Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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PAGE CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM 10 DIVISION 1A Shrewsbury Colonials 2009: 5-7 (2-3 Division 1A); Division 1 Playoffs By Jim Wilson Home field: Shrewsbury High. Grass field, 64 Holden St., Shrewsbury. Brain trust: Coach: Terry Walles (13th season, 77-60 career). Assistants: Ian Butterfield, Matt Porcaro, Lee Diamantopoulos, Billy Orfalea, Nick Dion, Michael Mastro, Bob Erickson, Bob Cosenza. Returning starters: 8 (3 offense, 5 defense). Captains: Sr. RB/DB Alex Paulina, Sr. LB Dominic Sassone, game captains. Top players: Sr. TE/LB Ross Fournier, Sr. WR Sean Dixon, Sr. FB Chris Ferguson, Jr. LB Kristian Jackson, Jr. DE Billy Theis, Sr. OT/DT Andrew Gatzogiannis, Jr. G/DE Cody Couture, Sr. QB C.J. Butt, Sr. G/LB Andrew McShane, Jr. WR/DB Breno Pessanha, Jr. WR Matt Aiello, Sr. DB Ben Arcabasci, So. G/DE Cameron Kerr. Out with the old: Graduated two of their three Division 1A all-stars, OL Michael D’Amico and QB/DB Nate Theodoss. The Colonials also graduated RB Hunter Beckmann, who finished third in rushing in Central Mass with 1,337 yards and 12 TDs. In with the new: So. RB/DB Zach Dionis, So. QB Michael Coggeshall, Sr. DT Mark Dietrich, Sr. DB Jerome Jones, Jr. WR Chris Comeau, Jr. RB/DB J.P Bisceglia, Jr. FB/LB/DB Patrick Theodoss, Jr. FB/DB Mike Deters, Sr. C Jonathan Evangelou, Sr. T Kevin Shea, Jr. TE/LB Chad O’Neil, So. G/DT Tyler Clouthier, So. WR Jay Reynolds, Jr. QB/LB Jared Helenic, So. TE/DE Anthony Fournier, So. WR/DB Peter Ambrose, So. FB/LB Seth Colcord, So. G/DT Madison Lewis, So. WR/LB Alex Murphy. When the Colonials have the ball: Multiple-I offense. … RICH DUGAS Shrewsbury coach Terry Walles walks the sideline during a game last September. Scored 203 points last year, third in Division 1A. … The Colonials should look to Coggeshall to lead the offense this year, but if he’s still banged up from baseball season, look for Butt to take the snaps. … Paulina will get the bulk of the rushing duties after carrying for more than 200 yards last year. … Ferguson will pave the way for Paulina at fullback. … Dixon is back at wide receiver … Fournier returns at TE. When their opponents have the ball: 4-3 defense. … Allowed 232 points last year, second-most in Division 1A … Jackson emerged as a star at linebacker as a sophomore… Sassone and Fournier (4 sacks) are also back at linebacker. … Paulina leads the defensive backs. … Theis is back at defensive end. In the trenches: The Colonials will be looking for plenty of new faces to fill in holes on the offensive line. Gatzogiannis, Couture and McShane will be in the mix for spots. One to watch: Jackson returns at linebacker after leading the team with 86 tackles and recording five sacks as a sophomore. Jackson should be even better as a junior and help the Colonials fill the holes they lost to graduation. Behind enemy lines: “They have some talented players,” a rival coach said. “But it will be interesting if they can replace all that talent they lost on the offense.” The quote: “Our goal is to work hard and improve every day,” Walles said. “Division 1A is very tough as usual.” Schedule: Sept. 9..........................................at Auburn, 7 Sept. 16.........................................Westboro, 6 Sept. 24...........................................Gardner, 7 Oct. 1..........................................at Marlboro, 7 Oct. 9........................................at St. John’s, 2 Oct. 15..........................................Algonquin, 7 Oct. 22.......................................at Fitchburg, 7 Oct. 29...........................................Nashoba, 7 Nov. 5.........................................Leominster, 7 Nov. 12.....................................at Wachusett, 7 Nov. 25....................................at Milford, 10:15 Key game: Sept. 9 at Auburn. The Colonials have no time to waste before their new faces get tested, as they open up against the Rockets. Auburn, perennially one of the top teams in Division 2, loves to hand out losses to Division 1 teams, and after the Rockets blanked Shrewsbury in last year’s opener, you can bet the Colonials will be looking for a little redemption and try to break Auburn’s 24-game winning streak. 2009 results: Auburn 17....................................Shrewsbury 0 Westboro 14...............................Shrewsbury 12 Shrewsbury 21.................................Gardner 14 Marlboro 28 ...............................Shrewsbury 13 St. John’s 21 ..............................Shrewsbury 14 Shrewsbury 31................................Algonquin 7 Shrewsbury 10.................................Fitchburg 0 Shrewsbury 21 .................................Nashoba 7 Leominster 35............................Shrewsbury 20 Wachusett 35 .............................Shrewsbury 13 Shrewsbury 34..................................Milford 20 St. John’s 34..............................Shrewsbury 14 Jim’s take: It seems no matter how many players Shrewsbury graduates, the Colonials always find their way into the playoff mix. With just three returning starters on the offense, Walles and his staff has their work cut out for them this year. If the Colonials can steal a few wins this year — and avoid a start like last year’s dreadful 1-4 — they should be playing after Thanksgiving again. 5 Follow the Colonials’ every game this fall at www.telegram.com/hometeam. 2010 Central Mass. schedule Sept. 9 Millbury at Northbridge, 7 Shrewsbury at Auburn, 7 Wachusett at Doherty, 7 Sept. 10 Shepherd Hill at Groton-Dunstable, 6 Athol at Lee, 7 Clinton at Narragansett, 7 David Prouty at Bartlett, 7 Everett at Leominster, 7 Franklin Tech at Monty Tech, 7 Gardner at St. Bernard’s, 7 Leicester at Quabbin, 7 Littleton at Oakmont, 7 Maynard at Assabet, 7 Murdock at Hudson, 7 Nashoba at Fitchburg, 7 Tantasqua at Southbridge, 7 Westboro at Burncoat, 7 Sept. 11 Ayer at Commerce, 1 Bay Path at North, 1 Grafton at Nipmuc, 1 Holy Name at St. John’s, 1 Marian at Keefe Tech, 1 Pioneer Valley at Oxford, 1 South at Worcester Tech, 1 West Boylston at Uxbridge, 1 Tri-County at Valley Tech, 2 St. Peter-Marian at Algonquin, 7 Sept. 16 Westboro at Shrewsbury, 6 Assabet at Hudson, 7 Holy Name at South, 7 Valley Tech at Littleton, 7 Sept. 17 Bay Path at Ayer, 7 Burncoat at Worcester Tech, 7 Clinton at Nashoba, 7 Doherty at Leominster, 7 Gardner at Shepherd Hill, 7 Grafton at Auburn, 7 Groton-Dunstable at W. Boylston, 7 Lunenburg at Murdock, 7 Milford at Agawam, 7 Millbury at Bartlett, 7 Narragansett at St. Bernard’s, 7 Nipmuc at David Prouty, 7 North at Southbridge, 7 North Middlesex at Fitchburg, 7 Northbridge at Leicester, 7 Oakmont at Tantasqua, 7 Oxford at Quabbin, 7 Pathfinder at Athol, 7 St. Peter-Marian at Wachusett, 7 Keefe Tech at St. Clement, 7 Sept. 18 Monty Tech at Uxbridge, 1 Worcester Academy at Blair, 1:30 Cape Tech at Nashoba Tech, 6 Algonquin at Marlboro, 7 Maynard at Quaboag, 7 Sept. 19 Longmeadow at St. John’s, 1 Narragansett at St. Bernard’s, 7 Sept. 23 Quabbin at North, 7 Sept. 24 Algonquin at Milford, 7 Clinton at Littleton, 7 Gardner at Shrewsbury, 7 Grafton at Southbridge, 7 Hudson at Ayer, 7 Lunenburg at Northbridge, 7 Marlboro at Doherty, 7 Monty Tech at West Boylston, 7 Narragansett at Groton-Dunstable, 7 No. Shore Tech at Nashoba Tech, 7 Oakmont at Murdock, 7 Quaboag at Leicester, 7 St. Bernard’s at Shepherd Hill, 7 Wachusett at North Middlesex, 7 Worcester Tech at Maynard, 7 Sept. 25 Oxford at Bay Path, noon Bartlett at South, 1 Fitchburg at St. Peter-Marian, 1 Leominster at Holy Name, 1 Marian at Keefe Tech, 1 St. John’s at Westboro, 1 Uxbridge at Nipmuc, 1 Athol at Easthampton, 1:30 Assabet at Valley Tech, 2 Exeter at Worcester Academy, 3:30 Nashoba at Burncoat, 4 Tantasqua at David Prouty, 7 Oct. 1 Auburn at Hudson, 7 Ayer at Oakmont, 7 Bartlett at Quabbin, 7 Burncoat at David Prouty, 7 Clinton at West Boylston, 7 Gardner at Algonquin, 7 Holy Name at Nashoba, 7 Leicester at Tantasqua, 7 Murdock at Monty Tech, 7 Narragnasett at Lunenburg, 7 Nashoba Tech at Assabet, 7 Nipmuc at Northbridge, 7 North Middlesex at Leominster, 7 Quaboag at Mohawk, 7 Shrewsbury at Marlboro, 7 South at Grafton, 7 St. Bernard’s at Groton-Dunstable, 7 St. John’s at Fitchburg, 7 Wachusett at Milford, 7 Westboro at Doherty, 7 Oct. 2 Bay Path at Keefe Tech, 1 Littleton at North, 1 Maynard at Valley Tech, 1 Millbury at Uxbridge, 1 Shepherd Hill at St. Peter-Marian, 1 Southbridge at Oxford, 1:45 Worcester Academy at Northfield Mount Hermon, 2 Athol at Drury, 2:30 Blue Hills at Worcester Tech, 4 Oct. 8 Athol at Greenfield, 7 Assabet at Littleton, 7 Ayer at Clinton, 7 Bartlett at Shepherd Hill, 7 Fitchburg at Brockton, 7 Gardner at Marlboro, 7 Groton-Dunstable at Tantasqua, 7 Hudson at St. Bernard’s, 7 Leominster at Algonquin, 7 Lunenburg at West Boylston, 7 Maynard at Nashoba Tech, 7 Milford at Doherty, 7 Millbury at David Prouty, 7 Narragansett at Oakmont, 7 Nashoba at Wachusett, 7 Northbridge at Auburn, 7 Oxford at Grafton, 7 South at Watertown, 7 Worcester Tech at Monty Tech, 7 Oct. 9 Valley Tech at Bay Path, noon Murdock at Keefe Tech, 1 Quabbin at Nipmuc, 1 Shrewsbury at St. John’s, 2 Leicester at Uxbridge, 2:30 St. Thomas More at Worcester Academy, 3 Southbridge at Quaboag, 3 North at Burncoat, 7 Oct. 15 Nashoba Tech at Keefe Tech, 6 North at Worcester Tech, 4 Algonquin at Shrewsbury, 7 Bay Path at Millbury, 7 David Prouty at Oxford, 7 Fitchburg at Burncoat, 7 Groton-Dunstable at Hudson, 7 Leominster at Wachusett, 7 Littleton at Maynard, 7 Milford at North Middlesex, 7 Murdock at Ayer, 7 Nashoba at Gardner, 7 Nipmuc at Shepherd Hill, 7 Oakmont at Lunenburg, 7 Quabbin at Auburn, 7 Sci-Tech at Athol, 7 St. Bernard’s at Clinton, 7 Tantasqua at Northbridge, 7 Uxbridge at Quaboag, 7 West Boylston at Narragansett, 7 Oct. 16 Marlboro at Westboro, 1 St. Peter-Marian at Holy Name, 1 St. John’s at St. John’s Prep, 1:30 Monty Tech at Assabet, 3 Bartlett at Leicester, 7 Doherty at South, 7 Grafton at Valley Tech, 7 Southbridge at Tyngsboro, 7 Oct. 22 Algonquin at Wachusett, 7 Auburn at Bartlett, 7 Ayer at Lunenburg, 7 Bay Path at Littleton, 7 Burncoat at Northbridge, 7 Clinton at Groton-Dunstable, 7 Frontier at Athol, 7 Grafton at Leicester, 7 Marlboro at Nashoba, 7 Maynard at Narragansett, 7 Murdock at West Boylston, 7 North Middlesex at Gardner, 7 Oakmont at Hudson, 7 Oxford at Uxbridge, 7 Quabbin at Shepherd Hill, 7 Quaboag at David Prouty, 7 Shrewsbury at Fitchburg, 7 Southbridge at Millbury, 7 St. Peter-Marian at Doherty, 7 Valley Tech at Nashoba Tech, 7 Westboro at Milford, 7 Worcester Tech at Assabet, 7 Oct. 23 Holy Name at North, 1 Leominster at St. John’s, 1 Tantasqua at Nipmuc, 1 Choate at Worcester Academy, 3 St. Bernard’s at South, 4 Keefe Tech at Monty Tech, 7 Oct. 29 Nipmuc at Keefe Tech, 6 Algonquin at South, 7 Assabet at Groton-Dunstable, 7 Athol at Turners Fall, 7 Bartlett at Tantasqua, 7 Bay Path at Nashoba Tech, 7 Brockton at Leominster, 7 Dean Tech at Monty Tech, 7 Gardner at Westboro, 7 Grafton at David Prouty, 7 Hudson at Lunenburg, 7 Marlboro at Milford, 7 Millbury at Quaboag, 7 Murdock at Maynard, 7 Narragansett at Littleton, 7 Nashoba at Shrewsbury, 7 Northbridge at Quabbin, 7 Oakmont at Clinton, 7 Oxford at Leicester, 7 Shepherd Hill at Auburn, 7 Uxbridge at Southbridge, 7 Wachusett at Fitchburg, 7 West Boylston at Ayer, 7 Oct. 30 Burncoat at St. Peter-Marian, 1 Doherty at Holy Name, 1 North Middlesex at North, 1 Valley Tech at Worcester Tech, 1 Xaverian at St. John’s, 1 Nov. 5 Ayer at Narragansett, 7 Belchertown at Athol, 7 Burncoat vs. Holy Name at Anna Maria, 7 Clinton at Hudson, 7 Fitchburg at Algonquin, 7 Groton-Dunstable at Lunenburg, 7 Leicester at Southbridge, 7 Leominster at Shrewsbury, 7 Littleton at Murdock, 7 Marlboro at North Middlesex, 7 Milford at Gardner, 7 Nipmuc at Bartlett, 7 North at Doherty, 7 Northbridge at Shepherd Hill, 7 Oxford at Millbury, 7 Quabbin at Assabet, 7 Quaboag at Grafton, 7 St. Bernard’s at Oakmont, 7 St. John’s at Wachusett, 7 Tantasqua at Auburn, 7 West Boylston at Maynard, 7 Westboro at Nashoba, 7 Nov. 6 Monty Tech at Bay Path, noon Keefe Tech at Valley Tech, 1 Nashoba Tech at Worcester Tech, 1 South at St. Peter-Marian, 1 David Prouty at Uxbridge, 2:30 Phillips Andover at Worcester Academy, 6 Nov. 12 Athol at Mohawk, 7 Ayer at Maynard, 7 Bartlett at Northbridge, 7 David Prouty at Southbridge, 7 Fitchburg at Gardner, 7 Groton-Dunstable at Oakmont, 7 Holy Name at St. Bernard’s, 7 Hudson at Narragansett, 7 Leicester at Millbury, 7 Leominster at Marlboro, 7 Littleton at West Boylston, 7 Lunenburg at Clinton, 7 Milford at Nashoba, 7 Nashoba Tech at Murdock, 7 Quaboag at Oxford, 7 Shepherd Hill at Doherty, 7 Shrewsbury at Wachusett, 7 St. John’s at Algonquin, 7 Tantasqua at Quabbin, 7 Uxbridge at Grafton, 7 Nov. 13 Assabet at Bay Path, noon Auburn at Nipmuc, 1 Monty Tech at Valley Tech, 1 North Middlesex at Westboro, 1 Worcester Academy at Cushing, 1 Keefe Tech at Worcester Tech, 4 St. Peter-Marian at North, 4 Nov. 15 South at Burncoat, 6 Nov. 20 Worcester Tech at Bay Path, noon Keefe Tech at Assabet, 1 Nov. 24 Monty Tech at Nashoba Tech, 6 Lunenburg at St. Bernard’s, 6 Auburn at Millbury, 7 North at South, 7 Ware at Quaboag, 7 Nov. 25 Algonquin at Westboro, 10 Auburn at Oxford, 10 Doherty at Burncoat, 10 Fitchburg at Leominster, 10 Holy Name at Wachusett, 10 Hudson at Marlboro, 10 Littleton at Ayer, 10 Mahar at Athol, 10 Maynard at Clinton, 10 Narragansett at Murdock, 10 Nashoba at North Middlesex, 10 Oakmont at Gardner, 10 Tyngsboro at Groton-Dunstable, 10 Valley Tech at Nipmuc, 10 David Prouty at Leicester, 10:15 Millbury at Grafton, 10:15 Shepherd Hill at Tantasqua, 10:15 Shrewsbury at Milford, 10:15 Southbridge at Bartlett, 10:15 Uxbridge at Northbridge, 10:15 St. Peter-Marian vs. St. John’s, 11 West Boylston at Quabbin, 11
WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE 11 St. John’s Pioneers 2009: 11-2 (4-1 Division 1A); Division 1A Super Bowl Champions Home field: Pioneer Field. Turf field, across from the high school, 378 Main St., Shrewsbury. Brain trust: Coach: John Andreoli (seventh season, 54-17 career). Assistants: Pat White (associate head coach), Dan Brunelle (defensive coordinator), Chris Moriarty (offensive coordinator), Paul Capstick (special teams), Bill Feraco, Greg Blondin, Rob Ginisi, Zach Demma, Bob Bradley, Jim Andreoli. Returning starters: 11 (5 offense, 6 defense). Captains: Sr. WR/DE Richard Rodgers, Sr. OT/DT Tyler Pike, Sr. LB Michael Hogan, Sr. LB Shaun Burlinson, Sr. QB/DE Dan Light. Top players: Sr. WR Chris Dulmaine, Sr. RB John Vassar, Sr. OL/LB Michael Calamare, Sr. LB John Joseph, Sr. OL Chris Jacques, Sr. OL Austin Riedel, Sr. DL Mike Abraham, Sr. DB Connor Lemire, Sr. DB Andre Souffrant, Sr. KS Anthony Souffrant, Jr. FL Brendan O’Connor, Jr. FL Bobby Gibbons. Out with the old: The Pioneers graduated four of their six Division 1A all-stars — QB Griffin Murphy (1,847 passing yards, 27 TDs), OL Troy Moore, LB Shane McGrail and DB Tim Wickstrom. In with the new: Sr. OL Greg Iaccarino, Sr. OL Ethan Matchinski, So. OL Ryan Anger, Jr. LB Sean Wilson, So. RB Shad Abrokwah, Sr. DE Tyler Degnan, Sr. LB James Feraco, Jr. LB Nick Maniatis, Jr. OL Warren Hayden, Jr. LB Efrain Montalvo, Jr. QB/DB Anthony Perry, Jr. QB Peter Mazzaferro, Sr. RB Kyle Macri, Sr. DB Jack Palermo, Sr. WR Bobby Gibbons, Jr. DB Matt Cafarella, Jr. DB Kyle Ofcarcik, Jr. LB Luke Mullan, Sr. LB Ryan Sheehan, Jr. LB Mark Lewandowski. When the Pioneers have the ball: Spread offense. … Scored 390 points last year, most in Division 1. … Rodgers has established himself as one of the most electrifying athletes in the state, choosing to accept a full scholarship to play at California next fall over offers from Maryland, Oregon, Boston College and Notre Dame. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Rodgers caught 49 passes for 722 yards and 17 TDs. … Light moves under center after playing running back the last two seasons. He’s a threat to run (465 rushing yards, 5 TDs) as well as throw the deep ball. … Vassar (104 rushes, 689 yards, 8 TDs) is back at running back after a standout junior year. … Dulmaine (23 catches, 414 yards, 5 TDs) could burn teams if they focus too much on Rodgers. When their opponents have the ball: 4-4 defensive alignment. … Allowed 177 points last year, secondlowest in Division 1A…. Rodgers (4 INTs, 2 TDs, 2 fumble recoveries), the returning Division 1Defensive MVP, leads a solid defense in 2010, and he’ll pair with Light (19 tackles, 5 sacks) at the defensive ends. … The Pioneers boast one of the best linebacking corps around with Hogan (50 tackles), Burlinson (52 tackles) and Abraham (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) all back. … Pike (31 tackles, 7 sacks) will lead an always solid defensive line. … St. John’s lost quite a bit in the defensive backfield and will look to Calamare, Joseph, Souffrant, Santoro, Ortone, Lemire and Wilson to fill in the holes. In the trenches: The Pioneers have what Andreoli calls a, “young, but game-tested line.” … Calamare (6-0, 220 points) will anchor the unit at guard. … Jacques (6-0, 250), Riedel (6-1, 230), Iaccarino (6-2, 260), Junior Brendan Melanson (6-2, 210) and Anger (6-2, 210) will compete for starting positions. One to watch: While teams are going to focus on Rodgers — and rightly so — watch out for Light and By Jim Wilson CHRISTINE PETERSON Senior captain Dan Light takes over at quarterback for the Pioneers. DIVISION 1A Vassar on the offense. Light is regarded as one of the better athletes at St. John’s while Vassar emerged as a standout running back, earning the Division 1A Super Bowl MVP award last year. Light has plenty of weapons in the air with Rodgers and Dulmaine and if teams play the pass too much, watch for Vassar to make them pay. Behind enemy lines: “They are the team to beat. No question about it,” an opposing coach said. “It’s almost unfair how much talent they have. Rodgers is the best player Central Mass. has seen since the Morris brothers. I don’t know if anyone can stop him this year.” Schedule: Sept. 11.....................................Holy Name, 1 Sept. 19 .................................Longmeadow, 1 Sept. 25 ..................................at Westboro, 1 Oct. 1......................................at Fitchburg, 7 Oct. 9......................................Shrewsbury, 2 Oct. 16 ........................at St. John’s Prep, 1:30 Oct. 23......................................Leominster, 1 Oct. 30.........................................Xaverian, 1 Nov. 5 ...................................at Wachusett, 7 Nov. 12...................................at Algonquin, 7 Nov. 23........................St. Peter-Marian, 10:30 Key game: Sept. 19 vs. Longmeadow. Last year, the Pioneers made the trip west and smacked the Lancers on their own field — something that was pretty much unheard of. Longmeadow prides itself on being the best Western Mass has to offer, so you know that has been bothering them since. Meanwhile, St. John’s simply plans on doing it again and proving the Pioneers are just as good, if not better, than last year’s squad. 2009 results: St. John’s 25..............................Holy Name 8 St. John’s 42 .........................Longmeadow 12 St. John’s 56..............................Westboro 23 St. John’s 28 ................................Fitchburg 0 St. John’s 21............................Shrewsbury 14 St. John’s 24.......................St. John’s Prep 14 St. John’s 28..............................Leominster 6 Xaverian 42................................St. John’s 14 Wachusett 14...............................St. John’s 7 St. John’s 48 ...............................Algonquin 6 St. John’s 42......................St. Peter-Marian 14 St. John’s 34 ...........................Shrewsbury 14 St. John’s 21................................Marlboro 10 Jim’s take: Playing one of the toughest schedules around will just make the Pioneers better this year. Light should pick up the quarterback spot without a problem and join with Rodgers, Vassar and Dulmaine to form an offense that should have St. John’s in the thick of the Super Bowl mix. 5 Follow the Pioneers’ every game this fall at www.telegram.com/hometeam. Wachusett Mountaineers 2009: 13-0 (5-0 Division 1A); Division 1 Super Bowl Champions Home field: Wachusett Regional Field. Turf field, 1401 Main St., Holden. Brain trust: Coach: Mike Dubzinski (12th season, 76-49 career). Assistants: Mark Wilde, Wally Massey, Justin McKay, Mark Peters, Kevin Briggs, Kevin Massey, Eric Chandonnett, Dan Hickey, Joe Brown, Jeff Kodys, Chris Belcher, Jon Long, Allan Waite, Dan Wilde. Returning starters: 8 (3 offense, 5 defense). Captains: Sr. QB/LB Matt LeBlanc, Sr. OL Shane Murray. Top players: Sr. OL/DL Alex Goodhile, Sr. RB/DB B.J. Foley, Sr. RB/LB Eric Darko, Sr. RB/LB Nick Champlin, Sr. RB/LB Matt McMillen, Sr. DL Tyler Catalina, Sr. P/K Connor McDavitt, Sr. QB/DB Steve Trychon, Sr. DB Rocco DiVerdi, Sr. DB Sean Goehle, Jr. TE/LB Alex Turgeon, Sr. OL/DL Zack Mazyck, Sr. OL Josh Anderson. Out with the old: The Mountaineers graduated five of their six Division 1A all-stars — Offensive MVP Matt Pedone (1,103 rushing yards), OL Kyle Daigle, LB Gary White, DB Mike Bates and DE Casey Devereaux. In with the new: Sr. OL Matt Coyle, Sr. RB/LB Steve Balcewicz, Sr. RB/LB Nick Esposito, Jr. DB Justin Cravedi, Jr. LB Scott Mellecker, Jr. OL/DL Mario Otchere, Jr. RB/DB Nick Maxner. When the Mountaineers have the ball: Multiple offensive sets. … Scored 367 points last year, second-most in Division 1A. … The offense was gutted by graduation, as Wachusett returns just three starters. … Darko (803 rushing yards, 12 TDs) and McMillen (342 rushing yards) will try to pick up the slack left by the graduation of Pedone. … Foley should also help out on offense. When their opponents have the ball: 3-5 stack defensive alignment. … Allowed just 92 points last year, second-fewest in Central Mass. … Catalina returns on the defensive line. … LeBlanc, Champlin, Foley and Darko lead one of the better linebacking corps around, as Wachusett brings back four of its five returning starters in that area. In the trenches: Goodhile (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) is the only returning starter on the Wachusett line. … Look for Mazyck, Murray and Catalina to contribute. One to watch: Goodhile will be tasked to lead a young line for the Mountaineers at center. Wachusett retained some talented backs in Darko and McMillen, but the Mountaineers aren’t going to be able to score many points unless Goodhile and his linemates are able to open the holes and give the backs some running room. Goodhile is going to be counted on to share his leadership with the newer faces. Behind enemy lines: “Their defense last year was one of the best I’ve seen in Central Mass,” a rival coach said. “It will be interesting to see who they plug in to replace those guys like White and Devereaux.” The quote: “We will have difficulty replacing eight starters on offense and six on defense,” Dubzinski By Jim Wilson said. “We must improve to compete with the quickness and toughness of St. John’s, Fitchburg, Leominster, Doherty, Milford, Holy Name, Shrewsbury. Everyone we play has coaches that scout, study, work hard and are knowledgeable.” Schedule: Sept. 9..........................................Doherty, 7 Sept. 17.............................St. Peter-Marian, 7 Sept. 24 ........................at North Middlesex, 7 Oct. 1.........................................at Milford, 7 Oct. 8..........................................Nashoba, 7 Oct. 15 .....................................Leominster, 7 Oct. 22 ......................................Algonquin, 7 Oct. 29....................................at Fitchburg, 7 Nov. 5 .......................................St. John’s, 7 Nov. 12....................................Shrewsbury, 7 Nov. 25...................................Holy Name, 10 PAUL KAPTEYN Wachusett senior running back Eric Darko is tackled by St. Peter-Marian’s Jay Mundy during a game last September. Key game: Nov. 5 vs. St. John’s. There is no love lost between these two teams, and this one looms as a big matchup, no matter how many players Wachusett has graduated. Say what you want about that “one game at a time” mentality — both teams (and their fans) look forward to this game all year long. 2009 results: Wahcusett 23 .................................Doherty 8 Wachusett 30......................St. Peter-Marian 0 Wachusett 28....................North Middlesex 14 Wachusett 24.................................Milford 14 Wachusett 21................................Nashoba 0 Wachusett 39.............................Leominster 7 Wachusett 55.............................Algonquin 21 Wachusett 41 ...............................Fitchburg 0 Wachusett 14 ..............................St. John’s 7 Wachusett 35 ..........................Shrewsbury 13 Wachusett 10.............................Holy Name 8 Wachusett 13.............................Leominster 0 Wachusett 34.............................Holy Name 0 Jim’s take: The holes on offense will be tough to fill, but don’t count the Mountaineers out. While another 13-0 season might not be in the cards, Wachusett certainly will fill with some strong younger players and should have the Mountaineers competing for a defense of their Division 1 Super Bowl title. 5 Follow the Mountaineers’ every game this fall at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
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