2021 Merrimack High School Football Team (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

MERRIMACK – The last few years, the Merrimack High School football program has entered a season wondering how the heck it’s going to be able to replace key graduation losses.

Yet the Tomahawks always do, making playoff noise nearly every year, a Division I quarterfinal appearance vs. Nashua North following up two straight years of being in the semis. This year, though, youth may be served. Possibly as much as half the Merrimack lineup will be making a varsity debut, maybe even more.

“We were a very senior-laden team last year,” Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. “That was one of our last large senior classes that had been with the program for four years.”

Offensively, he has four starters back in senior quarterback Kyle Crampton, heralded senior receiver Shea Goodwin, offensive linemen Cam Wheeler and Alex Griffin. And on defense, just three: Wheeler, linebacker Reimello Hyde, and Goodwin.

“So we don’t have a lot coming back this year, but that’s fine,” Jackson said.

Merrimack receiver Shea Goodwin, shown making a big catch in a playoff win over Nashua South last year, will be back to anchor the Tomahawks' receiving corps this season. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

A key newcomer up front will be hulking junior offensive lineman Jason Duke. Owen Sadowski, a 6-1 170-pound junior will be part of a new group of running backs and Hyde will carry the ball as well. Sadowski will also catch the ball.

But the ‘Hawks have at least a returning QB with experience in Crampton.

“We’re one of the few teams that has a returning quarterback,” Jackson said. “This will be his third year starting, he’s played in a lot of big games and he’s had a really good off-season. … And if I were him, I’d look at Goodwin every play.”

Defensively, as Jackson said, will be the first time that inexperience is a worry.

“We’ll end up starting a lot of sophomores,” Jackson said, citing players like soph defensive backs Logan Day, Garron Brown, and others.

Kyle Crampton is back for his second straight full season as the Merrimack starting quarterback. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

“We’ll have to live with the mistakes we make, learn from them and keep on pulling,” Jackson said.

The pandemic limited Merrimack’s off-season program, plus their ability to spend time together as a team, something Jackson said other teams must deal with as well.

“We have to find a way to overcome it in a short period of time,” he said.

No matter what happens, Jackson is glad the season will begin in a somewhat, as of this writing, normal fashion.

“Last year it just felt like the shoe was going to drop,” he said. “This year, I think we’re cautiously optimistic.”

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2021 SCHEDULE

Sept. 3: vs. Londonderry, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 10: at Nashua North, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17: vs. Nashua South, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 25: at Bishop Guertin, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 1: at Pinkerton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8: vs. Alvirne, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 15: vs. Windham, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 23: at Keene, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 29: at Salem, 7 p.m.

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MERIMACK 2020 RESULTS

Merrimack 21, Bishop Guertin 14

Salem 48, Merrimack 13

Merrimack 51, Alvirne 7

Division I playoffs

First round: Merrimack 27, Nashua South 26

Nashua North 42, Merrimack 12

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