How will D-IV football play out in 2024? Eric Rueb takes a look at the division's 10 teams

Last season, Division IV football was a two-horse race from the start and, sure enough, those two horses ended up in the Super Bowl.

Will more teams get involved in 2024?

While there was significant size adjustment in other divisions, D-IV stayed relatively the same, going from nine teams to 10. Seven teams remain from last season, three have come down from D-III and for the first time in a while, it could mean a team doesn’t go undefeated in the regular season.

Of course, it could still happen. There’s loads of potential for a team to stand out and dominate, but things could also be ultra-competitive and lead to a dogfight to get to the Super Bowl. Here’s our look at the upcoming season.

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THE FAVORITES

The last time Narragansett was in Division IV, it won the Super Bowl so it should be no surprise to see it emerge as one of the teams to beat in 2024.

Offensively, the Mariners are going to be tough to stop. Senior q uarterback Matt Timpson — the Providence Journal Division IV Preseason MVP — is experienced and understands how to run coach Matt Blessing’s frantic Air Raid offense.

Blessed with size up front — remember the name Hadrian Duncan — Timpson should have time to work. Narragansett traditionally finds small athletic receivers who put up numbers, but 6-foot-3 receiver Jackson Hohl may prove to be the most unstoppable receiver in D-IV.

The Mariners will have athletes who can hold their own on defense, but the speed the offense plays at is going to tire out opponents. Depth is a problem for everyone in D-IV and, if Narragansett’s offense is gassing out defenses, its own defense is going to face some offenses searching for their legs.

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North Smithfield is going to have some offensive firepower as well.

The Northmen were victims of their own success — and the RIIL’s ridiculous realignment formula — and after winnings years in D-IV, one of the state’s smallest schools moved to D-III after losing most of its roster to graduation.

North Smithfield struggled to win games, but didn’t stop fighting. With a young roster last fall, the Northmen went 1-5 and was competitive in more games than not.

The key to success this year sits on the shoulders of two juniors. Quarterback Ben Black was terrific in D-III last year and, up against defenses that will be a half-step slower than the ones he saw as a sophomore.

Black has a terrific target in Ethan Corriveau, who will be the focal point of the offense. Expect North Smithfield to try to get the ball in his hands in as many ways as possible. He won’t leave the field much and will also be important to the Northmen’s defensive effort.

Two years ago, Smithfield won the Division IV Super Bowl. Last year, the Sentinels couldn’t get back to the Super Bowl, but the sophomore-laden roster showed a glimpse of what’s to come.

This year’s team is going to look suspiciously like the one that won the 2022 title. There are veterans up front, a returning quarterback in Jackson Chamberlin, and some talent in the backfield.

Mix in an impressive defense — junior defensive end Shane Trainor could end up being exactly who the Sentinels need to disrupt pass-happy Narragansett and North Smithfield — and Smithfield could be enjoying quite a season on its new turf field.

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DARKHORSE

The last four seasons have been a struggle for Tiverton , but things have gotten better the last two seasons under coach Dillon Sheridan.

This fall the Tigers have seniors all over the field, a class that has felt the pain of losing. Now it’s their turn to get some revenge.

Offense should be a bright spot for Tiverton. Quarterback Ben Troia returns and he has a bounty of weapons all over the field. Aiden Champ will provide some muscle running the ball and watch for Malcolm Michaud to be a threat wherever he lines up on the field.

Defensively, Tiverton isn’t the biggest — but in Division IV speed can make up for a lot of it. Expect these Tigers to roar in a big way this fall.

WATCH FOR

Exeter-West Greenwich has been a consistent contender in Division IV the last few years and there’s no reason to expect that to change in 2024.

Yes, the Scarlet Knights graduated a ton of talent, but the program as a whole has found some consistency. EWG will put a lot of underclassmen on the field trying to show what they’ve got and it might take some time for them to find their footing before things come together. Culture matters and there’s good one right now at EWG.

Scituate has been waiting for this season since 2021, when a talented group of freshmen came in and brought some life to the program. The Spartans have taken plenty of losses, but they’ve got good players in the right positions. Running backs Paul Zolkos and Charles Grover are going to be key for the offense and expect both to make some big plays on the defensive side as well.

Toll Gate went 1-12 the last two seasons, but the move to Division IV should put an end to their losing ways. The school has two and three times as many students as some of their opponents and that alone should win them a few games.

The Titans did lose some key players to graduation but have a solid core of seniors that should help them find success this year. Watch for Stephen Amargo — the receiver could end up being one of the top pass-catchers in the division this fall.

THE REST

Davies is coming off the best year in the program’s short history, but has a lot to replace with the graduation of Daniel Rose, last year’s Providence Journal Offensive Player of the Year.

Size is on the Patriots’ side and if they can establish a presence up front, it’s going to make life easier for the offense. Jomar Lopes took some snaps last fall when Rose wasn’t, Ziahair Gibau made more than a few plays when he did. Last year the team was carried by one player, but this year it will take a total group effort to find similar success.

There is hope for Hope and a lot of that is on the shoulders of Clarence Iluonokhalumhe, who might be the most underrated player in all of Rhode Island.

Iluonokhalumhe is a devastating back, with the type of size and speed that’s only matched by Hendricken’s Jeremy Seidi and Classical’s Jordan Duke. If the Blue Wave can find a way to give Iluonokhalumhe a little space to work with, he’s going to do some serious damage.

A few weeks ago it seemed Juanita Sanchez had a chance to really contend in D-IV, but with star running back Yandel Pelaez suddenly transferring to a private school in New York, the outlook has changed.

The Cavaliers don’t have a lot of time to figure out their identity. Defense has been key in the past and will need to be this fall. Juanita’s roster doesn’t run deep, so every player is going to have to be ready to contribute and if they do, they could surprise a few teams.

RUEB’S DIVISION IV PLAYOFF PREDICTION

Quarterfinals — No. 1 Narragansett beats No. 8 Hope; No. 2 Smithfield beats No. 7 Davies; No. 3 North Smithfield beats No. 6 Exeter-West Greenwich; No. 4 Scituate beats No. 5 Tiverton.

Semifinals — No. 1 Narragansett beats No. 4 Scituate; No. 2 Smithfield beats No. 3 North Smithfield.

Finals — No. 2 Smithfield beats No. 1 Narragansett.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: How will D-IV football play out in 2024? Eric Rueb takes a look at the division's 10 teams