Merrmiack football coach Kip Jackson will guide the West squad in the annual CHaD East-West game this summer. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

For the third straight year, a local high school football coach will take the reins of the West squad in the annual CHaD East-West High School All-Star Football Game next summer.

Merrimack’s Kip Jackson will take over the West job, after serving as an assistant under Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett the last two years.

Londonderry’s Jimmy Lauzon will coach the East squad. Jackson’s Tomahawks fell to Lauzon’s Lancers 21-7 in the Division I quarterfinals last month. The Lancers went on to lose in the waning seconds to Bedford on a field goal in last Saturday’s Division I championship game, 15-14.

He was a CHaD head coach in 2019 and assistant from 2016-2018. He’s been the Lancers head coach since 2014, and they won it all last season.

Jackson is in his eighth season as the Tomahawks head coach after spending 12 seasons as an assistant at Nashua South. Under his guidance, the Tomahawks have been consistently in the playoffs, making the semifinals at one point three straight seasons. This year’s Merrimack team finished

He’s also perfect for the job in the fact his Merrimack team is always extremely active in community service, something he emphasizes more than any won-loss record. Players in the CHaD game, once selected, are urged to fundraise for the event as it is a key fundraiser for Dartmouth Health Children’s. Player aren’t required to fundraise but have done so to the tune of $660,000 over the years. This past June’s game generated over $246,000.

In the next couple of months, Jackson and Lauzon will formulate their staffs and also select graduating seniors for their rosters.

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