LEBANON — Chris Childs knew what he had in Jack Stone when the junior quarterback got behind center for the Lebanon High football team this fall.
Stone had filled in occasionally the last couple of seasons when his predecessor, Jon Willeman, needed time off for injuries, and Childs used that time to get Stone comfortable with the position’s responsibilities. Stone impressed everyone he crossed during the Raiders’ most recent campaign, enough to earn New Hampshire Division II player of the year honors last week.
Childs completed Lebanon’s sweep of their D-II scheduling pod’s major honors by claiming coach of the year honors as well. The 14th-year coach also won the award for guiding the Raiders to last year’s D-III state championship game; he might have repeated the feat in D-II had COVID-19 not ended Lebanon’s season in the state semifinals last month.
“It always comes down to the kids,” Childs said in a phone interview last week. “When you have good kids, that makes you look good as a coach.”
Coaches from the Granite State’s four D-II pods named all-state teams; the division was to produce two (East and West) in the NHIAA’s original alignment before the coronavirus pandemic led to more regionalized scheduling. Childs said that helped coaches in what some called the I-89 pod get a better look at the players for whom they’d be voting.
Stone certainly impressed. A junior, Stone threw for 419 yards and five touchdowns while also leading Lebanon with 471 rushing yards on 55 carries with seven scores. He ranked third in the Upper Valley in rushing during a 6-0 season ended before a state semifinal date with Plymouth because of a positive COVID-19 test by a Bow High player following the Raiders’ 30-6 quarterfinal victory on Nov. 7.
Childs lauded Stone’s unselfishness as well. There were frequent times when the junior would ask to change offensive plays to give a teammate an opportunity to score or surrender punt return duties to allow someone else a chance.
“We had been grooming him the last couple of years to be a quarterback,” Childs said. “He just comes in and is a great athlete, picks up things and is smart. When you’re fast and strong like him, he makes me look like a genius sometimes.”
The all-state team reflects the Raiders’ excellence on defense. Linemen Jon Carrier and Cameron Davio, linebackers C.J. Childs and Cole Shambo, and defensive backs Calvin Bates and Justin DeCarlo all made the roster for Lebanon, which gave up just 26 points in six contests and went more than 19 quarters without giving up an offensive TD at one point during the year. Offensive lineman Josh Mondragon represented the Raiders on offense with Stone.
Hanover also had plenty of representation. Running back Seamus Murphy and lineman Ben Wagner made the offensive list; lineman Patrick Elder and defensive back Ben Williams made the defensive squad. Honorable mentions went to Lebanon defensive end Connor Brown along with four Marauders: tight end Josh Bucci, two-way lineman Connor Chambers, wideout Moe Kado and outside linebacker Colin Pierce.
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All-New England trio: Three Upper Valley high school soccer standouts have added to their postseason plaudits with all-New England recognition.
Hanover High’s Eric Ringer and Casey McGuire joined Lebanon’s Sally Rainey on the all-region list. The UNH-bound Rainey, one of four goalkeepers named, surrendered just six goals in 10 matches and posted five shutouts for the Raiders. A senior like Rainey, McGuire posted three goals and four assists for the Marauders, with all of her helpers coming in Hanover’s four-game run to the NHIAA Division I semifinals. Ringer, a junior, had five goals and two assists for the Hanover boys, also a D-I semifinalist; he’ll be a co-captain with next fall’s team.
New Hampshire placed six boys and girls on the all-New England team. Vermont had three on each, none from the Upper Valley.
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All-SVL cross country: Southern Vermont League cross country showed some flexibility by adding extra athletes to what ordinarily would have been its 10-runner all-league teams.
The SVL recognized that the makeshift nature of the season limited some schools from competing in its championships and adjusted accordingly. Woodstock’s Riley Shepherd and Thetford’s Madelyn Durkee and Tobin Durham benefited, joining the Division A roster based on their performances throughout the fall.
Hartford’s Meg MacLaury, Kayla Burnham, Rylee Burnham, Clementine Philip, Jack Fournier-Stephens, Finn Sunde and Finn Walther made their Division B teams with White River Valley’s Anita Miller, Danny Smith, Ryan Smith, Kaziu Young and Alex Madden. Their spots were earned on results at their SVL championship meet in late October.
“We certainly appreciate every athlete’s determination, and we look forward to the 2021 season,” Long Trail coach and SVL liaison Todd Smith wrote. “May it be with fewer restrictions but retain the same amount of perseverance.”
Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.