CHaD Practice: East playing underdog role

By rbrown
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Updated: June 22, 2026

CHaD NEW HAMPSHIRE EAST/WEST ALL-STAR GAME

The East All-Stars are dealing with plenty of attrition as they prepare for Friday’s New Hampshire East-West All-Star Game at Saint Anselm College (6 p.m.). The East coaching staff selected 45 players, but the roster is currently at 32. “Most of the Division I kids we selected are with us, but a lot of our lower-division kids decided not to play,” West coach Steve Abraham said. “We’re definitely under-sized, but the kids get along very well. We’re pretty athletic and the football IQ is very high.” … Kevin Hardy (Pelham), Andy Brown (Portsmouth) and Sean Griffin (Winnacunnet) are the East quarterbacks. “We’ll probably rotate them in the first half and then go with the hot hand in the second half,” Abraham said. … The East also has plenty of talent at running back, a group that includes Londonderry’s Adrian Cruz, Salem’s Jordan Zannini and Alvirne’s Mike Landmesser. Each team is allowed five offensive formations. “It’s very rarely a high-scoring game and it’s going to be difficult to move the ball on them,” Abraham said. “I think we have to control the ball. Any opportunity we have to put points on the board we have to put points on the board.” … This year’s game will feature 15-minute quarters. … Abraham said the strength of his team is at linebacker. That group features Windham’s Rob Durkin, who was the New Hampshire Football Report Defensive Player of the Year last season. “We’ll have a handful of guys who play just offense and a handful who play just defense, but I feel pretty good about our defense,” Abraham said. … The East will practice at Salem High School on Tuesday and Wednesday, and will have a walk-through at Saint Anselm on Friday. … Tickets for this year’s game can be purchased on the CHaD website.

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