Who will win in Week 1? Our fearless predictions for Seacoast high school football games
Week 1 of the fall football season featuring Seacoast area high school teams officially started Thursday night when Exeter High School hosted Timberlane, and Traip Academy traveled to Old Orchard Beach in Maine.
Friday's slate of games highlights two Seacoast rivalry games as Portsmouth/Oyster River visits Spaulding, and Dover visits Winnacunnet in Division I action.
Other Friday games include Marshwood hosting Deering in a Class B battle, and St. Thomas Aquinas visiting Merrimack Valley in a Division II contest.
On Saturday, York High School visits Cheverus in a Class C tilt. Somersworth, the reigning two-time Division IV state champions, begins its season a week from Saturday at Newfound.
Here is a look at this week's games with our predictions:
Timberlane at Exeter
Kickoff: Thursday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: It was a heartbreaking playoff defeat for Exeter at the hands of Timberlane in a Division I quarterfinal last fall. The visiting Owls won on a successful two-point conversion attempt to go ahead 29-28 with 38 seconds remaining and hung on for the win.
The two teams open the season against each other at the same field on Thursday in what should shape up to be one of the top games of the week in Division I.
Exeter head coach Bill Ball said it's always important for teams to get off on the right foot.
Ball's keys to be successful on Thursday will be to contain Timberlane's running game, and for the Blue Hawks to hold onto the football in their running game.
Defensively, the Beem twins - Issac and Eli - will lead Exeter, while senior Evan Delorie is expected to be the workhorse in the Blue Hawk backfield. In last season's opener, Delorie returned a kick 90 yards for a score on his first varsity snap.
Coach's comment: "It's the first game of the year, so we have to make sure our kicking game is solid along with our offense and defense," Ball said. "We have to make sure they gel together well. We have to be clean in those areas for sure. We have to tackle well, especially in the second and third levels, and continue to improve offensively."
Our prediction: This game will be a battle for both teams, and it will come down to who can limit the other's running attack. Exeter 20, Timberlane 19.
Follow on Twitter: @brandonbrownSC1
— Brandon Brown
Traip Academy at Old Orchard Beach
Kickoff: Thursday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: In what will probably be Traip Academy's toughest game of the season, and on the road at that, the Rangers' opening game won't be an easy one against the reigning Maine 8-Maine Small state champions.
Additionally, Old Orchard Beach is returning many starters from last season's team. Traip Academy head coach Eric Lane said the team has their work cut out for them and he'll see what they are made of right off the bat.
Lane said Traip's success will start with being consistent and disciplined, and not make mental mistakes.
Cornerback Chris Balano and defensive end/tight end Colin O'Laughlin are two players Lane said are capable of putting together nice performances on the road this week.
Our prediction: Traip Academy will battle and give all it can, but Old Orchard Beach, with returning a bulk of its starters, will prove to be too much to overcome for the up-and-coming Rangers. Old Orchard Beach 52, Traip Academy 12
— Brandon Brown
Deering at Marshwood
Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m.
Breakdown: When the Hawks host the Rams in a Class B South matchup, the season-opener features two teams that are meeting for the first time in three years.
Both clubs are coming off down seasons; Marshwood finished 2-7 last year while Deering went 1-7 and was shut out five times.
“From the scrimmage films we exchanged they’ve got some good athletes as you would expect,” said Marshwood coach Alex Rotsko. “When we played them three years ago, they had some very good athletes. They have a new coaching staff so I’m sure they’ll have some surprises for us as well.”
The Hawks hope last season was an anomaly and are anxious to get back to their winning ways after ending 2022 on a four-game losing streak. Getting off to a good start would be a step in the right direction.
“I think it’s huge from a confidence standpoint,” Rotsko said. “The coaching staff and players alike are waiting to see what happens Friday. We want that first game to go well.”
Marshwood’s defensive line, anchored by three-year starter and captain Riley Parnham, is expected to be a strength. Offensively, the Hawks will feature a balanced attack quarterbacked by junior Tyler Hussey who missed all but the final three games last season with a broken leg.
Overall, Rotsko liked what we saw from his players during the preseason.
“I think the biggest thing is attention to detail and they just seem more invested than last year,” he said. “I think part of it’s maturity. We had a lot of young kids that played last year. That jump from sophomore to junior is usually the biggest jump and I’ve seen that in a number of kids.”
Prediction: The Hawks will come out strong and put up multiple scores in each half, while holding Deering to a pair of scores. Marshwood, 28-12
Follow on Twitter: @AlPikeSMG2
— Al Pike
More: 19 Seacoast football offensive players to watch in 2023 from 10 high schools
St. Thomas Aquinas at Merrimack Valley
Kickoff: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
The breakdown: In a game where both teams are looking to establish their identities, St. Thomas and Merrimack Valley will square off in what will likely be a close contest.
The Saints went 4-6 last year, but opened their season with a 12-9 overtime win over Merrimack Valley at home. This year, the Saints travel to Merrimack Valley. STA coach Ed McDonough expects the Pride to be out for revenge, but also expects his team to be ready.
“I think they'll want to get back at us for beating them last year,” he said. “I think we're two pretty evenly-matched teams, and this is a game they're going to want to win at home. They’ve got a couple good running backs and a good senior quarterback.”
McDonough said the key for his team defensively will be to get stops on the early downs and force Merrimack Valley into third-and-long situations where they will have to throw the ball.
“I’m not a coach who focuses on stopping one guy,” McDonough said. “But we do know what their favorite plays are, and we want to take those away.”
Offensively, McDonough said the Saints have to rely on quarterback Michael Skowron, along with the running back stable of Timmy Avery, Trent Salyards and Sam Grondin to set the tone.
“We need to give those guys room to run, and we need to stop the run defensively,” McDonough said. ”That’s what it comes down to. I think special teams is often overlooked, but that will be a factor. We have an excellent field goal kicker (Lucas Spinelli) and we can take advantage of him. We have to control the ball and win the field position battle.”
Prediction: The game will be a hard-fought, low-scoring battle, and special teams will indeed come into play. St. Thomas’ four-pronged rushing attack will wear down Merrimack Valley and the Saints will win on a late field goal. St. Thomas Aquinas, 16-13.
— Terrill Covey
Portsmouth/Oyster River at Spaulding
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: One of the two battles between two Seacoast teams takes place in Rochester where the ClipperCats take on Spaulding in what is an important showdown early in the year for both teams.
"Obviously, (Portsmouth/Oyster River) is a very talented team and has a lot of guys back from last year's roster," Spaulding head coach Kevin Hebert said. "They're usually very skilled and very physical, and on the film I've seen of them so far that looks to be the same. We know we're going to have to take care of the football this week, obviously, and the first game is always a wild card."
Spaulding defeated Portsmouth last season, 12-10 with a fourth quarter rally. This year's game could hold the same type of excitement.
Hebert said offensively it starts with his quarterback Kaiden Melendez, and the three running back trio of Seth Cortina, Hunter Trueman and Zach Lynch.
"Those four guys all played last year and all came back as varsity starters," Hebert said. "I'm going to be leaning on those guys early on."
Hebert also mentioned Jackson Rup to make major contributions on Friday as well.
"Tough matchup, (Spaulding's) smash-mouth offense gives a lot of problems to a lot of players; they run it extremely well.," Portsmouth/Oyster River head coach Brian Pafford said. "They have a stable of running backs who are going to be hard to stop. They also have a quarterback who has three years of experience; he can hurt you with his feet and make the throws when he has to. The No. 1 problem with them is stopping that offense."
Portsmouth/Oyster River has a good group returning well, and its defense, led by inside linebacker Cole McLaughlin, will be tough to move the ball against consistently,
Offensively, Pafford said the ClipperCats have to mix it up.
"We're going to have to attack the field all over, throw the ball a little bit and complete some stuff to open up some of the running lanes," Pafford said. "Spread them out the best way we can to give our guys some space to make some plays."
Expect ClipperCats captains Dom Buono, Max Durkin, Angus Moss and McLaughlin to lead the way for Portsmouth.
Prediction: This game could mirror last season's game in terms of low scoring, and it could come down to which team has the ball last. Portsmouth-Oyster River 14, Spaulding 10.
Follow on Twitter: @brandonbrownSC1
— Brandon Brown
More: 18 Seacoast football defensive players to watch in 2023 from 10 high schools
Dover at Winnacunnet
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m.
The breakdown: These two rivals met in last year’s season opener, and they will also kick off the 2023 against each other.
“I don’t know if we’ve had many easy Dover games,” Winnacunnet head coach Ryan Francoeur said. “It’s always a tough game. We’ve played against each other enough times where we know what to expect from each other.”
After a couple of preseason scrimmages, Dover head coach Eric Cumba likes where his team as a new year is set to start.
"It’s absolutely critical to get off to a good start,” said Cumba, entering his fifth season as Dover’s head coach. “We have to make sure we’re staying focused on what is in front of us and take care of ourselves both physically and mentally week by week.”
The game will feature a reunion of sorts for Dover senior running back Syncere Bailey, who played for Winnacunnet last year.
“(Bailey) has acclimated himself to the program pretty nicely,” Cumba said. “The kids are really helping him along through the process of understanding the way we do things around here. He’s been a pleasure to get to know.”
Two freshmen – Ben Allen and Amari Lewis – have earned starting spots with Dover.
“Two very good football players who have come in right away and have shown they deserve the opportunity to play varsity football,” Cumba said.
Allen will start at wide receiver, while also getting some snaps on defense. Lewis, the son of former UNH standout running back Stephan Lewis, is expected to start on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: Dover beat Winnacunnet, 14-0 in last year’s opener. Look for the Green Wave to more than double that output against an inexperienced Warriors’ team this year. Dover 38, Winnacunnet 6
Follow on Twitter: @JayPinceSMG
— Jay Pinsonnault
York at Cheverus
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
The breakdown: The Wildcats ended the 2022 season with a 30-12 loss in the playoffs to Cheverus. They will have their hands full with the Stags on the road. The key for York, according to coach Matt Nelson, is being able to contain Cheverus’ power-running game as well as their play-action passing attack.
The Wildcats will lean defensively on senior captains Ben Ronca (defensive tackle) and Ben Orso (inside linebacker), senior safety Brody Gullison, and cornerbacks senior Gavin Davis and sophomore Brady Higgins. The secondary is the team’s strength.
Offensively, Gullison and Orso will be the main backs behind first-year quarterback in junior Peter Martin. Davis moves from quarterback to wide receiver where he is a dynamic runner in open space. Nelson said he doesn’t typically like to use his quarterback on defense, but Davis was too good in the secondary to ignore so they made the change.
Coach’s comment: “It’s going to be a good test for us," Nelson said. "They’re a tough team. They do what they do really well. It’s going to be a drag-out, knock-down slugfest. … A lot of it, like any other team, is going to come down to injuries. I think as each week goes on we’re going to get better, we’re going to be competitive.”
Our prediction: Stags too much to handle in the opener. Cheverus 26, York 15
Follow on Twitter: @mwhaley25
— Mike Whaley
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast high school football predictions: Who will win in week 1
