HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: BILL HOPE HAS KEENE READY FOR WEEK 1

Tis the season. Two games tonight and two more Saturday will ring in the year in high school football in the Monadnock Region. Helmets have gained decals, playbooks have been memorized — it’s time to turn on the lights. Bill Hope has experienced countless game days with Keene High; this time, the keys to the car are in his hand. After years as an assistant coach, he will make his head coaching debut tonight when the Blackbirds host Merrimack at 7 at Alumni Field. “It’s like something you have wanted for a long, long time,” said Hope. “Like the muscle car you always dreamed of having, then you finally get behind the wheel. It’s finally that time, and I’m really looking forward to driving.” Hope hovered during the Blackbirds’ Thursday walk-through, covering every X and O. There was a pep in his step and an ease reverberated through practice. The Birds had a bit of fun, allowing offensive lineman Dylan Maggert to return punts. There is, after all, a lot of confidence in Blackbird camp coming off a 3-6 campaign. Third-year quarterback Sean Corrigan leads an offense that expects to put up points with Cam Wilhelm and Jamie Therrien packing the punch in a power run game. Defensively, the Birds are taking a simplified “do your job” approach. The biggest challenge tonight will be shutting down Merrimack’s star receiver/running back Joe Eichman. The shifty flanker has already been offered a scholarship by Division I Bryant. Merrimack, a Division I semifinalist last season, finished the regular season 8-1, but the Tomahawks return just two starters. “We feel like we match up man-to-man with them,” said Hope. “If you go across the board, we feel good 11-on-11.” Hope expects Merrimack to come out gunning, targeting Eichman and looking for the big play through the air. “We’re going to be patient and maintain,” he said. “We want to take away big plays and grind them into third and longs. That’s when we can attack.” In other action tonight, ConVal will travel to Milford for a Division II South showdown. Both teams were knotted at 6-3 last season, with the Cougars missing out on the playoffs. ConVal Coach Paul Landau said the key to tonight’s game will be discipline. “It’s about being where we need to be on defense,” said Landau, entering his fourth season at the helm. “(Milford) will lull you a bit with their offense then hit you, so guys have to stay at home.” The Cougars will rely on a veteran core at linebacker in Jake Phillips and Andrew Stockwell to stop Milford’s wing-t offense. Up front, two-time all-state defensive tackle Dan Curran is expected to do “Dan Curran things,” as Landau put it. Saturday, two other local coaches will make their head coaching debuts. Ryan Avery and Monadnock will travel to face Newfound while Orion Binney leads Fall Mountain against IL-Moultonborough in Meredith.THE PICKS Keene over Merrimack — There are lot of new faces in that Merrimack offense. Meanwhile, Sean Corrigan takes the first snap of the season for the third time as a Blackbird. Keene has Hope. ConVal over Milford — Defensive tackle Dan Curran gets a good jump on matching his 22 tackles for a loss from last season and the rest of the Cougars front seven makes a statement against a perennial playoff contender. IL-Moultonborough over Fall Mountain — Could not think of a worse draw for the Wildcats to open the season. IL-M has been to the Division III final each of the last two years. Fall Mountain is due, but not this week. Monadnock over Newfound — Names change, but things stay the same for the Huskies, who will ground and pound out their first win in the Ryan Avery era.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: BILL HOPE HAS KEENE READY FOR WEEK 1

Photo Credit: Keene Athletics

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