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New Hampton (N.H.) post-graduate lacrosse player Alex Stanko has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Vermont, the school announced this afternoon.

Stanko is a Newton resident who entered a PG year at the New Hampton, N.H. campus following a standout career at Dexter School, in Brookline.

New Hampton Director of Communications Will McCulloch passes along the following press release regarding Stanko's signing.

NEW HAMPTON, N.H. -– New Hampton School's Alex Stanko ’13 signed a letter of intent to play lacrosse at the University of Vermont on Friday. Stanko, a native of West Newton, Massachusetts, is a dynamic scorer and leader. Stanko has led the Huskies to a 6-3 start this season with 28 goals, including the game-winner in a 14-13 overtime victory over league foe Proctor on Saturday. It was one of six goals he scored in the back-and-forth contest.

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Courtesy of New Hampton SchoolNewton resident Alex Stanko signed a national letter of intent with University of Vermont lacrosse on Monday afternoon.

"I chose the University of Vermont because of the opportunity I will have on the field and in the classroom," said Stanko, who attended the Dexter School before New Hampton. "Coach Ryan Curtis also had a large impact on my decision because of the vision he has for the lacrosse program. I am looking forward to a successful four years."

Stanko credited his parents and his time at New Hampton for allowing him to develop as a player and a student-athlete.

"Whether it was driving me to practice every weekend since I was six years old or allowing me to explore a postgraduate year, my parents have always been there for me and I know that they believed in my dream of playing lacrosse at the Division I level just as much as I did," Stanko said. "I can't tell you how thankful I am for that. I would also like to thank Coach Simon here an New Hampton for everything he has done. He pushes me to be at my best every time I step on the field and that is a trait I will carry on to the next level. He provided me with a home here at New Hampton."

Simon, on of the top young coaches in New England, believes Stanko will only get better at college level given the amount of time he has put into his game over the winter months at New Hampton.

"Alex is an incredibly dynamic lacrosse player," Simon said. "He is a player that does it all. Off the field he is always in the gym shooting, lifting, and playing wall-ball to work on his craft. He demands the ball on offense, like all good goal scorers do."

Stanko played for the 3-D Club Lacrosse program this past summer before leading the Huskies as an elected captain. He's provided a guiding presence for a New Hampton School team that s packed with talented young players.

"He is a player that understands that if you want to make it to the next level, you need to work for it," Simon said. "I am very proud of him and his work ethic. He set a goal to play Division I lacrosse and he achieved it."

SALEM, N.H. – If there was a key moment in Sunday's NEPSAC boys hockey game between fourth-seeded Kent School and sixth-seeded Salisbury, it came late in the second period when Salisbury cashed in on a 5-on-3 opportunity.

Senior forward Liam McDermott collected the goal that broke a 1-1 tie with 53 seconds remaining in the period and propelled Salisbury to a 4-1 victory in the championship game of the Stuart/Corkery Tournament, better know as the Elite 8 Tournament.

“Getting that power-play goal settled us down a little bit and gave us the confidence we needed to play with the lead,” Salisbury head coach Andrew Will said. “If we don't score on the 5-on-3 it gives them a boost and gives them a little more energy. You have to score on chances like that to win games like this one.”

Junior forward Mitchell Smith added two third-period goals for Salisbury, which completed its season with a 21-5-3 record. Matt Pugh scored Salisbury’s other goal. Junior defenseman Will Toffey and junior forward Evan Smith each collected two assists in the victory.

It was the third meeting between the teams this season. Salisbury prevailed 4-3 at Kent, and the teams played to a 2-2 tie at Salisbury.

“It was a case where the teams knew each other well,” Will said. “We really stressed staying out of the penalty box because we knew their power play has been deadly lately. Once we got the third goal we were feeling pretty good. At that point you could feel the energy on the bench and that the guys weren't going to be denied.”

Salisbury's path to the title included overtime victories against third-seeded Berkshire (3-2) and seventh-seeded Westminster (4-3). Will said playing those one-goal games benefited his team.

“It allowed us to play with the composure we needed in a game like this,” he said. “Something that really helped us was our depth.”

Senior Connor Mitchell scored for Kent, which ended its season with an 18-7-3 record. Kent advanced by beating fifth-seeded Dexter (7-1) and No. 8 seed The Gunnery School (3-0).

Kent goaltender Charlie Fennell stopped 23 saves. Salisbury goalie Callum Booth also made 23 saves.

Pugh handed Salisbury a 1-0 lead 1:46 into the contest, but Kent pulled even when Mitchell scored at 14:20 of the first. Then Salisbury took the lead for good when McDermott capitalized on the 5-on-3 opportunity.

“I'm just tremendously proud and pleased for these guys,” Will said. “It was a full team effort.”

Shortly after the 2013 recruiting class was signed, the Rutgers coaching staff met to discuss their needs for 2014. They determined that one of those needs was Jon Baker, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive lineman from Millis High School.

Rutgers offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski extended an offer to Baker during a trip to Massachusetts earlier this month.

"I'm not sure how they heard about Jon, but he (Wroblewski) told me that after reviewing his film and looking at his transcript, based on their needs he would be a good candidate for their program," Millis coach Dale Olmstead said. "Then, when Holy Cross saw the update, they offered as well."

Before he received offers from Rutgers and Holy Cross, Baker had offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Harvard and Yale.

Baker plays right guard for Millis, but because of his height is projected to be a center in college. He played center for Millis as a freshman.

"Not only his height, but he has the football IQ to handle the position," Olmstead said. "He plays guard for us, but he makes all the line calls from that position."

Olmstead said Baker is interested in the medical field, and that he will likely visit Stanford this summer.

"He's getting letters from a lot of major programs, but Boston College has kept his interest the most," Olmstead said. "BC has him rated as the top lineman in New England, and they're constantly calling. They've lost some top talent from Massachusetts to other programs in recent years, and the new staff wants to keep those kids here.

"BC is his top choice right now, but that could change."

HENDREN ADDS OFFERS
February has been kind to Dexter School offensive lineman James Hendren.

Hendren, a 6-foot-7, 295-pound tackle, entered the month with no scholarship offers, but has since landed four: Holy Cross, Rutgers, Massachusetts and Old Dominion.

"Things are picking up," Dexter school coach Casey Day said. "He's really close with a couple other schools. I think he's going to visit Wake Forest and Duke during spring break, so hopefully he get offers then. We're still waiting to see what BC is going to do."

Old Dominion has also made an offer to Dexter School junior Dan DiNicola, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle.

TOP PAIR
Two Massachusetts players in the Class of 2014 are included on the ESPN Watch List: St. Sebastian's linebacker Connor Strachan and St. John's Prep running back Jon Thomas.

Strachan, who lives in Wellesley, has offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia and Wake Forest.

"The schools I think are close that we might visit soon are Penn State, Iowa and Rutgers," Strachan said.

Strachan's uncle Steve played at Boston College and in the NFL for the Los Angeles Raiders, and his brother Brian is a sophomore wide receiver at Brown.

Thomas, a Peabody resident who helped St. John's Prep win the Division I Super Bowl last season, has offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Holy Cross, Maryland and Massachusetts. The Maryland offer came earlier this month.

"I got offered on the spot when I visited [Maryland] two weeks ago," Thomas said. "Maryland was very nice. Great facilities."

Thomas finished his junior season with 1,794 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns on 220 carries. He also caught nine passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

Recruiting information regarding high school or prep school football players in New England can be sent to Roger Brown at rbrown@nhfootballreport.com.

Dexter Class of 2014 lineman James Hendren picked up an offer today from UMass, his head coach Casey Day told ESPNBoston.com.

On Wednesday, Day said that Rutgers and Holy Cross had offered the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Brookline resident. He has also received varying degrees of interest from Boston College, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Stanford.

A source also confirmed that UMass has also extended an offer to St. Sebastian's linebacker Connor Strachan, a Wellesley resident in the Class of 2014.

Dexter School Class of 2014 offensive lineman James Hendren has received offers from both Rutgers and Holy Cross, his coach Casey Day told ESPNBoston.com today.

When we last checked in with the 6-foot-7, 310-pound Hendren, a Brookline resident, he had not yet received any Division 1 offers. He had taken unofficial visits to Boston College and Northwestern during the fall, and attended camps at Virginia, BC and Penn State last summer.

Duke, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Harvard and Yale are among the other schools that have shown interested alongside the schools mentioned above.

Dexter School junior James Hendren is too big to overlook. Especially if you happen to be a college football coach.

At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, Hendren has what some consider to be ideal size for an offensive tackle at the college level. That explains why so many big-name college programs have Hendren on their radar.

“He's got interest from all over the country –- significant interest,” Dexter School coach Casey Day said. “Virginia, BC, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt, and to a lesser degree, Florida, UCLA and Nebraska.

“He's a solid, dominant run-blocker and an exceptional pass blocker. He's a top kid academically as well. He's in the top two or three in his class.”

Outside of the Ivy League, Hendren has yet to receive a Division 1 offer. He said although academics are his No. 1 priority, he's looking to play college football at a higher level than the Ivy League. Most schools are projecting him as a right tackle.

“The Ivy League is not what I'm hoping for,” Hendren said. “Just like every other [FBS] recruit, I do have a dream of playing in the NFL someday. Not saying it's likely, but it's a goal.”

Hendren, who will also play basketball for Dexter this season, attended camps at Virginia, Penn State and Boston College last summer. He said he plans to attend the Boston College-Notre Dame game on Saturday, and also plans to visit Northwestern later this month.

“I'd be shocked if he didn't have any offers going into next spring,” Day said. “There's gonna big some big-time programs chasing him.”

BC is high on Hendren's list, in part because it's close to home. BC coach Frank Spaziani was the first college coach to notice Hendren, but it wasn't on the football field –- it was on the basketball court.

“In my freshman year he saw me play in an AAU tournament where his son was playing on the court next to me,” Hendren said. “He came over to me and told me to send him my film. I play basketball a little like I play football. I think he liked that.

“BC is close to my heart. I do know that they're not having a great season and they've had a change in administration in the AD position, but I respect all the people there.”

Hendren said he wouldn't cross BC off his list even if the school made a coaching change after this season.

“For most people I think the institution would be enough no matter who is coaching you,” he said. “It would be a great place to be, but I'm not gonna limit myself to that.”

Delayed trip: Everett High School's John Montelus, a four-star offensive lineman, said he will take his official visit to Notre Dame on Nov. 16. Notre Dame is scheduled to play Wake Forest the following day.

Montelus, New England's top prospect from the Class of 2013, committed to Notre Dame in April. He originally planned to take his official visit on Oct 20, but postponed the trip after Everett's game against BC High that weekend was moved from Friday night to Saturday because of heavy rain.

Montelus is the only New England player ranked in the ESPN 300 (No. 292).

Super sophomore: Christian Wilkins, a 6-foot-4, 292-pound tight end/defensive end from Suffield (Conn.) Academy, is a player to keep an eye on from the Class of 2015. One media outlet has Wilkins ranked among the top 100 sophomores in the country.

Suffield is 7-0 entering Saturday's game against Westminster. Wilkins is second on the team in tackles (38), solo tackles (26), sacks (3.5) and first in forced fumbles (three). Offensively, he's second in receptions (11), receiving yardage (167) and touchdown catches (two).

Recruiting information regarding high school or prep school players in New England can be sent to Roger Brown at rbrown@nhfootballreport.com.

Christine DiPietro scored 10 goals for the Fryeburg Academy field hockey team this fall. Over the winter, she also placed sixth in the slalom and 15th in the giant slalom at the Class A state championships.

DiPietro is also legally blind. She told the Portland Press Herald that she doesn't drive a car, that she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 4, and that her vision has gotten worse over the last few years.

DiPietro, a senior, recently played her last field hockey game for Fryeburg as the Raiders lost 1-0 to Leavitt in a Western B semifinal game. Fryeburg field hockey coach DeDe Frost said she made a point of not publicizing DiPietro's vision until this season.

"I wanted them to be so shocked when they found out that she's the one that kicked their butts around the block and scored the goals, and that's what Christina's always wanted," Frost told the Press Herald.

"I can honestly say I've accepted it," DiPietro said. "I always have. But when people feel bad for me, I'm just like, 'Why? You don't have to.'"

LOOKING AT THE FOOTBALL PICTURE
Class A East: If you follow football in Maine, every year you hear at least one person proclaim that Cony is his sleeper team. The ritual is as inevitable as Cony's disappointment against those expectations.

This year is different. The Rams are 6-2, and have one of the pest quarterback-receiver combinations in the game in Ben Lucas to Chandler Shostak. Lucas has thrown for over 2,000 yards, and 10 of his touchdown passes have gone to Shostak, who also has eight interceptions on defense.

Still, the best team in the league is Lawrence (8-0). The Bulldogs had tough tests over the last two weeks, but posted a 27-6 victory over Cony (intercepting Lucas five times) and a 34-7 victory over Brunswick. The Bulldogs have an excellent shot at playing in their fourth Class A title game in seven years.

Class A West: With a 21-0 victory over Deering, Cheverus (8-0) set a state record with 32 consecutive Class A victories. The Stags' toughest competition is Thornton (7-1), and the Golden Trojans gave Cheverus a game at home on Oct. 13, losing 28-14 before an announced crowd of 4,011.

Class B East: This could also be a two-horse race, although Hampden supporters would argue the notion that Mt. Blue (8-0) and Leavitt (7-1) are destined to meet in the regional final. Mt. Blue defeated Leavitt 20-12 at home earlier this month. If Leavitt has a weakness, it's probably pass defense, and Mt. Blue is well-known for its pass-happy spread offense. Hampden (7-1) lost 27-17 to Leavitt on opening night and did not face Mt. Blue this season.

Class B West: Maine uses a formula called Crabtree points to determine playoff seedings. The formula simply adds your winning percentage to the combined winning percentage of your opponents. When the regular season ended Saturday, Marshwood (7-1), Westbrook (6-2), and York (6-2) all had the same number of Crabtree points. Add in Greely at 7-1 and Wells at 6-2, and this could be a very interesting playoff bracket.

Class C East: Foxcroft has scored the most points in the state (371) and allowed the fewest (35). The catch is the Ponies are not undefeated. They dropped a 13-0 shocker to Bucksport (6-2). On the other hand, John Bapst (7-1) and Orono (6-2) both defeated Bucksport rather handily, but were no match for Foxcroft. The Ponies blasted Orono, 42-0, then went to Bapst and beat the Crusaders 40-0 the next week before falling to Bucksport.

Class C West: Winslow (7-1) has been the best team in the league since getting back over a dozen ineligible players. Oak Hill is also 7-1, and posted a dominating 33-0 victory over Dirigo (6-2) on Saturday. But when Winslow played Oak Hill, Winslow had too much strength up front and led 27-6 at halftime on the way to a 34-18 win. Maranacook (5-3) looked like a state title contender early in the year, but lost three straight to end the regular season and will have to play its first playoff game without quarterback Caleb Castonguay, who was ejected for fighting in a 27-8 loss to Poland in the season finale.

FOOTBALL TOP 10
1. Cheverus - Last three games have been closest of season, but Stags have still beaten everyone by at least 14 points.
2. Thornton - Leads SMAA in scoring and looking forward to playoff rematch with Cheverus.
3. Lawrence - No one has come within three touchdowns of Bulldogs.
4. Scarborough - Red Storm returned 10 starters from a 3-6 team, but finished 6-2.
5. Mt. Blue - Only two teams have held Cougars and QB Jordan Whitney under 40 points.
6. Cony - Junior QB Ben Lucas has thrown 29 TD passes. Defense is also solid.
7. Brunswick - RB Jared Jensen has rushed for nearly 1,900 yards.
8. Leavitt - Hornets' defense has been sensational against the run.
9. Messalonskee - Eagles trying to bounce back from stunning 37-14 loss to Bangor.
10. Hampden - Broncos have reeled off seven straight wins, six by at least 28 points.

HISTORIC YEAR FOR FIELD HOCKEY
It has been a season for records in Maine high school field hockey. Entering this fall, the single-season record for goals in one season was 116, set by Dexter in 2003. Only one other team had scored over 100 goals in one year.

This year, both Skowhegan and Messalonskee have broken that record. Skowhegan has outscored its opponents, 142-1. Messalonskee holds a 121-8 edge on its opponents.

As you might imagine, the league is top-heavy. Skowhegan's only goal allowed was scored by Messalonskee, and the Indians have seven of the eight goals Messalonskee has allowed. Mt. Ararat was the No. 4 seed in Eastern A this year, and entered its playoff game against Skowhegan with an 11-4 record. Skowhegan led 7-0 at the half and went on to an 11-0 win.

The two teams also have two of the top scorers in the country, and those two are putting their own names on the records. Megan Fogarty scored 42 goals on that 2003 Dexter team to set the state mark. Heading into Tuesday's regional final between Messalonskee and Skowhegan, Messalonskee's Kristy Bernatchez has 43 goals, and Skowhegan's Makaela Michonski has 42.

If Skowhegan can win Tuesday, the Indians will have one more game afterward, and Michonski has an outside shot at Fogarty's career record of 109 goals. Michonski currently has 104 career goals.

Of course, that one game afterward would be the state championship, and it could be against Scarborough. The Red Storm has not allowed a goal through 16 games this season. Since the Maine Principals' Association began holding state tournaments, the only team to go through an entire season without allowing a goal was Winslow in 1998. That squad was later inducted into the Maine Field Hockey Hall of Fame as a team.

PLAYERS REACH 100-GOAL MARK
Two Maine girls’ soccer players recently reached 100 goals for their careers. Central's Max McHugh hit the century mark with her fourth goal in a 7-0 win over Lee Academy. Meaghan Cavanaugh of Calais also has 100 goals this season.

McHugh and Cavanaugh are believed to be the 11th and 12th Maine high school girls’ soccer players to score 100 goals.

KENNEBUNK COACH RESIGNS OVER ZUMBA SCANDAL
The Kennebunk Zumba prostitution case is receiving national attention, and when local police recently released the names of 21 "Johns," one of them was 52-year-old Donald F. Hill, the boys’ ice hockey coach at Kennebunk High School the last 14 years.

Alexis Wright, 29, is accused of using her Zumba fitness studio for prostitution. A police affidavit claims Wright has a client list. Lawyers involved in the case have said the list has over 150 names.

It’s a quandary that every coach has to face, when time essentially is up and a star player’s high school football career comes to a close.

Casey Day is no different at Dexter School, as Abner Logan will no longer be donning the “D” on the side of his helmet. Logan rushed for 1,200 yards and scored 19 touchdowns as the feature back in Brookline, and his physicality on defense put Day’s group in the hunt for the Evergreen League championship a year ago.

Logan is now a Div. 1 prospect redshirting at the University of Maryland, and Day knows that not one man is going to fill the very capable shoes of the former stand out.

“He was a dynamic player on both sides of the ball,” said Day. “We counted on him and he was always the guy who made the plays for us, offensively or defensively. We are in the process (of filling the spot) and we have a group of three or four guys who can pick up the slack collectively and contribute.”

The scheme will change a little bit for Dexter, as the power-I, which was the alignment of choice with Logan in the backfield, might yield to a few more situations where quarterback Luke Cuneo is working out of the shotgun in spread formations.

The 5-foot-7-inch Cuneo threw for nine scores, and rushed for 400 yards in the limited amount of times he carried the ball, and getting him in space behind a big offensive line will be key to sustaining drives on offense.

“We want to give him a little bit more freedom to run the ball,” said Day. “His arm strength has improved significantly as well. He’s been able to throw the ball around pretty good this preseason and if there is a guy who is going to get the majority of the carries it would probably be him.”

C.J. Okafor could emerge as a speedy option out of the backfield and at the wide receiver position, plus look for the junior to double up at cornerback duties.

Craig Strand will be back in his usual fullback duties plowing the way for Jimmy Venuto and other running backs. Strand will also figure in heavily as a ball-hawking linebacker who will need to fill the “big-play” role that Logan filled so well on the defensive side of the ball.

The line is probably the strength of the team for Day, as he has four guys 270 pounds or more. James Hendren is a mammoth 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound tackle who is a heavily recruited and sought-after offensive tackle.

Filling Logan’s role will be No. 1, but day is hoping that some of these new looks will catch his ISL counterparts off-guard this year as his team tries to build on a 4-4 season from a year ago.

“The dynamic we have now, we do become a little bit harder to defend, because we are doing a few different things,” said Day. “We will be distributing the ball through the air and on the ground a lot more evenly than we have in the past.”

DEXTER AT A GLANCE
Coach: Casey Day (3rd season, 6-10)
Last year: 4-4
Strengths: Experience, size on the lines
Weaknesses: Depth at skill positions
Key returnees: Craig Strand, Sr., LB/FB 6-3, 210 pounds; Costa Toubekis, Sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 275 pounds; Luke Cuneo, Jr., QB/DB, 5-7, 180; Lucas Hinds, Sr., OL/DL, 6-5, 275; James Hendren, Jr., OT/DT, 6-7, 300.
Outlook: They key for Dexter is to fill Abner Logan’s production, which is easier said than done. Luke Cuneo is going to have to fill that role as the main offensive weapon behind a huge line. Cuneo should be able to hide behind a massive offensive line with his 5-foot-7-inch frame to pick up yards and full defenses out of the spread. It will be different and the adjustment will have to be quick as Dexter looks to fill the void left behind by its best player that’s come through the program in quite some time.

The Laxachusetts lacrosse club has seen a group of its 2013 and '14 players give college commitments during the last week.

Here's a look at the team members and their college destinations:

Class of 2013
Brendan Altieri, Norwood - Skidmore

Brendan Fitzgerald, Duxbury - Beloit

Jon Gomer, Duxbury - Sacred Heart (Will PG at Brewster Academy)

Conor Hilton, St. Sebastian's - Providence College

Andrew Melvin, Medfield - Bates

Bobby O’Brien, Duxbury - Merrimack

Class of 2014
Shane Rinkus, Dexter - UMass

The high school football season in Maine started Aug. 31. Here’s a look at how each class shapes up this fall:

Class A
In the East, Lawrence won the Pine Tree Conference Class A last season and has posted two convincing victories this fall, including a 42-12 win over a Bangor team that is usually one of the best in the PTC A. While the Bulldogs probably won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher, they have six good backs, led by Anthony Sementelli and Josh Doolan. Bangor transfer Xavier Lewis adds more depth to the offense. Against his old teammates, Lewis had three touches and scored two touchdowns.

In contrast, Brunswick will rely almost completely on running back Jared Jensen. After rushing for 129 yards all of last season, Jensen ran for 428 yards on opening night and 283 the next week, giving him 711 yards in two games.

Messalonskee will look to its lines to challenge for the top spot in the PTC A. The Eagles run the double-wing on offense, with back Corey McKenzie getting most of the carries, and have one of the best rushing defenses in the conference.

Cheverus and Thornton are the two best teams in what should be a deep Western A. Cheverus has won 26 straight games and two consecutive state titles. The Stags returned 10 starters this year, including fullback Donald Goodrich, who scored five touchdowns in last year’s state championship game.

“I think we’re as good as we were last year,” Goodrich told the Portland Press Herald. “We did lose some big players but the other guys have done a nice job replacing them.”

Thornton plays Cheverus on Oct. 13, and that’s already shaping up as the game of the year. The Golden Trojans return the entire backfield from a team that won nine games last year. Foremost among those backs is junior Andrew Libby, who scored 16 touchdowns last season and is a threat to go the distance anytime he returns a punt. Quarterback Eric Christensen is another key player in an offense that has big-play potential. If the offense can’t get the job done, kicker Brandon Briggs (14 touchbacks last fall) has a strong leg.

Windham could be a dark horse candidate. The Eagles are led by twins Joe and Shawn Francoeur on the lines, and quarterback Damien Shepard is a threat running or passing. Unlike many teams in the West, Windham wants to beat you with strength instead of speed.

Class B
Leavitt defeated Mt. Blue 22-21 in double overtime in last year’s PTC B final, and these could be the two best teams in the league again this fall. Leavitt has a pair of 300-pound tackles, and an offense led by Brian Bedard and Josh Faunce. The Hornets have won 35 consecutive games in the regular season.

Mt. Blue lost most of its starters at skill positions but brings back quarterback Jordan Whitney, who threw 25 touchdown passes last fall. This season, Whitney has completed 22 of 29 passes for 416 yards.

Hampden will look to challenge those teams behind running back Logan Steward and quarterback Matt Martin. Gardiner has a do-everything quarterback/kicker in Dennis Meehan, but line play will be the true test for the Tigers. Waterville began the season with two strong victories, but the Purple Panthers will have to prove that they can beat the top teams before they can be seen as a contender. They’ll get that chance this week against Gardiner and Sept. 29 against Leavitt.

The West looks to be up for grabs. Westbrook was 5-5 last fall, but began this year by drilling perennial power Mountain Valley, 30-0, then knocking off defending state champion Wells, 28-20. Senior running backs Ben Grant and Cale Bollig do most of the work on the ground, and Collin Joyce is a factor running or receiving. Wells graduated all but three starters, but Dante Fanning and Drew Shelley are the big backs in a powerful offense.

Greely opened the season with two lopsided victories. The Rangers run the triple option on offense, and quarterback Drew Hodge is also a dangerous passer. Marshwood, coming off a 2-6 season, has already matched that win total and could be a sleeper team. Mountain Valley, despite starting the season 0-2, could pose problems by the end of the season.

Class C
The Little Ten Conference is not the place to go if you want to see close games. Five teams started off the season 2-0, and all 10 of those wins were by at least 20 points.

The four big contenders are Bucksport, Foxcroft, John Bapst, and Orono. Bucksport has a powerful offense, with quarterback Matt Stewart and running back Nic Bishop the top weapons. Foxcroft returns running back Don Boyer and Ryan Rebar (8 TDs receiving and 8 INTs as a cornerback last fall).

John Bapst has impressive speed at the skill positions, but must replace the graduation of quarterback Deven Romain and his top two receivers. Orono has a great backfield tandem of Christian Mowrer (15.9 yards per carry this season) and Norton Revell (15.5 yards per catch).

The big story in the West was Oak Hill’s 33-7 victory over Yarmouth, which had won 24 consecutive games. That win cemented the Raiders, who were 3-6 in 2011, as a true contender in the Campbell Conference. Oak Hill has good size in the line for top running backs Alex Mace and Kyle Flaherty, both of whom are sophomores.

Yarmouth will still contend behind quarterback Brady Neujahr and a running game paced by Matt Klepinger and Thomas Lord. So will Maranacook, with quarterback Caleb Castonguay, a running and passing threat. Traip has only about 20 players on its roster, but two of them are stud running backs in Corey Aldecoa and Devon Draker. Dirigo and Winslow could also make a run.

Maine Statewide Top 10
1. Cheverus - Stags have outscored opponents 85-6 in two games.
2. Thornton - Golden Trojans coming off 67-7 pasting of Gorham, face No. 9 Bonny Eagle next.
3. Windham - QB Damien Shepard has four touchdowns running, two more passing.
4. Lawrence - Bulldogs have outscored opposition 65-0 in first halves of games this fall.
5. Scarborough - Red Storm, 3-6 last fall, stunned Bonny Eagle 35-18 last week.
6. Portland - Bulldogs didn’t get inside Cheverus 30 in 42-0 loss, but looked great against Massabesic.
7. Mt. Blue - Cougars beat Madison/Carrabec 41-28, but led 41-0 at half before pulling starters.
8. Leavitt - Hornets keep rolling with 36-0 blanking of Belfast.
9. Bonny Eagle - QB Tyson Goodale has ran or thrown for all nine of team’s touchdowns this fall.
10. Westbrook - Blue Blazes overpowered Mtn. Valley, then beat defending state champ Wells, 28-20.

(Read full post)

ESPNHS kicks off its baseball season coverage by unveiling its preseason All-State Teams for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. A number of stars litter its Massachusetts squad, including BB&N's Rhett Wiseman, Lowell's Matt Tulley, Lexington's Chris Shaw and Braintree's Pat Delano.

You can find the entire list, which includes "Other Top Players" by clicking here. Below is ESPNHS' All-State Team for Massachusetts:

POSITION PLAYERS

Anthony Capuano, St. John's Prep, OF, Senior
Led SJP in hits, runs and stolen bases last year.

Jarrod Casey, Milford, OF/LHP, Senior
Batted .530 and posted an 8-1 record on the mound.

Dan Cellucci, Lincoln-Sudbury, SS, Senior
Posted a .536 BA and scored 44 runs for Division 1 state champs.

Chris McCarthy, Everett, C, Senior
Hit .585 and drove in 28 runs as a junior.

Bob Melley, BC High, C, Senior
Productive backstop has signed with UConn.

Matt O'Neil, East Longmeadow, SS/RHP, Senior
Batted .447 with 15 stolen bases last year, committed to UConn.

Christopher Shaw, Lexington, 1B/RHP, Senior
Boston College recruit hit eight home runs last year.

Ryan Summers, Westfield, C, Junior
Hit six home runs and drove in 27 last year; headed to Louisville.

Matt Tulley, Lowell, SS/RHP, Senior
Has signed to play at Virginia Tech.

Rhett Wiseman, BB&N, OF, Senior
Vanderbilt recruit hit .447 with 11 HRs and 29 SBs last year.


PITCHERS

Austin DeCarr, Xaverian, RHP/SS, Junior
Strong-armed athlete also took snaps as a quarterback in the fall.

Patrick Delano, Braintree, RHP, Senior
Big power pitcher is headed to Vanderbilt.

Tyler Dowd, Springfield Central, RHP/OF, Senior
Should be among state leaders in K's this spring.

Mike Krupczak, Springfield Cathedral, RHP, Senior
Went 7-0 with a 1.85 ERA last year.

Ryan McDonald, Acton-Boxboro, LHP, Junior
Posted a 0.90 ERA last year, striking out 71 batters over 55 innings.

Steve Moyers, East Longmeadow, LHP/OF, senior
Went 8-1 last year while posting a 0.44 ERA; career record of 23-2.

John Nicklas, St. Sebastian's, RHP, Senior
Has signed to play at Boston College.

Pat Ruotolo, Peabody, RHP, Junior
Struck out 102 batters last year, including three games of 15-plus K's.

Max Tishman, Lawrence Academy, LHP, Senior
Polished left-hander has signed with Wake Forest.

Troy Whitty, Dexter, RHP, Senior
Transferred from Oliver Ames, where he posted a 0.90 ERA last year.

Abner Logan is a city kid, and he wasn't ready to change.

That's one of the reasons Logan committed to play college football at Maryland instead of North Carolina State on Tuesday night. According to ESPNU, Logan, a linebacker/running back who completed his senior season at the Dexter School last month, was the top uncommitted recruit in Massachusetts.

“I'm a city person and N.C. State didn't have the city feel like Maryland did,” Logan said. “N.C. State seemed to be more of a traditional college town. I just thought I'd be more comfortable at Maryland.”

Logan narrowed his choices to Maryland and N.C. State earlier this month, and took an official visit to each school. Northwestern rounded out Logan's top three.

According to Dexter School coach Casey Day, the NCAA has been slow in processing some of Logan's academic paperwork, and that prevented him from taking an official visit to Northwestern.

“Maryland and N.C. State wanted an answer before Christmas,” Day explained. “Northwestern has a policy where they don't allow you to take an official visit until you have been accepted to the school. With the deadline and because Northwestern has higher academic standards, waiting any longer could have been risky.”

ESPNU has Logan rated as a three-star inside linebacker, and the No. 3 recruit from Massachusetts in the Class of 2012. He is expected to play one of the linebacker positions for Maryland. N.C. State was recruiting him as a running back.

Logan said the opportunity to play running back in college was tempting.

“It was, but I'll have a chance to play right away [at Maryland] depending on how well I learn the system,” Logan said.

Logan rushed for 1,113 yards and 18 touchdowns in eight games last season. He also made 42 tackles, recorded 10 sacks and intercepted two passes.

Keith Dudzinski, Maryland's inside linebackers coach, recruited Logan. Dudzinski is familiar with the Massachusetts football landscape from his days as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts.

“I talked to Dudzinski [Tuesday night) and he's really happy to have him,” Day said. “Maryland was one of the places that gave him a scholarship without making him come to camp.

“It sounds like he may have a chance to compete for some playing time next year because that's where they are numbers-wise at linebacker. He's not a guy who's definitely gonna come in and redshirt.”

Logan spent two years at the New Hampton (N.H.) School before transferring to the Dexter School before his junior year. In addition to scholarship offers from Maryland, N.C. State and Northwestern, Logan landed offers from Boston College, Connecticut, Florida International, Massachusetts and Syracuse.

Day said N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien and Maryland coach Randy Edsall both visited Logan last week. Miami and Nebraska also showed late interest but neither made a scholarship offer.

“He grew up in the city and then he spent two years at New Hampton, so he was pretty sure he wanted to stay in the city to go to school,” Day said. “I don't think that was a factor until he had to choose between two schools. He got a taste of southern football. It's a different beast down there.”

Logan also said he was impressed with Maryland's business school. The fact that he has friends and relatives who live near Maryland's College Park campus also worked in Maryland's favor, Logan said.

“He saw what Edsall did building up UConn –- a program he's familiar with –- and that had to carry some weight,” Day said. “With the fertile recruiting ground Maryland has Abner figured he could do the same thing down there.”

Maryland was the fourth school to make Logan a scholarship offer. He took an official visit there on Dec. 9.

“It was a really good visit overall,” Logan said. “I felt comfortable when I left.”

ESPN's Roger Brown reported earlier this evening that Dexter School linebacker Abner Logan Jr. has verbally committed to the University of Maryland for the fall of 2012.

Last week, Brown reported that Logan Jr., a Cambridge resident, was down to three schools: Northwestern, NC State, and the Terrapins. His head coach at Dexter, Casey Day, said a decision was likely to come before Christmas.

Logan Jr. took an official visit to the College Park, Md. campus two weekends ago; he also took a visit to NC State earlier in the year.

He also had offers from Boston College, UConn, Florida International, Syracuse, UMass and Towson at the time of his commitment.

ESPN's Roger Brown has an update today on the East Recruiting Blog regarding Dexter senior athlete Abner Logan Jr., saying the prospect appears to be down to three schools.

Dexter head coach Casey Day told Brown that Logan, the No. 3 overall senior prospect in Massachusetts, took his second official visit last weekend to Maryland, which is recruiting him as a linebacker. His first was NC State, which is recruiting him as a running back.

The only other school in the picture at this time is Northwestern, which is also recruiting him as a linebacker. Logan has yet to take an official visit to the Evanston, Ill. campus.

"It seems like it's still between those three schools -- Maryland, NC State and Northwestern," Day told Brown. "It looks like he'll be making a decision sometime before Christmas.”"

Last week we unveiled our second annual MIAA All-State Team. Today, we're unveiled our second annual Prep All-State Team, limited to schools competing under the NEPSAC umbrella.

OFFENSE

QB - Tate Jozokos, Jr., Governor's Academy
RB - Chris Coady, Sr., BB&N
RB - Abner Logan Jr., Sr., Dexter
OL - Eric Olson, Sr., BB&N
OL - Robert Perdoni, Sr., Belmont Hill
OL - Shane Donovan, Sr., Thayer Academy
OL - Costa Toubekis, Jr., Dexter
OL - Billy Oldach, Sr., Rivers
TE - Brendan O'Neil, Jr., BB&N
WR - Bryan Viera, Jr., Thayer Academy
WR - Bryson Gilbert-Bono, Sr., Middlesex

DEFENSE

DL - Dan Connaughton, Sr., BB&N
DL - Tucker Oniskey, Sr., Governor's Academy
DL - Sam Caldwell, Jr., Groton
LB - Kirk Ryder, Sr., Governor's Academy
LB - Jack Connolly, Sr., St Sebastian's
LB - Nick DiChiara, Sr., BB&N
LB - Nick Antonucci, Jr., Pingree
DB - Kenny Abragye-Adinka, Sr., Pingree
DB - Sam Davis, Sr., Governor's Academy
DB - Kendall Dardy-Jones, Jr., St Sebastian's
DB - Richard Bradley, Jr., St Paul's