AMHERST – If Souhegan High football coach Robin Bowkett had any doubts, his young kids were paying attention back in the run to the state championship in 2020.

They weren’t blown away by the talented guys ahead of them. They just took notes on what it takes.

“I see the same kind of senior leadership that team had with this team,” said running back/linebacker Brady Melvin, now a senior Saber. “That is what carried us sophomore year and I think it will be big thing as well with this team.

“Like coach Bowkett says, you have to have a championship standard and hold yourself to that. It’s what you have to do to achieve your goal.”

The Sabers, who went 5-4 and lost in the Division II state quarters a year ago, are hungry for a return to the title game.

The pieces seem to be in place as eight starters return on each side of the ball, including a trio of second-team All-West choices from a year ago.

Of course, it all starts at quarterback, where Romy Jain turned plenty of heads in a 28-TD (25 passing, 3 rushing) freshman season.

“It’s been fun. He’s earned every bit of it. He works really really hard at perfecting his craft,” said Bowkett of the 6-foot, 175-pound Jain, whose older brother Austin was the all-state QB on that 2020 title team.

“I’m impressed with how he’s taking it all. It hasn’t gone to his head. He’s the first guy on the practice field and the last guy off it. As far as great players go, there’s a confidence or cockiness. You don’t really see it with him.”

The Sabers graduated a pair of All-West weapons in Mitch Hauser and Tony Garrant but there are plenty of potential breakout guys in the current crop.

Junior JJ Bright ran for 750 yards last year, splitting time with Hauser. Senior wideout Madux McGrath is the top returning receiving target.

“JJ is the real deal. He’s going to be awesome. McGrath (at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds) has long arms with mitts. Any ball that goes up there, he’s going to come down with it,” said Bowkett.

“Cole Manning is going to have a good year, and Charlie Maroun caught a couple TDs last year in our hybrid tight end spot. Steven Reynolds and Connor Cassidy, who play in the slot, both caught varsity TDs last year. (Sophomore) Brayden Hickman played defensive end for us last year. We’ll find a place for him on offense for sure this year.”

Up front, don’t expect any drop off, either.

“We return four of five from last year. They’re all bigger, stronger and faster. So that’s great,” said Bowkett. “These kids have bought in on both sides of the ball.”

The four returners inside up front are Finley Raudelunas

Brett Bouvier, Jackson Hobbs and Sam LeBlanc. Two others, seniors Brandon Dufour and Willem Aiston, add depth into the rotation after a strong offseason.

Charlie Maroun, whose older brother Mike played a huge two-way role on the title run two years ago, played special teams as a sophomore. He said the key to this group started showing up this summer.

“This group has a better vibe, great chemistry and has come a long way since last year,” said Maroun, who played outside linebacker and defensive back a year ago but will focus at cornerback on defense this fall.

“That (2020) team has a lot of great guys that put in a lot of work. What made that team special was how they treated each other, how they loved to play for each other, what it meant to them, and I think this team embodies that.

“This program has come a long way. Winning tradition is a big thing here now, since coach Bowkett came in. We’re focused on competing and getting better every day.”

So where has the most focus be on improving for the Sabers this preseason?

“We have to stop the run. In New Hampshire football not a lot of teams pass, so our focus has been to stop the run,” said Melvin, the senior middle linebacker. “We have some size now up front, and we’re focused on stopping the run.

“We’re very confident. All summer, guys were coming 3-4 days a week for workouts. And I know most of our upper classmen are hitting the gym like crazy.”

Souhegan opens up on the road on Sept. 3 with a trip to Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton and will face potentially its sternest test of the regular season in Week 2 when the Sabers host rival Milford on Friday night, Sept. 9.

•••

Sept. 3: at Hillsboro-Deering/Hopkinton, 1 p.m.

Sept. 9: vs. Milford, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: vs. Manchester West, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24: at Lebanon, 7 p.m.

Oct. 1: at Plymouth, 2 p.m.

Oct. 7: vs. Hanover, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: at Hollis Brookine, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: vs. Pelham, 7 p.m.

Oct. 29: at John Stark, 2 p.m.

•••

2021 RESULTS

Souhegan 37, Kennett 0

Milford 14, Souhegan 6

Souhegan 50, Hollis Brookline 8

Bow 29, Souhegan 26

Lebanon 41, Souhegan 0

Souhegan 47, HD-Hopkinton 8

Souhegan 27, Hanover 20

Souhegan 44, John Stark 8

•••

DIVISON II PLAYOFFS

Lebanon 47, Souhegan 20