Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
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Worcester Tech Eagles
2009: 9-3 (6-0 Division 3C); Division 3 playoffs
Home field: Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium.
Turf field, 305 Chandler St., Worcester.
Brain trust: Coach: Ron Silvestri (20th season,
100-90-3 career). Assistants: Gene Card, Pat Phenix,
Lou Letourneau, Tony Monteiro.
Returning starters: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense).
Captains: Sr. QB/DB Matt Letourneau, Sr. OL/DL
Josh Maynard, Sr. OL/DL Justin Burke, Sr. TE/LB
Will Rueda, Sr. RB/LB John Campbell.
Top players: Sr. RB/DB John Boyd, Jr. WR/LB Nick
Clark.
Out with the old: The Eagles graduated three of their
four Division 3C all-stars in RB Josh Borrero, OT
Alexis Paradis and DB Dave Viscera.
In with the new: Sr. OL/DE Marcelino Guerra, Jr.
LB/PK Victor Sambola, Jr. RB/DB Anthony Bailey, Jr.
WR/DB Franky Rodriguez, So. RB/LB Jake Chaffee,
So. RB/DB Jeremy Frasier, So. OL/DL Robbie Nay,
So. OL/DL Chris Ducharme, So. OL/DL Chris Sotir.
When the Eagles have the ball: Pro and spread offense.
… Scored 339 points, most in Division 3C. … Letourneau
will be back under center. … Boyd and Campbell
will carry out of the backfield. … Rueda and Clark
will be Letourneau’s targets in the air.
When their opponents have the ball: 3-5 defense. …
Allowed 129 points, fewest in Division 3C. … Letourneau
is back in the secondary. … The linebackers will
be a big strength for the Eagles as Clark, Rueda and
Campbell return.
In the trenches: The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Maynard
leads the way at center. … Burke (6-2, 275) will do
his part at tackle. … Lemay also will also step in.
One to watch: Letourneau will be relied on to carry
the load offensively. Silvestri calls him his coach on
the field. “He’s an excellent leader, very tough and
intense,” he said. “He’s a great competitor.”
By Jim Wilson
Schedule:
Sept. 11......................................South, 1
Sept. 17 .................................Burncoat, 7
Sept. 24 .............................at Maynard, 7
Oct. 2....................................Blue Hills, 4
Oct. 8.............................at Monty Tech, 7
Oct. 15 .......................................North, 4
Oct. 22................................at Assabet, 7
Oct. 30...............................Valley Tech, 1
Nov. 6 ............................Nashoba Tech, 1
Nov. 13...............................Keefe Tech, 4
Nov. 20 ............................at Bay Path, 12
Key game: Oct. 22 at Assabet. This will be a key
game for the Division 3C title. Both teams always
step it up when they meet, and this year should
be no different.
2009 results:
Worcester Tech 31 .......................South 0
Burncoat 18..................Worcester Tech 16
Maynard 20..................Worcester Tech 12
Worcester Tech 27.................Blue Hills 12
Worcester Tech 47...............Monty Tech 0
Worcester Tech 41........................North 8
Worcester Tech 28 ..................Assabet 14
Worcester Tech 26 ...............Valley Tech 0
Worcester Tech 13............Nashoba Tech 3
Worcester Tech 40................Keefe Tech 6
Worcester Tech 42...................Bay Path 6
Littleton 42 ..................Worcester Tech 16
Jim’s take: The Eagles are perennial contenders
for the league title. The defense should keep
games close, which will allow Letourneau, Boyd
and Campbell to get the offense going.
5
Follow the Eagles’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
DIVISION 3C
Monty Tech Bulldogs
Home field: Monty Tech Field. Grass field,
1050 Westminster St., Fitchburg.
Brain trust: Coach: Matt Sallila (third season,
3-19 career). Assistants: Tim Roy
(running backs/defensive tackles), Jon
Shea (wide receivers/defensive backs),
Steve Bevins (quarterbacks/defensive
backs), George Hutchinson (offensive line/
linebackers), Andy Roy (running backs/
defensive ends), Anthony Secino (freshmen/linemen),
David Cosenza (assistant
freshman/skill positions).
Returning starters: 10 (5 offense, 5
defense).
Captains: Sr. RB/DB Evan Martin (384
rushing yards), Sr. G/DT Kevin Duong.
Top players: Jr. RB/DB Dominic Tremallo,
Jr. QB/DB Ive Tigs, Jr. FB/LB Corey Ball, Sr.
WR/DB Aaron Martin.
Out with the old: The Bulldogs graduated
three Division 3C all-stars — OL Joe Cournoyer,
FB Jeff Degnan (478 rushing yards)
and LB Alex Valley.
In with the new: Jr. OT/DT Ryan Leger, Jr.
OT/DT Eric Saulnier, Jr. OT/DL Andrew
Ruston, Jr. TE/DE Matt Cregg, Jr. C/DE
Jake Demont, So. WR/DB Nick Gionet. So.
RB/LB Greck Rosado, So. RB/DB Tarsiah
Murphy, So. OL/DL Brett Bourne, Fr.
2009: 3-8 (2-4 Division 3C)
By Jim Wilson
QB/DB Drew Jeffery.
When the Bulldogs have the ball: I-formation.
… Scored 114 points. … Evan Martin and
Tremallo return in backfield. … Tigs moves
to QB. … Aaron Martin is back at receiver
and will be helped by LeBlanc and Gionet.
When their opponents have the ball: 5-3
defense. … Allowed 251 points. … Ball is
back at linebacker. … Secondary is strong
with Tigs, Aaron and Evan Martin all back.
In the trenches: Duong leads the offensive
line at guard. … Leger, Saulnier and Ruston
will be in the mix at tackle. … Cregg and
Demont will line up at defensive end.
One to watch: Evan Martin should see
most of the carries for the Bulldogs as he
and Tremallo pick up the slack left by the
graduation of Degnan.
What you should know: The Bulldogs started
plenty of sophomores last year, and Sallila
expects that to pay off this year — especially
experience at the skill positions.
The quote: “We look to improve from our
last season,” Sallila said. “Our conference
is tough, and no one can be taken lightly.”
Schedule:
Sept. 10....................Franklin Tech, 7
Sept. 18.......................at Uxbridge, 1
Sept. 24 ..............at West Boylston, 7
Oct. 1..............................Murdock, 7
Oct. 8....................Worcester Tech, 7
Oct. 16.........................at Assabet, 3
Oct. 23........................Keefe Tech, 7
Oct. 29.........................Dean Tech, 7
Nov. 6 .......................at Bay Path, 12
Nov. 13....................at Valley Tech, 1
Nov. 24 ...............at Nashoba Tech, 6
Key game: Oct. 23 vs. Keefe Tech. The
Bulldogs beat the Broncos last year to kick
off a three-game win streak. It also snapped
Monty Tech’s 17-game losing streak.
2009 results:
Franklin Tech 6.............Monty Tech 0
Uxbridge 42 .................Monty Tech 8
West Boylston 17 ........Monty Tech 14
Worcester Tech 47........Monty Tech 0
Assabet 34 ..................Monty Tech 6
Monty Tech 21 ..............Keefe Tech 6
Monty Tech 20...............Dean Tech 6
Monty Tech 24.................Bay Path 0
Valley Tech 31..............Monty Tech 0
Nashoba Tech 20 ........Monty Tech 14
Jim’s take: The Bulldogs have improved
each year under Sallila, so with 10 starters
back, expect that trend to continue.
5
Follow the Bulldogs’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
Valley Tech Beavers
Home field: Valley Tech Field.
Grass field, 65 Pleasant St., Upton.
Brain trust: Coach: Glenn Arnold
(third season, 8-15 career). Assistants:
Jay Tortora, Jim Archibald,
Kenny Garron, Brian Lussier, Mike
Walsh, Derek Yancik.
Returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7
defense).
Captains: Sr. LB Nick Barnicle (51
tackles, 2 INTs), Sr. LB Dan Wojnar
(65 tackles, 2 INTs), Sr. OL/LB Tony
Rice.
Top players: Jr. OL/DL Dave Trettel
(42 tackles, 3 sacks), Jr. RB/CB
Craig Gosselin (247 rushing yards,
204 receiving, 4 TDs), So. QB Dan
Avery (702 passing yards, 5 TDs),
Sr. SE/DB Ryan Leshinski (59 tackles,
177 receiving yards), Jr. TE/DE
Attila Kara, Jr. OL/DL Andy Perras.
Out with the old: The Beavers
graduated two of their three Division
3A all-stars last year — G Peter
Trettel and LB Bill Bachand.
In with the new: Sr. FB/DE Matt
Gendron, Jr. RB/CB Julian Picard,
So. SE/DB Shawn Wilkins, So.
FB/LB Pat Durkin, So. OL/DL Joe
Angelini.
When the Beavers have the ball:
Combination of Wing-T and spread
offenses. … Scored 155 points last
year. … Avery was impressive as a
freshman QB last year. … Gosselin
will carry most of the load in the
2009: 6-6 (3-3 Division 3C)
By Jim Wilson
backfield, with Picard helping out. …
Fullbacks Gendron and Durkin
should pave the way. … Wilkins and
Kara look to get the bulk of the
receptions.
When their opponents have the ball: 4-3
defensive alignment. … Allowed 218
points. … Trettel had a breakout year
as a sophomore, emerging as a top
lineman. He, Perras and Kara will
form a solid defensive front. …
Barnicle and Wojnar will shore up
the linebackers. … Leshniski had two
interceptions at DB last year, and he
should be helped out by Wilkins
coming off a strong freshman season.
In the trenches: Trettel and Rice
anchor the group … Perras returns at
tackle, while Kara can block with the
best of them at tight end.
One to watch: Trettel is a returning
all-star and is developing into a force
on the Beavers’ line. He leads a
defense that lost just four starters
and should make life difficult for
opposing offenses.
What you should know: The Beavers
won their last four games in 2009,
including the Vocational Super Bowl.
The quote: “We are coming off a
very strong finish last year with a
very young team,” Arnold said. “Our
team has tremendous potential, but
we need some players to step up
and fill some key roles in order to be
successful this year.”
Schedule:
Sept. 11................Tri-County, 2
Sept. 16...............at Littleton, 7
Sept. 25 ..................Assabet, 2
Oct. 2 .....................Maynard, 1
Oct. 9...............at Bay Path, 12
Oct. 16 .....................Grafton, 7
Oct. 22.......at Nashoba Tech, 7
Oct. 30 .....at Worcester Tech, 1
Nov. 6.................Keefe Tech, 1
Nov. 13 ..............Monty Tech, 1
Nov. 25 ..............at Nipmuc, 10
Key game: Sept. 25 vs. Assabet.
The Beavers kick off the league slate
with a tough opponent in the Aztecs.
Valley Tech needs a win here to
jump in front of what should be a
tight Division 3C race.
2009 results:
Valley Tech 8.........Tri-County 2
Littleton 34..........Valley Tech 0
Assabet 8 ...........Valley Tech 0
Maynard 33.........Valley Tech 8
Valley Tech 7..........Bay Path 6
Grafton 31..........Valley Tech 12
Nashoba Tech 26.Valley Tech 6
Worcester Tech 26Valley Tech 0
Valley Tech 35 ...Keefe Tech 12
Valley Tech 31 ....Monty Tech 0
Valley Tech 27 ........Nipmuc 20
Valley Tech 21 ..North Shore 20
Jim’s take: Things are looking up in
Upton. Valley Tech has a good mix
of younger players like Trettel and
Avery to blend in with senior stars
like Barnicle, Wojnar, Rice and Leshinski
to help the Beavers make a run
at the Division 3C title.
5
Follow the Beavers’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
Nashoba Tech
Vikings
Home field: Nashoba Tech Field. Grass
field, 100 Littleton Rd., Westford.
Brain trust: Coach: Rob Beaudette (first
season).
Top players: Sr. DT Aaron Forest, Sr. DT
Josh Maynard.
Out with the old: The Vikings graduated
three Division 3C all-stars — SE Ryan Strainese,
G Tyler Trembley and CB Pat Kilbride.
When the Vikings have the ball: Scored 142
points in 2009.
When their opponents have the ball: Allowed
158 points, second-fewest in Division 3C.
What you should know: Beaudette takes over
for Jim Tansey, who left for Tyngsboro.
Schedule:
Sept. 11...................at Minuteman, 12
Sept. 18 ........................Cape Tech, 6
Sept. 24 ..............North Shore Tech, 7
Oct. 1............................at Assabet, 7
Oct. 8..............................Maynard, 7
2009: 5-6 (3-3 Division 3C)
By Jim Wilson
Oct. 15 .................at Keefe Tech, 6
Oct. 22....................Valley Tech, 7
Oct. 29 .......................Bay Path, 7
Nov. 6............at Worcester Tech, 1
Nov. 12....................at Murdoch, 7
Nov. 24...................Monty Tech, 6
2009 results:
Nashoba Tech 27 .......Minuteman 0
Nashoba Tech 9...........Northeast 8
North Shore 29 ....Nashoba Tech 14
Assabet 28 ...........Nashoba Tech 0
Maynard 14...........Nashoba Tech 0
Nashoba Tech 23.......Keefe Tech 6
Nashoba Tech 26 ......Valley Tech 6
Bay Path 14 ..........Nashoba Tech 0
Worcester Tech 13 .Nashoba Tech 3
Murdock 26 ........Nashoba Tech 20
Nashoba Tech 20 ....Monty Tech 14
5
Follow the Vikings’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.