Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
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Home field: Nashoba Regional Field. Grass field, 12
Green Rd., Bolton.
Brain trust: Coach: Ken Tucker (24th season,
144-91-1 career). Assistants: Andy LeBlanc, Gregg
Newton, James Tucker, Casey Ruggiero, Bob Jones,
Brian Malatesta, Stavros Andreopolous.
Returning starters: 10 (4 offense, 6 defense).
Captains: Sr. QB/DB Will Hurley, Sr. G/LB Ricky
Genetti, Sr. T/DL Keenan Labonte, Sr. FB/LB Randy
Patterson, Sr. WR/DB Conor Wyand.
Top players: Sr. WR/LB Larry McGillicuddy, Sr. RB/DB
Danny Ceron, Jr. RB/DB Carroll Bailey.
Out with the old: The Chieftains lose just two of five
Division 1B all-stars, DL Peter Hagermoser and LB Matt
Morrison.
In with the new: Jr. QB/DB Trevor Wyand, So. FB/LB
Jack Sarnoski, Sr. RB/DB Kevin Buettner, So. RB/LB
Paul Louissant, So. RB/DB John Ojuknu, Jr. FB/LB
Zach Arsenault, Jr. RB/LB Alex Gothie, So. TE/LB Zach
Hume, Jr. RB/LB Erik Ek, So. T/DL Ethan Benjamin, Jr.
G/LB Sam Ashline, Jr. G/DL/K Brandon Steff, Sr. C/DL
Connor Mullin, Jr. G/DL Bret Bemis, Jr. G/LB Ron
Hamwey, So. G/DL Garrett Curran, So. C/DL Ben
DIVISION 1B
Nashoba Chieftains
2009: 5-7 (3-2 Division 1B); Division 1 Playoffs
Nicholson, Sr. T/DL Luke Puleo, Jr. T/DL Mike Piantedosi,
Sr. TE/LB Connor Ruby.
When the Chieftains have the ball: Spread/wing-T offensive
alignments. … Scored 215 points. … Hurley, who
was the Division 1B Offensive Specialist of the Year,
returns at quarterback. … Ceron is back to handle the
running chores. … Wyand, a returning Division 1B
all-star, will be the top WR target.
When their opponents have the ball: 4-4 defense. …
Allowed 228 points. … Linebacker will be solid with the
returns of Genetti and Division 1B all-star Patterson. …
Nashoba is loaded in the backfield with Bailey, Conor
Wyand and McGillicuddy returning. … Labonte shores
up the defensive line.
In the trenches: Labonte is the lone returning lineman
for the Chieftains.
One to watch: Hurley threw for more than 1,200 yards
as a junior and should improve on that number. He has
a few standout targets, led by fellow returning all-star
Conor Wyand. The league is wide open this year, and
Hurley’s arm could have Nashoba as an early favorite if
the offense jells around him.
The quote: “The opportunity to play a playoff game
By Jim Wilson
last year should help keep the Chieftains hungry for
success,” Tucker said. “In a very balanced, difficult
league, it will be essential to stay healthy. Early in the
season, the defense and returning offensive starters
will have to set the tone until the less experienced,
potentially talented players mature.”
Schedule:
Sept. 10 .....................................at Fitchburg, 7
Sept. 17 ............................................Clinton, 7
Sept. 25......................................at Burncoat, 4
Oct. 1..........................................Holy Name, 7
Oct. 8.......................................at Wachsuett, 7
Oct. 15.........................................at Gardner, 7
Oct. 22...........................................Marlboro, 7
Oct. 29 ...................................at Shrewsbury, 7
Nov. 5 ...........................................Westboro, 7
Nov. 12 .............................................Milford, 7
Nov. 25...........................at North Middlesex, 10
Key game: Sept. 17 vs. Clinton. The two longstanding
rivals meet in Week 2. Last year, Nashoba was the only
team to hang a loss on the Gaels, so this year’s
rematch, pitting teams that are among the favorites in
their respective leagues, should be another classic.
2009 results:
Fitchburg 8 ......................................Nashoba 7
Nashoba 9..........................................Clinton 0
Nashoba 45.....................................Burncoat 6
Holy Name 40 ................................Nashoba 20
Wachusett 21...................................Nashoba 0
Nashoba 35.....................................Gardner 21
Marlboro 34.....................................Nashoba 7
Shrewsbury 21 .................................Nashoba 7
Westboro 28 ....................................Nashoba 7
Nashoba 29......................................Milford 28
Nashoba 42...........................North Middlesex 0
Marlboro 21 .....................................Nashoba 7
Jim’s take: The Chieftains always have a solid
defense and they should have one again this year.
Nashoba qualified for the postseason despite its
offense going on hiatus in big games against Marlboro,
Westboro and Shrewsbury. If the Chieftains can avoid
that this year, they should be in the hunt for the league
title and deliver Tucker his 150th career win.
5
Follow the Chieftains’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
No. Middlesex Patriots
Home field: John Y. Young Memorial Field. Grass
field, at the high school, 19 Main St., Townsend.
Brain trust: Coach: Sandy Ruggles (18th season
at North Middlesex, 122-55-3 from 1981-95,
2008-09). Assistants: Keith Stone, Brent Kasabian,
Paul Giacobbe, Ken Wrobel, Eric Desmond,
Nick Morgan, Ralph Wolfendale.
Returning starters: 10 (4 offense, 6 defense).
Top players: Jr. RB/DB Brian Magee, Sr. QB/DB
Jake Trickett, Sr. RB/DB Colin Cenedella, Sr.
TE/DE Chris Paul, Jr. LB John Mossey, Jr. DT
Corey Carleton, Sr. C Cam Hendley.
Out with the old: The Patriots graduated both
Division 1B all-stars in OL Nick Manicotti and RB
Evan Woolacott.
In with the new: So. RB Brandon Lambert, So.
OLB Joe Dolciotto, Sr. DE Austin Heller, Sr. OT
Connor Buchholz, Sr. OG Brian Shannon, So.
OG/DT Chris Tucker, Jr. OLB Nate Smith, Jr. SL
Bryan Croteau, Jr. SE David Lorden, Sr. OL Mike
Ricci.
When the Patriots have the ball: Spread offense. …
Scored 101 points, lowest in Division 1B. …
Tricket returns at quarterback. … Magee (574
rushing yards) and Cenedella (137 rushing yards,
138 receiving) return to lead the offense.
When their opponents have the ball: 4-4 defense. …
Allowed 276 points, most in Division 1B. … Four
of the Patriots’ six returning defensive starters are
in the secondary — Paul, Cenedella, Trickett and
Magee. … Mossey is back at linebacker. …
Carleton returns at defensive tackle after starting
as a sophomore.
In the trenches: Hendley returns at center. … Paul
returns at tight end.
One to watch: Trickett is hoping to continue the
North Middlesex turnaround this year at quarterback.
He’s hoping to improve on a junior year in
which he completed just eight of 29 passes for
154 yards. With returning skill players like Magee
2009: 2-9 (0-5 Division 1B)
By Jim Wilson
and Cenedella, he should be able to do so.
Schedule:
Sept. 10.............................at Tyngsboro, 7
Sept. 17...............................at Fitchburg, 7
Sept. 24.................................Wachusett, 7
Oct. 1................................at Leominster, 7
Oct. 8 ........................at St. Peter-Marian, 7
Oct. 15........................................Milford, 7
Oct. 22..................................at Gardner, 7
Oct. 30......................................at North, 1
Nov. 5......................................Marlboro, 7
Nov. 13................................at Westboro, 1
Nov. 25...................................Nashoba, 10
Key game: Oct. 8 vs. St. Peter-Marian. The
Patriots will be coming off a brutal stretch of
games against Fitchburg, Wachusett and Leominster,
and this meeting against the Guardians
should provide a good gut-check.
2009 results:
North Middlesex 23 ..................Stoneham 8
Fitchburg 41 ..................North Middlesex 14
Wachusett 28 ................North Middlesex 14
Leominster 21 .................North Middlesex 0
St. Peter-Marian 13 ..........North Middlesex 0
Milford 38.......................North Middlesex 0
Gardner 27 .....................North Middlesex 7
North Middlesex 26 .......................North 16
Marlboro 14...................North Middlesex 10
Westboro 28 ...................North Middlesex 7
Nashoba 42 ....................North Middlesex 0
Jim’s take: The Patriots are hoping to continue
improvement in their third season under Ruggles,
but a tough schedule makes that hard to do.
North Middlesex has some good skill position
players back, but it’s tough to keep fighting
against the cream of Division 1A in three of the
first four games of the season.
5
Follow the Patriots’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
Westboro Rangers
2009: 7-5 (3-2 Division 1B); Division 1 Playoffs
Home field: Joe Mewhiney Field. Turf field, at the high
school, 90 West Main St., Westboro.
Brain trust: Coach: Mark Ellis (ninth season, 49-52
career). Assistants: Jan Gebo (offensive coordinator), Bill
Griffin, Phil Mulcahy, Jim Brown, Casey Cullen, Bryan
Wood, Lorin Reed, Matt Travis.
Returning starters: 8 (3 offense, 5 defense).
Captains: Sr. RB/LB Brian Orlando, Sr. QB/LB Andrew
Grant, Sr. OL/DL Tony Silva, Sr. RB/DE Sam Nichols.
Top players: Sr. CB Richard Sterndale, Sr. OL Zach Howe,
Sr. CB Dan Potts, Jr. OL/LB Marc Berman, Sr. DE James
Seatter, Sr. RB/DB Jake Holmes, Sr. WR/DB Trevor
Laham.
Out with the old: The Rangers graduated four of their five
Division 1B all-stars from last year, losing OL Austin
Ashton, RB Tucker Brady (657 rushing yards), specialist
Nick Mastrogiacomo and DB Sam Silverman.
In with the new: Jr. OL/DL Tyler Haberkorn, Jr. TE/DE
Aiden Moffat, Jr. Will Ashton, Jr. OL/DL Ben Ridley, Jr. DL
David Ros, Jr. RB/DB Jon Soto, Sr. RB Nigel Rowe, So.
RB/DB Sean Anderson, So. RB/DB Tom Lawton, So.
QB/DE Zach Mason, So. RB/LB Anthony Phillips, So.
OL/DL Nishant Joshi, So. OL/DL Dave Tubman.
When the Rangers have the ball: Wing-T offense. … Scored
238 points, fourth in Division 1B. … Nearly the entire
Rangers backfield is back, with Orlando (623 rushing
yards, 9 TDs) and Nichols (322 rushing yards).
When their opponents have the ball: 5-2 defense. … Allowed
264 points, second-most in Division 1B. … Grant, the lone
returning D1B all-star, is the rock of the defense at
linebacker. … Silva and Nichols should shore up a solid
defensive line. … Sterndale and Potts make up a strong
defensive backfield. … Orlando returns at linebacker.
In the trenches: Howe and Silva shore up a young unit
that needs size.
One to watch: Grant will move to QB. He has established
himself as a defensive leader, so it bears watching how
well he can perform on the other side of the ball.
What you should know: The Rangers will host a rare night
game against Gardner on Oct. 29, playing under tempo-
By Jim Wilson
rary lights that will cap a week of night sporting events.
The quote: “We are looking at a very competitive league
again where everyone can win on any given day,” Ellis
said. “We are going to be competitive, as our leadership
with our captains and seniors is where our team attitude is
going to be big.”
Schedule:
Sept. 10 .........................................at Burncoat, 7
Sept. 16......................................at Shrewsbury, 6
Sept. 25............................................St. John’s, 1
Oct. 1...............................................at Doherty, 7
Oct. 9..........................................at Holy Name, 2
Oct. 16 ...............................................Marlboro, 1
Oct. 22..............................................at Milford, 7
Oct. 29................................................Gardner, 7
Nov. 5............................................at Nashoba, 7
Nov. 13 ....................................North Middlesex, 1
Nov. 25...........................................Algonquin, 10
Key game: Oct. 16 vs. Marlboro. The Rangers need to
establish themselves in a wide-open Division 1B, and
Westboro will get it started against the Panthers.
2009 results:
Westboro 33 .......................................Burncoat 6
Westboro 14 ..................................Shrewsbury 12
St. John’s 56 ....................................Westboro 23
Westboro 18........................................Doherty 14
Holy Name 40.....................................Westboro 0
Marlboro 34 ......................................Westboro 13
Milford 27 ..........................................Westboro 7
Westboro 46.......................................Gardner 36
Westboro 28........................................Nashoba 7
Westboro 28 .............................North Middlesex 7
Westboro 21 ......................................Algonquin 7
Holy Name 18.....................................Westboro 7
Jim’s take: Although the Rangers lost a huge chunk of
their offense, Westboro still has key players in Orlando,
Grant and Nichols, who have proven they can score.
5
Follow the Rangers’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.