Scrimmage standouts: Bedford vs. Winnacunnet

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Hampshire high school football fans got their first peek at a new-look Bedford team when the Bulldogs visited Winnacunnet on Friday for each team's first preseason scrimmage. Bedford, which has won three of the last four NHIAA Division I championships, had a coaching change in the off-season, as former coach Zach Matthews resigned to become the head coach at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. Former Pelham (N.H.) head coach Tom Babaian is now the head coach at Bedford, and has scrapped the spread offense in favor of the Wing-T. Babaian led Pelham to four straight championship before he resigned after the 2023 season. At the time Pelham had the fourth longest winning streak in the nation. Winnacunnet has a strong senior class this season and figures to be a contender for the top spot in Division I East. Here are five players who performed well in the scrimmage and appear primed to have a productive 2026 season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378937"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8b85ff2425f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After suffering through an injury-plagued sophomore season, Moore (top photo) is healthy and looked like one of the best linemen the state. He has shifted from the right side of Winnacunnet's offensive line to left tackle, and turned in a dominant performance on offense. He also asserted himself at defensive tackle, especially when Bedford was near the goal line. Moore enters the season with Division I scholarship offers from Boston College, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Connecticut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2328224"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8b85ff24318"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Beyer is a fast and physical linebacker who was a significant contributor to Bedford's defense last season as a sophomore, when he was a Division I West Honorable Mention selection. He's part of a young defense this year, but his experience showed against Winnacunnet. He displayed a nose for the football and also looked comfortable in pass coverage. Beyer will also have a large role on offense as a halfback this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2343420,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8b85ff243dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McCown has committed to play lacrosse in college, but he was coaxed into playing high school football last season. He'll be Winnacunnet's No.1 receiver now that [player_tooltip player_id='2059808' first='Jaxon' last='McDonald'] has shifted from receiver to quarterback, and he looked the part when he made a leaping catch in double coverage for a touchdown on Winnacunnet's opening possesion. McCown also filled in as a long-snapper on punts and performed well in coverage as a cornerback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2237484"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8b85ff2446d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Winnacunnet coach Ryan Francoeur said he expects Thurlow to have a breakout season as a defensive end this season. He performed well against a young Bedford offensive line, but was just as impressive as a running back in Winnacunnet's Veer attack. He not only hit the hole hard, but fought for extra yardage after initial contact. He's one of four players who will battle for playing time at running back, but after his performance in the scrimmage it's hard to envision Thurlow not having a large role on offense this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":2343426,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a8b85ff24503"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">D'Urso would have likely put up big numbers last season if he hadn't been on the same team as quarterback Bennett Matthews (Gatorade Player of the Year) and running back Brody Helton (the Yukica New Hampshire Player of the Year), but he still had a large role in the short-passing game as a slot receiver during Bedford's run to the Division I title. He's moved to halfback this season and will give Bedford a big-play threat out of the backfield. His explosiveness was evident during several plays in the scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->