-4): The Little Green have a handful of experienced players returning, with quarterback Alex Hawkom, running back Jeremyah Rivera and receiver Jeremy Chandler.
• Merrimack (9-2): No team lost as many starters as the Tomahawks, but they've got one of the best players in the state back in running back/defensive back Joe Eichman.
• Dover (6-3): The Green Wave were one play away from a playoff berth last year, their first since moving up to D1. Dover should be in contention again, led by returning quarterback Carson Webb.
• Bishop Guertin (6-4): The Cardinals high-powered offense is hard to stop, with quarterback Sam Raitt leading the way. The senior has improved when it comes to reading defenses and has a stable of receivers to throw to. The big question mark for Bishop Guertin will be on defense.

Dark Horses

• Goffstown (7-3): While the Grizzlies still look like a work-in-progress on offense, their defense returns some important players that should keep them in the mix. Included in that group are Andrew Duval, Joey Poisson and Adam Moses.
• Winnacunnet (3-6): Like so many other teams in the division, the Warriors have their starting quarterback returning, as Patrick MacDougall is back for his third year as a varsity starter.
• Nashua North (8-3): The Titans suffered some big blows to graduation, but with senior running back RJ Jenkins leading the way, North might be able to make some noise as a potential playoff team.

East Conference

(Predicted order of finish, last year's record)

• Exeter (10-2, lost in final)
• Dover (6-3)
• Winnacunnet (3-6)
• Portsmouth (5-4)
• Spaulding (0-9)

North Conference

• Bedford (12-0, won Division I title)
• Manchester Central (5-4)
• Goffstown (7-3, lost in quarterfinals)
• Concord (2-7)
• Manchester Memorial (0-9)

Games to watch: Manchester Central at Exeter, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.; Dover at Winnacunnet, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.; Concord at Goffstown, Sept. 2, 1:30 p.m.; Goffstown at Dover, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.; Manchester Central at Manchester Memorial, Sept. 9, 2 p.m.; Goffstown at Exeter, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Bedford at Winnacunnet, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Winnacunnet at Exeter, Sept. 23, 2:30 p.m.; Exeter at Bedford, Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.; Manchester Central at Dover, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.; Bedford at Goffstown, Oct. 7, 1:30 p.m.; Goffstown at Manchester Central, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; Dover at Exeter, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; Winnacunnet at Manchester Central, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.; Portsmouth at Dover, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

South Conference

• Salem (6-4, lost in quarterfinals)
• Merrimack (9-2, lost in semifinals)
• Pinkerton (4-5)
• Londonderry (2-7)
• Timberlane (2-7)

West Conference

• Nashua South (6-4, lost in quarterfinals)
• Bishop Guertin (6-4, lost in quarterfinals)
• Nashua North (8-3, lost in semifinals)
• Keene (3-6)
• Alvirne (1-8)

Games to watch: Salem at Nashua South, Sept. 1, 7 p.m.; Londonderry at Bishop Guertin, Sept. 2, 6 p.m.; Nashua South at Pinkerton, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.; Bishop Guertin at Merrimack, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.; Pinkerton at Salem, Sept. 16, 2 p.m.; Nashua South at Nashua North, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.; Londonderry at Pinkerton, Sept. 22, 7 p.m.; Nashua North at Merrimack, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.; Bishop Guertin at Pinkerton, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.; Salem at Bishop Guertin, Oct. 7, 6 p.m.; Merrimack at Salem, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; Nashua North at Bishop Guertin, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.; Londonderry at Nashua South, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.; Pinkerton at Merrimack, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.; Bishop Guertin at Nashua South, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.

Playoffs

The division is divided into two clusters (East-North and South-West for 2017) and the top teams from each conference makes the postseason as the top two seeds in the cluster. The next two best teams in each cluster also advance.

East-North cluster: Bedford, Exeter, Dover, Manchester Central.

South-West cluster: Salem, Nashua South, Merrimack, Bishop Guertin.

Championship: Salem over Bedford.