Claremont
Before the 2016 season began, the Stevens High Cardinals, with a roster full of returning talented veterans, were the preseason choice for a possible NHIAA Division III title run. After a couple of bumps in the road during the regular season, they won three consecutive playoff games, culminating in the program’s first football title in more than six decades.
A series of parades, parties, and appearances at a minor league baseball game followed. It ended this spring when the team was presented with World Series-like rings.
But now, the football Cards are going from a team of grizzled gridsters to greenhorns.
And there is something more.
“We’ll have a target on our back,” said Aidan Cahill, a returning senior lineman. “There’s lots of pressure on a returning state champion.”
The Cardinals began workouts on Wednesday and commence their regular season on Sept. 2 at Mascoma. There’s plenty of work in store.
“It will be a challenge,” Stevens coach Paul Silva understated.
Silva first joined the Stevens football program when the school opted to drop varsity football in 2002 and went to a junior varsity team for two seasons. Silva was an assistant from 2004-10 before taking the varsity reins in 2011. His teams have been 33-24, and the Cards reached the D-III title game in 2013.
Silva’s challenge comes from knowing that graduation and a key departure to a private school took away most of last year’s offense and some key components on defense. Gone is Richard Bell and his 18 touchdowns and 955 rushing yards. Gone is Parker Smith and his 1,298 receiving yards, 65 catches and 15 TDs. In the postseason, Smith caught 39 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns. As a kick returner, teams kicked away from him.
Gone is Zach O’Brien, who led the team with 81 tackles, rushed for 295 yards and added six scores along with catching 28 passes for 488 yards and four more touchdowns. Bell and O’Brien were Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl selections, while Smith played in the CHaD East-West Game.
While Bell, Smith and O’Brien graduated, two-year starting quarterback Henri Bourque moved on to the Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts. Bourque, who would have been started as a freshman two years ago before breaking his wrist, had a sensational sophomore year, completing 124 of 201 passes during the regular season for 19 touchdowns. He added six touchdown passes during Stevens’ playoff run, topped by a 13-for-19 performance in championship win over InterLakes-Moultonborough in which he also rushed for 92 yards.
The defection to private schools has hit Stevens hard over the last decade. First, it was 7-foot basketballer Kaleb Tarczewski; along with Bourque, two-time all-state soccer player Noah Spaulding took the prep route this year, heading to Kimball Union Academy.
“We haven’t run into a lot of that here,” Silva said. “Noah and Henri have special skills. While it would be nice to have them, I understand the situation.”
Stevens also lost offensive coordinator Josh Duford, who has accepted a teaching position in Lebanon and will be the offensive coordinator for the Lebanon High football team.
“He’s a huge loss,” Silva said.
Peter Lynch, the Stevens lacrosse coach and a former two-way football standout at Hartford High, will be added to Silva’s staff.
One vital area that remains strong for the Cardinals is the return of four interior linemen in seniors Cahill, Nick Stone, Joe Desilets and Brendan Bean. The core four will have their hands full with new people all around them.
“No question that this is our strength,” Bean said. “We certainly have to step up.”
With a whole lot of new faces in a lot of places, Silva knows the preseason is precious and that there will be some new strategy involved, including more direct snaps and an increased focus on the run game.
“We’ve got to stay disciplined,” Stone said. “It’s a matter (of) doing what we set out to do. A lot of teams lost key seniors, so I think our chances of success are OK.”
Stevens does have Keaghan McAllister back. McAllister, as a freshman, rushed for 137 yards in limited playing time and is expected to get a chance at extended playing time this fall. The quarterback slot is expected to be filled by either junior Derrick Stanhope or sophomore Quentin Bicknell, who quarterbacked the junior varsity team last fall.
“Last year, we got to where we wanted to be by catching some breaks and not having any injuries,” Silva said. “This year, not only are we going to have to avoid injuries, the coaches are going to have to be more patient, as the players are learning on the job.
“Most of our skill players will be sophomores and juniors. It will be a baptism by fire. Still, it’s a nice feeling knowing you are the defending champion.”