Bedford, n.h.
First, Winter is an NHIAA Division II athlete on West squad comprised mostly of D-I talent. Second, he’s representing a Marauders program that not many people pegged for a playoff berth last fall. Hanover surprised most by going 8-1 in the regular season.
Winter is looking to surprise some more in the showcase.
“I absolutely did not expect (to get selected),” Winter said at West’s practice on Wednesday afternoon at Bedford High. “At Hanover, we were really hoping for a winning season. We got much more than that.
“It’s a huge honor and a great privilege. It’s for a great cause,” he added. “To be recognized as one of the best seniors in the state, it’s awesome. And just to get another chance to play is awesome.”
The East-West game, a swan song for New Hampshire’s outgoing senior football players, has become a major fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth, bringing in more than $1 million in the last four years to help support CHaD programs. Athletes are handpicked by West head coach Jim Schubert, longtime football coach at Manchester Central, and Craig Kozens, head coach at Laconia High.
As of Wednesday night, the game raised $213,259 toward the cause.
“We’re raising money for kids that are not probably ever going to play this game. That’s number one,” Schubert said. “But that doesn’t take away the will to win for these kids. They’re all all-state players; they’re all select players. They’re the best of the best.
“When it comes to the kids, they get it,” he added. “They get what they’re there for.”
Schubert admitted there’s only so much his coaching staff can do in five days of practice ahead of the contest. On paper, West’s offense is littered with Upper Valley talent.
Winter, who is playing football at Iowa’s Grinnell College in the fall, led the Marauders with 13 touchdowns and rushed for 698 yards in eight games before being sidelined with an ankle injury. Lebanon’s Ryan Milliken led all Upper Valley athletes with 22 touchdowns and was second in the region with 1,315 rushing yards in 10 games. Parker Smith, from D-III title-winning Stevens High, led all Upper Valley receivers with 56 catches, 1,134 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.
Smith admitted he was surprised he got the call before Wednesday’s practice. Smith, who plans to play football this autumn at Maine’s Bates College, helped the Cardinals win their first title since 1968 last November.
“It’s pretty humbling because I get to see the best players in New Hampshire,” Smith said. “But, at the same time, I want to do my best to represent the city of Claremont and show everyone, just because I come from a small school. … I still feel like, just because we come from a small school, we can also compete at any level. I’ve been trying to prove that throughout the week.”
Selecting Milliken, one of the more dynamic running backs in the state, came as less of a surprise. But practicing on an all-star squad with plenty of D-I guys has changed the speedy running back’s perspective before he heads off to Springfield (Mass.) College.
“It’s been interesting. It’s definitely different,” Milliken said. “Just the way practice is run. … We definitely don’t run as much as I thought we would. The play-calling is way different. We’ve got big linemen, more for a power running back. As you see, I’m not that big of a guy. But I enjoy it. You’re meeting new kids, which is definitely fun.”
Being able to help the cause, Milliken said, was most important.
“It’s definitely an honor, playing for CHaD, playing for the kids,” he said.
Hanover lineman Schuyler Cyrus and wide receiver Cameron Marshall are also on the West squad.
Kickoff is 7 p.m. tonight.
For Milliken, Smith and Winter, football has been a big part of their lives. Smith, who said he entered high school favoring basketball, called football “the money-maker.” Winter said football taught camaraderie and life lessons he wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. For Milliken, it’s an avenue to succeed.
“(Football) definitely means a lot,” Milliken said. “I want to go further and further with it.”
An exhibition like the East-West Game is a different experience for accomplished athletes. The cause makes it worthwhile, but it also answers some what-if questions for athletes wondering what it would be like to play on the same team as some of their more talented opponents.
“It’s been interesting to get to know everybody in a group of three divisions,” Winter said. “That’s been the first thing. Once that awkwardness went away, it’s been really great. I’ve made a lot of new friends.
“It’s definitely cool with Ryan (Milliken) and some of the best players we’ve played against, that’s really cool to put it all together to see what we can do with all that talent.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.