With the local high school sports season starting up, here is a look at some of the Upper Valley football teams hitting the gridiron in 2026.
The region has an influx of teams with new coaches, including Lebanon, Mascoma and Newport, all of which will look for success this season. However, some teams still have veteran head coaches, including Woodstock, which will try to bounce back from a loss in the VPA Division III finals after losing many experienced athletes.
A powerhouse in Hartford will be in a rebuild this season as it lost 16 seniors from last season’s run to the VPA Division II semifinals, but will look to stay competitive despite a tough schedule.
Hanover
Coach: Jon Gentine (2).
League: NHIAA Division II West.
Last Year: 5-5, lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Top Returners: Seniors — EJ Frechette (QB), Caleb Franklin (WR/DB), William Freitag (G/DE), Hudson Wilmot (C/ILB); Juniors — Dima Petrov (K), Peak Temple (TE/S).
Newcomers: Junior — Jack Richardson (RB/OLB); Sophomore — Harper Smith (RB/OLB).
Coach’s Analysis: “The team has been working hard to bond and fill the void after the loss of some key 2025 senior contributors, like John Taylor and Roy Lucas. We’re a young team with some untested varsity players who are working hard to learn the nuances of the game. We are excited to see what Dima Petrov, our kicker, can do this season. He’s one of the hardest-working, most focused players I’ve worked with, so we’re all hoping for his success this season.” — Jon Gentine
Hartford
Coach: Matt Trombly (13).
League: VPA Division II.
Last Year: 9-1, lost in semifinals.
Top Returners: Seniors — Joey Gardner (QB/DB), Rex Baning (RB/DB), Jacob Phelps (OL/LB).
Newcomers: Juniors — Mason Day (RB/LB), Prisco Monaco (OL/DL), Massy Frenandes (OL/DE); Sophomores — Eagan Cadreact (RB/LB), Jaxson Dyke (OL/DL), Isaiah Mock (RB/DB).
Coach’s Analysis: “We are in a rebuilding year after losing 16 seniors. Our team returns one player on offense and three on defense. We have a talented group of players who have not been tested. Playing a heavy D-I schedule could prove difficult given our inexperience. Staying healthy will be critical in our success, as one or two key injuries could be catastrophic. Our goal is to get better every week and compete at the highest level.” — Matt Trombly
Lebanon
Coach: Kyle Colburn (1).
League: NHIAA Division III.
Last Year: 3-5, missed playoffs.
Top Returners: Seniors — Landon Barton, Jordan Findley, Gavin Gilson, Benjamin Jarvis, Oden Mangani; Juniors — Kyrellos Antonious, Jordan Mason, Brian Nelson, Cole Perry, Caleb Polk, Emmett Reichert, Colby Lindquist.
Newcomers: Senior — Mason Thibodeau.
Coach’s Analysis: “The energy, work ethic and dedication these guys have brought to off-season workouts and practice have set a high standard for years to come, and there’s a real, genuine excitement around this group in all grades. We have a great mix of experienced leadership and young talent eager to make an impact and, as a coaching staff, we couldn’t be prouder of how locked in they’ve been. Our key to success this season comes down to consistency, accountability and physical execution. We want to play disciplined football, win the battle in the trenches and control the tempo every single Friday night. If we take care of the small details, master our assignments and stay resilient through adversity, everything else will fall into place.” — Kyle Colburn
Mascoma
Coach: Josh Kershaw (1).
League: NHIAA Division IV.
Last Year: 6-2, lost in the state final.
Top Returners: Seniors — Keano Gianini (RB/LB), Caleb Rostron (OL/DL); Juniors — Joel Backlund (OL/DL), James Weston (RB/LB).
Newcomers: Juniors — Charlie Pettersen (OL/DL), Lucas Petty (RB/DB); Sophomores — Aiden Booth (RB/LB), Hunter Miller (TE/LB), Johnathan Ortiz (TE/DE).
Coach’s Analysis: “The 2026 season will be about growth, dedication and family for Mascoma football. We graduated a large and important senior class, which has created opportunities for younger players to step into significant roles. We are not asking them to replace the players who came before them. We are asking them to trust the process, embrace their opportunity and become the next group to carry our program forward. Our players worked extremely hard in the weight room throughout the summer, and we have had a productive preseason. There has been a lot of teaching and learning — not only learning our new schemes but learning how to trust one another, playing together as a family and playing for each other. With a young roster, staying healthy and staying connected will be extremely important. There will be challenges, but we believe those challenges will help us grow. If we continue working hard, stay together through adversity and compete for another, we have an opportunity to improve every week. We are excited to represent Mascoma, our school and our community. Most importantly, we are looking forward to stepping onto the field and competing with everything we have, week in and week out.” — Josh Kershaw
Newport
Coach: Kevin Pollari (1).
League: NHIAA Division IV.
Last Year: 4-4, lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Top Returners: Seniors — Ayden Hodge, Isiah Nash, Cam Nerenburg; Juniors — John Hooper; Sophomores — Jaxson Lord.
Newcomers: Seniors — Brycen Flewelling, Josh Seymour, Kaiden Maurin; Sophomores — Joe Gosselin; Freshman — Tyler Leblanc.
Coach’s Analysis: “I think that the foundation for us is to stay healthy and physically fresh each week. With only 18 kids, most kids will be playing ironman football. We have been working all preseason on our culture of continuous learning and improving at each practice. Making sure that we are finding the right spot for each of our players and their strengths. Our goal is making the playoffs, and hopefully we will be playing our best football at that time.” — Kevin Pollari
Stevens
Coach: Joshua Duford (5).
League: NHIAA Division III.
Last Year: 3-5, missed playoffs.
Top Returners: Seniors — Karter Thyne (WR/DB), Karson Thyne (WR/LB), Tyson Dipaola (WR/DB), John Frisbee (QB/LB), Mason Harford (OL/DL), Mark Sheehan (WR/LB), Carter Bastian (RB/LB).
Newcomers: Seniors — Jonathan Santiago (OL/DL), Oliver Stone (WR/LB); Junior — Wes Merriam (OL/DL).
Coach’s Analysis: “We are just trying to get better day by day, week by week. My hope is that we are playing our best football in late October. We play in a competitive division and hope to be in the fray at the end of the season.” — Joshua Duford
Windsor
Coach: Jamie Richardson (3).
League: VPA Division III.
Last Year: 2-6, lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Top Returners: Seniors — Turtle Petschke (QB/DB), Aiden Doxter (RB/DB), Oliver Burkland (RB/DB), Zachary Young (WR/DB), Jacob Young (OL/LB); Juniors — Jack Burke (RB/LB), Austin Tetrault (OL/DL), Tanner Scarsillone (RB/LB).
Newcomers: Senior — Lucas Renninger (OL/DL); Sophomores — Silas Scearbo (OL/DL), Nolan Weld (QB/DB).
Coach’s Analysis: “I’m very excited for this season. We have some experienced players coming back in key positions that will bring stability and leadership to the team. If we can stay healthy and keep improving each week, we should have a successful season.” — Jamie Richardson
Woodstock
Coach: Ramsey Worrell (13).
League: VPA Division III.
Last Year: 7-1, lost in finals.
Top Returners: Seniors — Jake Blackburn (RB/LB), Haakin Oates (OL/DL); Juniors — Cole Little (RB/DB), Boyd Schaefer (RB/DB), Taylor Underwood (QB), Max Rayner (OL/DL).
Coach’s Analysis: “We graduated a lot of experience, but I still have some guys coming back with good experience. I really like the young kids that we have. … Most teams in Division III have to play young kids, and when I mean young, I mean sophomores and hopefully not having to play freshmen. That’s just the nature of Division III. I can tell you, I like all my young players, and even though we have some kids that we’re relying on to play significant roles on this team that don’t have a lot of experience, I like their work ethic, I like their attitude, I like their ability and I like their character. It has me optimistic that we can, at some point this season, hit our stride and get to a point where we look like a team that isn’t lacking experience. I think we have a good nucleus of young talent and some experience — we don’t have a lot of either one of them, but I think it’s a good balance of it.” — Ramsey Worrell
