Despite losing most of its startes from last year's title season, the Souhegan football team is running straight into 2021 with a good feeling. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

AMHERST – In 2020, Souhegan High football checked every box in the category of dominant, Division II state champion.

Veteran club.

Gobs of experience.

Savage attitude.

Unbeaten.

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

Accepted every challenge.

Knocked off the state’s preeminent small-school program in Plymouth High for the title.

As preparations go on for 2021, the Sabers are hardly recognizable with new faces literally all over the field.

That “savage attitude,” remains, though. And coach Robin Bowkett is banking on it to carry Souhegan a long way this fall.

“Rebuild isn’t a word in my vocabulary, we’ll keep our championship standards, the way we go about our business,” said Bowkett, now beginning his fifth season at the helm in Amherst. “Nothing changes. It’s about maximizing potential.

Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett, left, says that rebuilding is not in his vocabulary. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

“You have some success, and everyone is going to be looking to knock you down. We’re up for the challenge.”

Playmakers abounded a year ago at all the key spots. In all, the Sabers graduated 20 starters from that title team, including nine different players that earned all-South division first-team status.

What’s left is a hungry group of understudies, paced by three four-year members in the program (7 seniors in all).

“We’re pretty new, not many guys returning. Honestly, it’s better than I thought,” said Mitch Hauser, one of those four-year vets and a key safety in the championship defensive backfield last fall.

“Pretty much the whole team is puppies, all young and eager to learn, definitely there to get better. It puts a lot on the returning seniors to show them what the standard is. Last year’s seniors helped pave the way for the younger kids. Now it’s on us.

“It starts with us. Effort and senior leadership. We have a good season in us. I know it.”

Hauser will slide into a more prominent role running the football, now that 1,000-yard rusher Riley Lawhorn has graduated. Bowkett says he expects the 5-10, 165-pounder to take on a more diverse role on defense, too.

“Wherever we need him that week,” said Bowkett.

Like Hauser, Tony Garrant is a four-year guy who played himself onto the All-South team last fall. Bowkett says Garrant could be a big-play man on both sides, who will be in an H-back role offensively and outside linebacker on defense.

The third four-year senior, Dylan Button, could be the sleeper in the bunch. Injuries have slowed Button down in the past, but he’s healthy and ready.

“He’s just a really good athlete, an excellent outfielder in baseball,” said Bowkett, who welcomed 55 athletes to practice on August 13. “We expect good things from him.”

Up front, Souhegan will certainly be tested. Everyone in the trenches has moved on.

The group looking to fill the voids on both sides of the ball is headed by junior Jackson Hobbs and sophomore Sam LeBlanc offensively, plus junior Willem Aiston on the defensive side of things.

Charlie Maroun, a junior linebacker/receiver/tight end and the younger brother of 2020 hero Mike appears ready to carve out his own football portfolio.

“He’s a high-energy kid, physical, great hands, I’m excited to see him make the leap,” said Bowkett.

Sophomore JJ Bright, who scored three varsity TDs as a freshman, will see some time at running back and in the defensive backfield. Junior Brady Melvin will get too work inside on defense. Bowkett called him a “high football IQ kid.”

The quarterback position, vacated by Austin Jain, will be a contest between senior newcomer Riley Carr, and freshman Romy Jain – Austin’s brother.

Carr, so versatile, has been a pleasant surprise in the early going and will certainly see the field in some capacity if he does not win the QB job.

“We have more question marks in terms of piecing things together than what we are used to,” said Bowkett.

“A lot of the guys we lost were three-year starters, you’re not always going to have a group like that, that has played so much varsity football.

“We’ve got to be technically sound, get after it and have a good mentality.”

The Sabers expect to be up to the task.

“Competition brings the best out in everyone. Everyone is fighting for a spot, and we have 20 positions open,” said Hauser.

“A lot of other teams and people might be looking down on us, thinking we lost 20 starters. That’s a good incentive to lead this team, get the kids on their horse, to get the energy going.

“I want to win. And it’s going to take the whole group, a bunch of kids who are willing to do what it takes to win. I believe in them.”

•••

2021 SCHEDULE

Sept. 3: vs. Kennett, 7 p.m.

Sept. 10: at Milford, 7 p.m.

Sept. 17: vs. Hollis Brookline, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24: vs. Bow, 7 p.m.

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

Oct. 8: vs. Hillsboro-Deering-Hopkinton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15: vs. Hanover, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22: at Manchester West, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30: at John Stark, 2 p.m.

•••

SOUHEGAN 2020 RESULTS

Souhegan 20, Hollis Brookline 0

Souhegan 17, Bishop Guertin 7

Souhegan 42, Milford 0

Souhegan 55, Manchester West 6

Souhegan 41, Timberlane 8

Division II playoffs

Quarterfinals: Souhegan 63, Hollis Brookline 34

Semifinals: Souhegan 34, Timberlane 7

Finals: Souhegan 26, Plymouth 21

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