> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Windham, John Stark lead preseason favorites in Division II football - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/windham-john-stark-lead-preseason-favorites-division-ii-football/ - Published: 2016-09-01T14:00:44.000Z - Updated: 2016-09-01T14:00:44.000Z - Description: In a division that went through the most change during the offseason, it's a familiar group that looks to be the favorite. After reaching the Division II title game in each of the last two seasons, the Windham High School football team appears to be the one everyone else in the division is looking t - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division II, Bow, ConVal, football, Gilford-Belmont, Hanover, Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, Hollis Brookline, John Stark, Kennett, Kingswood, Laconia, Lebanon, Manchester West, Merrimack Valley, Milford, Pelham, Pembroke, Plymouth, Sanborn, slider, Souhegan, St. Thomas, Trinity, Windham, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 In a division that went through the most change during the offseason, it's a familiar group that looks to be the favorite. After reaching the Division II title game in each of the last two seasons, the Windham High School football team appears to be the one everyone else in the division is looking to knock off. The Jaguars, who won the title in 2014, have 15 starters back from last year's team that went 9-2 and made a run to the championship game, where they lost to St. Thomas. To get back to the top, Windham will have to go through a stacked South Conference that not only includes the Saints, but also Souhegan and Milford - playoff teams from a year ago - along with Trinity and ConVal, which should contend for the postseason. While the North Conference doesn't appear to be as deep, it seems to boast the best player in the division in John Stark quarterback Drew McQuarrie. The senior leads a team that went 5-3 a year ago, just the second winning season in program history, and a playoff appearance for the Generals would be a first. Lebanon, Plymouth and Kennett should also contend for postseason spots from the North. ### North Conference (Predicted order of finish, last year's record) 1. John Stark (5-3) 2. Lebanon (5-4, lost in quarterfinals to Windham) 3. Plymouth (4-4) 4. Kennett (8-2, lost in semifinals to Windham) 5. Laconia (4-5) 6. Bow (8-2 in Division III) 7. Merrimack Valley (3-5) 8. Kingswood (3-5) 9. Pembroke (1-7) 10. Hanover (2-6) 11. Gilford-Belmont (2-6 in Division III) **Notes:** John Stark, which has never made the postseason in program history, returns one of the top players in the state in quarterback Drew McQuarrie, who has committed to play at Boston College. ... Lebanon's strength will be its offensive backfield, with running backs Ryan Milliken and Matt Eylander teaming up with quarterback Caleb Broughton. ... After winning the 2013 title, Plymouth has gone 4-4 in each of the last two seasons. ... Kennett has won 17 of 20 games the last two years, but the core of that group graduated in the spring. ... Laconia has been in the hunt for a playoff spot in each of the last two seasons, but the Sachems could fall back in this year's pack. ... Bow moves up from Division III after going 28-4 and winning the title in 2013\. ... Evan Martin could be a standout player on defense for Merrimack Valley. ... Kingswood goes into the season with a new coach, as Justin Leonard takes over on the sideline. ... Pembroke will also have a new coach this year, with Larry McElreavy going from D3 champion Newport to the Spartans. ... Hanover returns quarterback Connor Stafford and four starting offensive linemen, but depth is an issue. ... Gilford added players from Belmont to form a co-op team this season, leading to the move up from D3. **Games to watch:** Kennett at Plymouth, Sept. 10; John Stark at Lebanon, Sept. 16; Kennett at Lebanon, Sept. 30; Plymouth at John Stark, Oct. 15; Lebanon at Plymouth, Oct. 22. ### South Conference (Predicted order of finish, last year's record) 1. Windham (9-2, lost in title game to St. Thomas) 2. ConVal (2-6) 3. Souhegan (7-2, lost in quarterfinals to Milford) 4. Milford (8-2, lost in semifinals to St. Thomas) 5. St. Thomas (11-0, won Division II title) 6. Trinity (4-4) 7. Hollis Brookline (2-6) 8. Sanborn (3-5) 9. Pelham (0-8) 10. Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton (NA) 11. Manchester West (0-8) **Notes:** Windham has one of the biggest program's in the state, with 97 players on the roster, and the Jaguars have lost just six games in the last four seasons. ... ConVal's schedule and it's plethora of returning players - led by quarterback Dan Spezzaferri and receivers Liam Baldwin and Isaac Bacon - make it a potential playoff team. ... Souhegan lost a lot of seniors from last year's playoff team, but the Sabers have reloaded with running backs Dante Savo, Kyle Archambault and Samuel Ezequelle. ... Milford has plenty of holes to fill on offense, but some big players capable of doing it, including fullback Teagan Vitali (5-11, 220), tight end Ryan Camirand (6-4, 195) and tackle Michael Boucher (6-2, 260). ... St. Thomas lost the core group that led the Saints to two straight title games and has just six total starters. ... Trinity has a new coach in Rob Cathcart, who was at Pembroke last season and used to coach at Goffstown. ... Hollis Brookline has 11 seniors back, but it's top player could be junior defensive lineman Clem Sherwood. ... Sanborn had hosted a playoff game in each of the previous two seasons before slipping back in 2015\. ... Pelham also has a new coach, as Tom Babaian returns to lead the Pythons, who have gone 2-14 since moving up from D3\. ... H-D/Hopkinton is in its first season as a varsity team after going 7-0 last year against junior varsity squads. ... Manchester West has playmakers in Mac Maheux and Tyrese Harris, but the Blue Knights need to fix a defense that gave up 51 points per game last season. **Games to watch:** Milford at Windham, Sept. 10; Windham at Souhegan, Sept. 23; Souhegan at Milford, Sept. 30; St. Thomas at Windham, Oct. 1; ConVal at St. Thomas, Oct. 22; Windham at ConVal, Oct. 28. **Key crossover games:** Souhegan at John Stark, Sept. 3; St. Thomas at Kennett, Sept. 23; Windham at Lebanon, Oct. 15; Plymouth at Milford, Oct. 28. ### Playoffs This season, the top team in each conference makes the postseason, followed by the next six best teams, based on NHIAA Football Rating, regardless of conference. **Conference winners:** Windham, John Stark. **Remaining six:** ConVal, Souhegan, Milford, Lebanon, Plymouth, St. Thomas. **Championship game:** Windham over John Stark.