Former Nashua South standout Jason Compoh, second from right, has the attention of Mike Maroun (Souhegan), plus Merrimack's Jack Trahan (4) and Cody Keefe during Saturday's Team West practice at Souhegan High School for next Saturday's CHaD East-West All-Star Game at Saint Anselm College. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

AMHERST – Jason Compoh will be living the dream in a few weeks.

Actually, the now former Nashua High School South football standout may be doing that next Saturday.

He’ll be playing football, right?

Compoh will be making is last appearance with a Panthers helmet on as he plays in the annual CHaD East-West All-Star Game. A couple of weeks later he’ll be headed off to preseason camp at Merrimack College, where he’ll live out his dream: playing Division I college football.

“Playing D-I football has always been a dream of mine, ever since I was a little kid,” Compoh said on Saturday, the second day of Team West practice, this session at Souhegan High School. “It was pretty much a dream come true. I was so happy as could be to get that offer.”

Merrimack was one of five or six schools pursuing Compoh, who will likely be a defensive end, a position he excelled in his senior year. What made the Warriors the number one option?

“They were at the highest level,” Compoh said, “and they wanted me the most. There was nowhere else to go, really.”

And, as Compoh noted, the school in North Andover, Mass. is close and his parents can watch him play.

Compoh, who was also a running back at South, has grown into the defensive side of the ball.

“I feel like it’s much simpler,” he said. “Not that finesse isn’t important, but you can just focus on hitting someone, you don’t have to worry about play calls and look at all those strategies. I can just see ball and hit ball, and it’s much simpler.”

Compoh isn’t sure whether he will get red shirted or not. He has been to a Warrior workout or two but officially reports to campus on Aug. 3. He will study exercise science.

MAX TO CURRY

Noted former Nashua North lineman Max Ackerman, on the West squad with fellow former Titan linebacker Spencer Whiting, will take his talents to Curry College in the fall. And is looking forward to it.

“I’m excited, I’m hyped,” Ackerman said. “I love the school. Skip Bandini (Curry head coach) is a good coach, the players are awesome.”

And Ackerman said he’s excited to be playing in next Saturday’s CHaD Game. “I’m warming up for college right now,” he said.

Whiting, meanwhile, is going to go to the University of New Hampshire. He said he may or may not try to walk on. On Saturday he was matched up against Ackerman in a couple of blocking drills.

“Just like (North) practice,” he said with a grin.

EXPERIENCED STAFF

Not only is in an All-Star Game, but these teams have All-Star coaching staffs, especially the West.

West head coach Robin Bowkett, who coached the Souhegan Sabers to a Division II state title about eight months ago on the field he was standing on on Saturday, put together a group of top assistants and current or former head coaches.

Included in the group is former Goffstown head coach (and current athletic director) Justin Hufft, Milford assistant (and former Merrimack head coach) Rick Urda, current Tomahawks head coach Kip Jackson, another former ‘

Hawks head coach and current Goffstown assistant Joe Battista, current Goffstown head coach Nick Hammond, plus two of Bowkett’s top assistants J.T. Anderson and Brandon O’Connell, plus other noteworthy coaches such as Branden Lilley, Andrew Provencher, and Pat O’Neil. Milford’s Keith Jones was also going to be on the staff but wasn’t able to make it for personal/health reasons.

“Absolutely,” Bowkett said when asked if he put the staff together. “Just other guys I’ve grown to know, have known a long time, and respect. Battista, Coach Hufft from Goffstown, Kip and Lilley from Merrimack.

“I said at last year’s CHaD meeting, either have five current or former head coaches on staff. It’s awesome.”

Bowkett said he’s still enjoying the fruits of his team’s title last fall.

“We were thinking about (this coming season) a few days after Thanksgiving,” he said. “But we’ve ridden the championship wave all year for sure, don’t you worry about it. It was a year-long celebration, awesome.”