Keith Jones
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
An official total has yet to be determined for the Sunday, Feb. 15, breakfast fundraiser to benefit the family of Milford head football coach Keith Jones. But in an e-mail response sent today (Tuesday, Feb. 17), Milford athletic director Marc Maurais said “at least $5,000 (was) raised that day.”
Last month, Harris Jones, the 2-year-old son of Keith and Kelly Jones, underwent multiple surgeries at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon to save his right leg. It was badly hurt in “a freak accident” involving a snowmobile on Jan. 18, Maurais said two weeks after the incident.
A week ago, Hanover head coach Mike Ivanoski organized a Feb. 8 breakfast fundraiser in Hanover. The event raised nearly $10,000 to help Keith and Kelly Jones contend with mounting medical expenses for their only child. This second fundraiser, a waffle breakfast, took place at the Milford Fire Department from 7:30 to 11 a.m.
“Another huge turnout on Sunday,” Maurais said. “Estimates vary on the number, but at least 500 people (attended).”
Travis Cote, head coach of Division I Manchester West, and Mike Beliveau, head coach of Division III champion Souhegan of Amherst, were among the many people in attendance, Maurais said.
Keith Jones did not attend the fundraiser, Maurais said.
“I talked to Keith today. He had been in contact with people who attended Sunday and heard the stories of the huge crowd,” Maurais said. “He and Kelly are so appreciative and don’t know what to say over such an overwhelming response.”
A third fundraiser, organized by the Milford High School Booster Club, is scheduled for Saturday, March 21. It is a spaghetti dinner and raffle, which will take place at Milford High from 5 to 7 p.m.
If you would like to make a donation, checks can be sent to: The Harris Jones Fund, TD Banknorth, P.O. Box 783, Amherst, N.H., 03031.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
Check out this Rivals High article posted to Yahoo! Sports today (Thursday, Feb. 12).
Something to ponder — and discuss, if you like — as we continue the countdown to the 2009 high school football season.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
A few readers responded to the “NH Shrine Team announced” post from last Thursday, Feb. 5, wondering why New Hampshire Union Leader Player of the Year David Zocco of Nashua South wasn’t on the 36-player roster.
That information was held from the post — and used in the print editions — of the Saturday, Feb. 7, newspaper.
Here it is:
“A pair of Division I scholarship recruits, however, are noticeably absent from the roster: Boston College-bound Ian White of Conway’s Kennett High and University of Rhode Island-bound David Zocco of Nashua South.
“White, a three-sport standout, said after signing his National Letter of Intent Wednesday (Feb. 4) that he will forgo the 2009 high school lacrosse season and Shrine game to prepare for camp with the Eagles.
“As for Zocco — the 2008 New Hampshire Union Leader Player of the Year — his high school coach, South’s Scott Knight, said ‘David made the decision based on his commitment to the college.’”
Other tidbits that appeared in print:
– The game, which takes place in Windsor, Vt., is at Windsor High School on Saturday, Aug. 1.
– New Hampshire Shrine head coach Greg Husband (Franklin High) graduated from Windsor High in 1982.
Keith Jones
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
The breakfast fundraiser last Sunday, Feb. 8, for the family of Milford head football coach Keith Jones raised nearly $10,000 from donations, and raffle and silent auction items, according to the event’s chief organizer, Hanover head coach Mike Ivanoski.
Harris Jones, the 2-year-old son of Keith and Kelly Jones, recently underwent multiple surgeries at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon to save his right leg. It was badly hurt in “a freak accident” involving a snowmobile on Jan. 18, Milford athletic director Marc Maurais said last month.
The breakfast was immediately organized to help Keith Jones and his wife contend with mounting medical expenses for their only child.
In an e-mail, Ivanoski said more than 200 people from New Hampshire’s football community attended Sunday’s breakfast at the Black Recreation Center in Hanover.
“Keith and Kelly were humbled by the outpouring of love and support,” Ivanoski said. ” I am awed by the warmth extended to Harris by our community, and the generosity and commitment of the New Hampshire football community.”
Ivanoski said many football coaches attended, including Bill Ball of Division II Exeter, Tom Babaian of Division V Pelham, and this summer’s Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl mentor, Greg Husband of Division VI Franklin.
Including head coach Chuck Lenahan of Division IV Plymouth, the Bobcats were represented by “about 18 coaches and players — and the list goes on,” said Ivanoski, who noted Hanover Friends of Football “came out in full force, donated the breakfast items, and stayed for hours cooking and cleaning.”
Dartmouth College head coach Buddy Teevens helped serve, Ivanoski said. Plymouth State University head coach Paul Castonia and his assistant coaches showed their support, too.
Several football officials, including Ernie Clark, were in attendance as well, Ivanoski said.
“Once again, the great game of football brought people together,” Ivanoski said. “Although we may be rivals on the field, we proved that we are one, big extended family.”
Maurais said a waffle breakfast fundraiser will take place this Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Milford Fire Department from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The fire department is located at 39 School Street. Donations will be accepted at the door.
Also, Maurais said a spaghetti dinner is scheduled to take place at Milford High School on March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Once again, checks can be sent to: The Harris Jones Fund, TD Banknorth, P.O. Box 783, Amherst, N.H., 03031.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
The complete New Hampshire roster for the 56th annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football game was announced today (Thursday, Feb. 5). This summer’s contest with Vermont’s high school all-stars is set for Windsor, Vt. — only the second time the matchup will take place in the Green Mountain State.
Windsor is the home town of New Hampshire Shrine head coach Greg Husband, who guided Franklin to the Division VI championship last fall. Vermont will be coached by Mike Hatt of Springfield, Vt.
More than 100 football players from New Hampshire high schools were nominated by their head coaches for this year’s game. Husband chaired a committee of head coaches representing all six NHIAA divisions that selected the squad.
Of the 55 New Hampshire schools that offered varsity football last season, 24 are represented on the 2009 roster. As always, every player on the roster is currently a senior.
The 36-player roster, in alphabetical order by last name, includes:
Jeff Agnew – Milford
Cody Anderson – Kearsarge of North Sutton
Christian Birt – Laconia
Ray Boulay – Keene
Colin Brown – Concord
Alex Deyeso – Londonderry
Kyle Endyke – Bishop Guertin of Nashua
Peter Evans – Laconia
Tom Foote – Goffstown
Rick Fosher – Trinity of Manchester
Chris George – Pinkerton of Derry
Jake Gingras – Newport
Ian Ginnard – Souhegan of Amherst
Bill Helliwell – Pelham
Dan Herrick – Concord
Gallagher Hogan – Portsmouth
Matthew Janetos – St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover
Andrew Kukesh – Exeter
Peter LaBreck – Plymouth
Phil Laflamme – Plymouth
Tyler Long – Dover
Jameson Luks – Souhegan of Amherst
Mark McCartney – Campbell of Litchfield
Jermaine McDay – Keene
Abe Muniz – Franklin
Brian Nicoll – Timberlane of Plaistow
Joshua Nitso – Londonderry
Seamus O’Neill – Manchester Central
Eric Rajkowski – Exeter
Ryan Raymond – Pinkerton of Derry
Kile Stetson – Merrimack
Alex Thurston – Merrimack Valley of Penacook
Jake Tremblay – Manchester Central
Austyn Turner – Franklin
Andy Vailas – Bishop Guertin of Nashua
Bruce Vieira – Pelham
Along with Husband, the New Hampshire coaching staff includes Franklin assistants Mike Stone (offensive coordinator), Kerry Glew (defensive coordinator), Jeff Davis (special teams), Mark D’amour (team manager), and Gilford’s Jeff Kaplan (offensive/defensive lines).
Both teams will meet in Lebanon on March 1 to review game plans. Practices for both teams begin July 22 at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden.
Last year, Laconia head coach Craig Kozens guided New Hampshire to a 42-0 win. New Hampshire owns a 40-13-2 record in the all-time series.
Posted by: MARC THALER, UnionLeader.com
It had been rumored to take place for some time — at least since the conclusion of New Hampshire’s 2008 high school football campaign.
And now, that rumor is reality, according to a report in the Concord Monitor today (Tuesday, Feb. 3).
The Concord High football team officially has a new head football coach. Eric Brown, the Crimson Tide’s longtime defensive coordinator, will lead the Division I club this fall. Brown takes over for Bob Camirand, who stepped down after 15 seasons in the Tide’s top post.
Camirand, whose first season at Concord was 1994, led the program to three Division I championship games in 1998, 2000 and 2002. He guided the Tide to the 2000 title with a 38-0 victory against Manchester Central — the high school alma mater of Brown (Class of 1975).
Brown’s connection to Manchester isn’t only as a player. He served as an assistant at Trinity High of Manchester when current Salem High head coach Jack Gati guided the Pioneers. Four years after Gati made the switch from Trinity to Concord in 1986, Brown did the same. And when Camirand replaced Gati at Concord, Brown became defensive coordinator.
