By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
Josh Lane wanted to play college football close to home, and it appears he'll get his wish.
Lane, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound offensive/defensive tackle who recently completed his senior season at Pinkerton Academy, has accepted a full scholarship to play football at the University of New Hampshire. Lane chose UNH over a pool of schools that included Maine and Northeastern. His brother Jason plays football at Northeastern.
"I'm excited to go up to UNH and play football," Lane said. "It's a good program and it's local. I can stay in New Hampshire and play football. (Staying close to home) was definitely a factor. All the coaches are good guys, and they were always active in recruiting me. It's where I wanted to go."
Lane is a three-time Division I all-state selection, and helped the Astros win their third consecutive state title last season.
"I think it's a perfect fit," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "I think from Josh's standpoint he gets to go to one of the top I-AA programs in the country. That's been proven over the last several years. And UNH is getting an outstanding lineman who's going to make an impact for them down the road. It's really a perfect fit for both sides."
UNH has qualified for the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as I-AA) playoffs in each of the past four seasons.
Lane is a finalist for New Hampshire's Mr. Football Award, which will be announced Thursday. The banquet was postponed by a week because of bad weather. The other finalists are Nashua South's Bill Ferriter, Londonderry's Alex Theodhosi, Exeter's Brett McAllister and Pelham's Bruce Vieira.
Lane wasn't the only New Hampshire player to commit to a Division I school last week. Londonderry wide receiver Ryan Griffin is headed to the University of Connecticut. Griffin a 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior, played at New Hampton Prep before transferring to Londonderry for his senior season.
Boys Basketball: Oyster River Starts Strong
Perhaps no team opened its season in more impressive fashion than Oyster River, which beat Portsmouth and Hanover during the season's first week.
Hanover defeated Portsmouth in last year's Class I championship game, and both teams were among the favorites to win the state title this year as well. Oyster River opened with a 65-48 triumph over Portsmouth, and beat Hanover 61-54 three days later.
Senior guard Trevor Maynard scored a game-high 27 points in the victory over Hanover. He made seven 3-pointers.
"We knew these first two games were going to be a big challenge," Oyster River coach Don Maynard said. "This can only help our confidence."
Volleyball: Concord's Laquerre Claims Top Honor
Concord High School outside hitter Lauren Laquerre was named New Hampshire's Gatorade Player of the Year for volleyball.
Laquerre, a 5-foot-9 senior, had 381 kills, 187 digs, 61 blocks and 40 aces for the Crimson Tide, which won 18 straight matches before losing to Pinkerton in the Division I quarterfinals.
"When I talk to most coaches they say 'Wow, what an amazing player,'" Concord coach Doug Oxford said. "She's far and away the best player I've coached."
Track: BG Girls Welcome New Coach
The Bishop Guertin girls track and field team will be trying to win its sixth consecutive Class L championship this winter, but the Cardinals will do so without longtime coach Tony Johnson.
Johnson was hired as the school's athletic director last summer. He remained as the school's football coach - BG played in its fourth straight Division II championship game last fall - but relinquished his duties at BG's girls track coach. Derek Rousseau, a former assistant at Providence College, has replaced Johnson.
"I have some big shoes to fill, but I feel confident and Tony Johnson has been a great role model," Rousseau told the Nashua Telegraph. "There are a lot of expectations, but they are definitely manageable."
Chrissy Supino, Kylie Morris, Erin Linnehan and Catherine Ressijac are part of a veteran team that is once again among the favorites in Class L.
