Young Souhegan football growing up faster than expected

There were a few things that Robin Bowkett knew about his Souhegan High School football team before anyone ever set foot on a field this season.

The Sabers had only two starters back from last year's Division II championship team, the program's first title since 2010, and the players who were going to be stepping into starting roles not only lacked experience, but were also young.

And the thing with underclassmen, they usually aren't as big as juniors and seniors.

Despite that, Bowkett and his coaching staff treated the players like they would any other year.

"We knew we had two returning starters coming back and we knew we were going to be young, maybe on the smaller side," the coach said. "If we allow that to be a crutch, we’re already making excuses before the season has already started. What we demand is what we’re going to get.

"If we demand them to give everything that they have and listen to their coaches and play with maximum effort and play for their brothers, then that’s what we’re going to get. If we’re already making excuses before the season starts, then we’re going to be pretty average. That’s not what we want to do. That’s not our standard that we set."

By Bowkett's count, there are 58 players on the Souhegan roster this year - varsity and junior varsity combined - and only eight of them are seniors. With over 40 players at the seventh- and eighth-grade level right now, the Sabers appear to be set for quite some time.

And it's not just the numbers, but who is contributing. That starts with freshman quarterback Romy Jain, who was 13 of 15 passing for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the team's 27-20 win over Hanover last Friday.

"It is any coach’s dream, especially in the state of New Hampshire, where if you can throw the ball just a little bit, you’re going to be in good company," Bowkett said of Jain. "He gets better and better every day. He’s like a coach on the field. We keep his head on straight and keep him grounded. He could be a legend here if we wants to."

Two of Jain's touchdown passes went to players who will be back next year, sophomore Cole Manning and junior Madux McGrath. And then there's sophomore JJ Bright, who rushed for 128 yards on 10 carries, including a 76-yard sprint that turned into the game-winning score.

Junior Charlie Maroun added an interception on Hanover's final drive that ended the game.

And it's not like Souhegan (4-3) isn't getting contributions from its seniors, as co-captains Dylan Button, Mitch Hauser and Tony Garrant - along with junior co-captain Brady Melvin - have played key roles all year.

Souhegan looked like it might be in for a long night against Hanover, after the Marauders opened the game with a drive that last more than nine minutes. The Sabers didn't do themselves any favors on their first drive, getting called for two holds and an illegal formation, which came on a fourth down play that it looked like they had picked up.

But on fourth-and-14, Jain hit McGrath for a 20-yard gain and a first down at the Marauders' 21-yard line. The second hold set up a third-and-24 from the Hanover 35, but Jain connected with Garrant to pick up 18, and then on fourth down, hit McGrath for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the game.

"We didn’t help ourselves on that first drive," Bowkett said. "We had some killer penalties that pushed us back. We kept chipping away and making plays, and I’m really proud of them for that. Especially that first drive, where it’s a (nine)-minute drive, we have to tell them we don’t need it all on one play. There is plenty of football left. Be patient, take what they give us, and our guys did a great job executing, moving the chains and got it in the end zone."

Now Souhegan will get an unexpected break, as this week's game at Manchester West won't be played after the Blue Knights went into a 10-day COVID-19 pause that began last Friday. West also had its game at Milford cancelled last week.

"We can only control what we can control and us going 1-0 (on Friday) is the best way for us to control the next week," Bowkett said. "If we don’t win, that’s on us."

Souhegan will end the regular season at Bow on Oct. 30.