Brody Helton (26) and the Bedford Bulldogs, shown vs. Nashua South last September, will begin their threepeat quest at Stellos Stadium vs. Nashua North. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Note: This story is also part of this weekend’s Telegraph Football Preview Special Section in the Sunday (Weekend) Telegraph print edition, available later today on newstands and mail delivery to homes today and Saturday. It contains, in additon to this story, season previews of all nine local high school football teams, teams photos, a feature on the trickle effects of COVID on local programs, a notes column, schedules and last year’s results.

The more things change in New Hampshire high school football, often the more they stay the same.

There are some revampings in Division II and Division III, but things are basically the same in Division I.

And so are the expected contenders.

“All the same teams as always,” Nashua North coach Chad Zibolis said. “You’ve got Bedford, Pinkerton, Londonderry, Exeter – and crazy part is most of them are on our schedule this year.”

North, Nashua South, Merrimack, Bedford, Goffstown and Keene are again in the West Conference for this new two-year cycle, and Bedford is the two-time Division I champion.

“I think the West conference this year is the deepest conference in the state,” Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. “Not the absolute three or four best teams, but top to bottom I think every team is going to be good. Bedford, and obviously North. South is going to be very much improved, Keene is always tough to play and Goffstown with a new coaching staff is going to do well. It’s going to be a challenge. Kids are looking forward to it. We’ll see.”

Everything in terms of alignment and playoffs is the same as the last two years, as local Alvirne is in the Central Conference with the likes of powerful Pinkerton, Londonderry and Salem. The three conference winners get a first round by with the next 10 highest rated teams, regardless of conference, using the point rating system will play in the prelims. The five winners join the three conference champions for the quarterfinals.

Bedford, Portsmouth-Oyster River (East) and Pinkerton (Central) are the defending conference champs.

Can the Bulldogs do it again? They have 16 returning seniors but lost a chunk of the nucleus that won the two titles. We’ll find out a bit with the opener at Nashua North. Central champ Pinkerton may have 20-plus seniors, footbal factory Londonderry could have as many as just over 30 returning seniors. Portsmouth-Oyster River, which eliminated North in the quarterfinals, got hit by graduation and may have tough time repeating. Exeter could have as many as 30-plus seniors as well and they could be the favorite.

If you’re looking for a non-local, non-playoff team that may get back to the postseason, look at Concord with some 13 starters returning.

DIVISION II

Here’s the division’s somewhat new look:

Welcome Trinity, Kingswood and ConVal, formerly of Division III. Kingswood and Trinity are in the East Conference with Bow, Kennett, Merrimack Valley, Pembroke, Plymouth and St. Thomas.

All three locals – Souhegan, Milford, and Hollis Brookline are still in the West, and ConVal has been placed there as well. Hanover, John Stark, two-time defending champion Pelham and Manchester West round it out.

Conference winners are the top two seeds followed by the next six highest teams via the point rating system.

John Trisciani takes over at Pelham, inheriting a dynasty, and they will open vs. a Bow team that went 5-4 last year but has 12 starters back on offense and 11 on defense. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if the Pythons with just three starters back on offense and four on defefense can extend their 41-game win streak throughout the season. But they do have 22 players back from a year ago.

Locally, Souhegan again looks to be the best of the three teams in the division, and the Sabers, althouth possibly not as powerful as a year ago, should be contenders nonetheless and have the postseason on the docket.

Plymouth, which is the first opponent for Milford and Spartans new coach Max Morelli, has eight starters back on both sides of the ball and should also contend.

DIVISION III

It’s a brand new look with a ton of new teams, many of whom had been in this division in the past, but Campbell looms as the favorite.

“It brings an excitement, I think,” Campbell coach Glen Costello said. “I thoroughly enjoyed when I first came to Campbell a lot of the teams now with us were in our division (before). I always enjoyed playing Somersworth, we had good games playing Newport.

“When I first came back here this is closer to that original Division III. From a just standpoint of excitement, it’ll be good to get more competition, more teams in the mix.”

Inter-Lakes improved last year and is on an upward trend; Gilford is now in the division, but lost co-op partner Belmont, and with it some talent including at QB.

Somersworth and Monadnock are traditional contenders and Monadnock’s numbers are up. Stevens was young a year ago but that will eventually turn into contender status.

But the feeling may be, especially with last year’s champion, Trinity, moving up to Division II, that Campbell is still the favorite even with the additions of schools like Gilford, Somersworth, Laconia, Lebanon and Sanborn to make a 13-team league, up from 10.

That splits things into two conferences. In the seven-team East are Campbell, Epping-Newmarket, Gilford, Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough, Laconia, Sanborn, and Somersworth. In the West it’s Fall Mountain, Kearsarge, Lebanon, Monadnock, Newport and Stevens.

As for the playoffs, it’s the same as Division II: The conference champions by point rating are the top two seeds, followed by the next six best rated teams.