Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette
PAGE CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM 14 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.
WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE 15 Introducing the ALL-NEW 2011 Volkswagen JETTA Automobilemag.com says, “The new Jetta makes all of its competition…look like toys.” In our showroom later this month, be the 1st to see it!
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WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE<br />
15<br />
Introducing the ALL-NEW<br />
2011 Volkswagen JETTA<br />
Automobilemag.com says, “The new Jetta makes all of its competition…look like toys.”<br />
In our showroom later this<br />
month, be the 1st to see it!
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