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Pinkerton football aims for four-peat

They say repeating as champion is the toughest thing to do in sports.

Don't tell Pinkerton.

The three-time defending champions seem to have all the weapons they need to once again take the Division 1 title by force. Though leading stats men Pete Mazzola and Bobby Dattilo have graduated, there are number of players ready to step into their roles, as is usually the case with the Astros.

Eric Guinto leads a running back corps that's the right mix of speed and power, and Luke Somers and Ryan Simpson will be competent quarterbacks. Returning All-Division 1 linebacker Chris George will serve as the team's only captain.

Londonderry, meanwhile, lost some workhorses in oft-used backs Alex Theodhosi and Ryan Griffin, but Adam Bardwell and Anthony Terenzi are set to take their place. Again this year, the Lancers will have a strong offensive and defensive line setup to help the ball carriers.

Londonderry

2007 record: 7-4, lost in Division 1 semifinals

Returning starters (5): Sean Ryan, Sr., OL/DL, 6-3, 280; Alex Deyeso, Sr., OL/DL, 6-0, 250; Tom Manley, Sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 220; Bill White, Sr., FB/LB, 5-10, 210; Gary Glines, Sr., FB/DL, 5-10, 230

Returning lettermen: Conor McKinney, Sr., QB/DB, 5-10, 170; Kevin Hale, Jr., TE/LB, 6-4, 210; Anthony Terenzi, Sr., HB/LB 5-9, 190; Brandon Edgerly, Sr., TE/LB, 6-0, 210; Matt Hamilton, Sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 250; Josh Nitso, Sr., OL/DL, 6-3, 270

Newcomers: Joe McLaughlin, Jr., RB/DB, 5-10, 170; Jeff Dalzell, Sr., WR/DB, 5-10, 160; Kevin Garrabrant, Sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 220; Jason Silva, Jr., QB/DB, 6-2, 180; Jake Finnegan, Jr., TE/LB, 6-3, 210; Adam Bardwell, Sr., RB/DB, 5-9, 170

Candidates in all grades: 80

Captains: TBA

Offense: Single-wing; Defense: 46

Returning leaders: Adam Bardwell 2 TDs, 31-124-4.0 rushing; Conor McKinney 11-79-7.2 rushing; Kevin Hale 4-42-10.5 receiving

Returning honorees: Alex Deyeso, second-team All-Division 1; Gary Glines, honorable mention All-Division 1

Assistants: Mike Bicchieri, Russ Love, Jim Marron, Dave Gilmore, Rusty Brand (freshmen), Dave Barry (freshmen)

Opener: Friday at Winnacunnet at, 7 p.m.

Odds and ends: Jon Rich is taking over for Tom Sawyer, the only coach in the program's history. He had a stellar 182-90 record in 27 years as Londonderry's head coach. After a four-year stretch not making the playoffs, the Lancers lost in the semifinals the last two years. Sawyer's clubs won five titles (1998, 1996 in Division 1; 1988, 1986 and 1985 in Division 2) and were the runner-up five other times. ... Brown recruit Alex Theodhosi is virtually irreplaceable. He rushed for 2,041 yards last fall, becoming what is believed to be only the second back in area history to surpass 2,000 yards in a season. ... No returnee threw a varsity pass last year. ... Most of the players were on the Londonderry Jr. Lancers team that placed second at the 2004 National Youth Football Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla. ... Dave Gilmore, an Eagle-Tribune All-Star defensive back in 2002, has joined a staff which includes another Eagle-Tribune All-Star, Mike Bicchieri (1997).

Coach Jon Rich (first year): "We are expecting Adam Bardwell and Anthony Terenzi to lead a group we are looking to carry the load at running back. They are committed kids and tough runners. We have a lot of experience on the offensive line, and Matt Hamilton and Josh Nitso have looked very good. Bill White is our middle linebacker and he leads the pack on defense. Jake Finnegan is also looking strong at linebacker. A lot of our players will go both ways."

Pinkerton

2007 record: 9-2, Division 1 state champ

Returning starters (9): Colby Verge, Sr., RB/DB, 6-1, 180; Ali Bahremand, Sr., OL/LB, 6-2, 245; Chris George, Sr., FB/LB, 6-0, 200; Mark Maguire, Sr., RB/DB, 5-7, 155; Ryan Raymond, Sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 240; Shawn Clukey, Jr., WR/K, 5-10, 165; Matt Crow, Jr., OL/DL, 5-10, 245; Eric Guinto, Jr., RB/DB, 5-8, 155; Ben Proulx, Jr., TE/DL, 6-3, 205

Returning lettermen: G.J. Walker, Sr., WR/DB, 6-0, 175; Matt Mangano, Sr., RB/DB, 5-4, 155; Dennis Stevens, Sr., 6-0, 195; Ryan Simpson, Jr., QB/LB, 6-0, 210; Chris Trieb, Jr., OL/DL, 6-5, 290

Newcomers: Colton Desmarais, Sr., TE/DB, 5-11, 175; Sean Allen, Sr., WR/DB, 6-0, 180; Kyle Brand, Sr., WR/DB, 5-9, 170; Christian Diaz, Sr., RB/DB, 5-4, 160; Michael Morin, Sr., OL/LB, 5-7, 175; Mike Auger, Jr., RB/LB, 5-9, 160; Tom Giancola, Jr., OL/LB, 5-10, 230; Jeff Guilherme, Jr., RB/DB, 5-8, 155; Thor Johnson, Sr., OL/DL, 5-9, 240; Scott Lafleur, Jr., RB/DB, 5-8, 170; Andrew MacMillan, Jr., RB/LB, 5-9, 170; Aryn McCarthy, Jr., RB/DB, 5-9, 180; Erik Olson, Jr., TE/DL, 6-3, 175; Sam Peluso, Jr., RB/DL, 5-6, 160; Seth Richard, Jr., WR/DB, 6-2, 185; Sean Sebastian, Jr., OL/LB, 5-9, 195; Jake Somers, Jr., OL/DL, 6-1, 185; Mike Mazzola, Soph., RB/LB, 6-2, 185; Luke Somers, Soph., QB/DB, 5-10, 170; Zach Tulley, Soph., TE/LB, 6-0, 185

Candidates in all grades: 130

Captain: Chris George

Offense: Wing-T; Defense: Multiple 50

Returning leaders: Shawn Clukey 3 field goals; Eric Guinto 8 TDs, 74-618-8.4 rushing, 7-197-28.1, 1 TD catch; Matt Mangano 1 TD catch; Mike Mazzola 14-114-8.1 rushing; Luke Somers 1 of 2, 10 yards passing

Returning honorees: Chris George, All-Division 1; Eric Guinto, second-team All-Division 1; Colby Verge and Ben Proulx, honorable mention All-Division 1

Assistants: Bryon Murphy, Michael Gooden, Steve Tewksbury, Mike Wood, Roy Teresky, Joe Dudek

Opener: At Bishop Guertin Sept. 9,

Odds and ends: Brian O'Reilly trails only Plymouth's Chuck Lenahan (298-63-1) on the all-time New Hampshire wins list. O'Reilly has won nine titles, including the last three straight, and boasts a 9-1 record in title games. ... Luke Somers and Ryan Simpson are battling for the starting quarterback position. ... Chris George is the lone captain. O'Reilly said he doesn't remember the last time he had just one captain. But at least from 1998-07 he always had at least co-captains.

Coach Brian O'Reilly (31st year, 217-86): "We have picked up some nagging injuries to our starting backfield (Eric Guinto, Chris George and Colby Verge) this preseason. We are counting on Guinto strongly. (Transfer) Christian Diaz has looked very good so far. He has speed and sticks his nose in there. Mike Mazzola has also filled in well at fullback. Ryan Simpson and Luke Somers have both looked good at quarterback. Mark Maguire and Colton Desmarais have both stood out in the secondary, and Zach Tulley is a sophomore and has looked good at defensive end."