Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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PAGE CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM 6 Division 1A Simply THE BEST CHRISTINE PETERSON St. John’s senior wide receiver Richard Rodgers makes one-handed catches look routine. Before he takes his skills to California, Richard Rodgers has unfinished business at SJ By Jennifer Toland SHREWSBURY — Richard Rodgers was about 12 years old when he caught his first pass from a Division 1 college quarterback. He’d have a blast running routes and hauling in throws after New Mexico State practices. He was around the same age when he started sitting in on team meetings and film sessions. Rodgers, St. John’s superstar senior wide receiver/defensive end/placekicker/punter (“He can play any position on the field,” Pioneers coach John Andreoli said), pretty much grew up on the football field. His dad, Richard, is currently the defensive coordinator at Holy Cross and before that was on the staffs at New Mexico State, Portland State and San Jose State. “My dad has had a huge influence on me, and ever since I was little, I’ve been around the players and Turn to Rodgers/Next Page 93 West Boylston Street <strong>Worcester</strong>, MA tel: 508-852-6326 fax: 508-854-4858 Family Operated Establishment for over 45 Years! PIZZA • SUBS • SALADS & MORE! WE DELIVER ~ SOMETHING SWEET! ~ Baklava, Cookies, Brownies & More! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Sun-Thurs: 11am - 10pm Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm Gift Certificates Available GEARED FOR SATISFACTION! AMERICAN & FOREIGN TRANSMISSIONS REBUILT Free Towing ( with service major ) • FREE Local Pick-Up and Delivery Member In Good Standing of the Better Business Bureau ~ SERVING WORCESTER COUNTY SINCE 1951 ~ 186 Lunenburg St., (Rt. 2A) Fitchburg www.claphamstransmission.com 978-345-5868 • 800-828-9111 Local news is big news. It’s what we do. Online at telegram.com
WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE 7 Rodgers Rodgers/From Previous Page coaches,” Rodgers said. “Being around Division 1 athletes, you really start to think, ‘Oh, can I play at this level Can I get this big and this strong and this fast’” The answer would seem to be a resounding yes. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Rodgers, one of the best athletes Central Mass. has seen in a while, fielded calls and offers from a number of bigtime programs before deciding on Cal last weekend. Oregon, Notre Dame and Boston College were also in his final four. Cal is his dad’s alma mater, and Rodgers had the chance to spend some time around the campus this summer while visiting his mom, Mindy, who lives on the West Coast. Rodgers, a basketball standout as well, had 49 catches for 722 yards and 17 touchdowns last season while helping lead St. John’s to the Division 1A Super Bowl title. He also had 24 tackles and four interceptions playing safety. Andreoli has moved Rodgers to defensive end this season. Marlboro held Rodgers to one reception for 10 yards in last year’s Super Bowl, but ‘ I’m trying to get faster and stronger. Right now, I would be a tight end (in college), but if I can improve over this season and next summer, I’d like to ‚ play receiver. RICHARD RODGERS ST. JOHN’S RECEIVER he was a menace on defense and special teams, recovering two fumbles, one which he returned for a TD, blocking a punt and connecting on three PATs in the Pioneers’ 21-10 win. “He uses his athleticism and his instincts, and he’s a playmaker,” Andreoli said. “When you need to have a play made, he makes it.” Late in a game last season, the Pioneers were in their 2-minute offense, and Andreoli pulled Rodgers aside. “I said, ‘If we get the ball to the 20-yard line, can you make the field goal’ ” Andreoli recalled. “He looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘Absolutely.’ He just has that quiet confidence.” Rodgers would like to play receiver at the next level. His size and catching ability are certainly assets. He took part in a number of camps over the summer and trained with Holy Cross strength and conditioning coach Jeff Oliver. “I’m trying to get faster and stronger,” Rodgers said. “Right now, I would be a tight end (in college), but if I can improve over this season and next summer, I’d like to play receiver.” Rodgers moved to <strong>Worcester</strong> six years ago after previously living in California, Oregon and New Mexico. He also played baseball as a kid. Rodgers, a member of St. John’s varsity basketball team since he was a freshman, led the Pioneers to the Division 1 state championship in 2009 and helped them get back to the state final last season. Rodgers joined the football team when he was a sophomore. “Even as a sophomore, he had the stature,” Andreoli said. “He runs a 4.6 40, has one of the highest vertical jumps. Physically he’s always been one of those kids you could project out as being a Division 1 football player if that’s what he wanted to do.” The University of Maryland offered Rodgers a full scholarship before his junior year. St. John’s, as usual, is expected to be among the top teams this season. The Pioneers open Sept. 11 against Holy Name. “It’s a pretty exciting time,” he said. “I try to focus as much as I can on football and school. I’m pretty excited for this decision and everything after that.” Division 1A Senior running back Ryan Wales is a two-year starter in the Tomahawks’ backfield. Algonquin Tomahawks Home field: Dick Walsh Field. Grass field, 79 Bartlett St., Northboro. Brain trust: Coach: Bill Long (third season, 5-17 career). Assistants: Rick Cincotta, John McAuliff, Kyle Meath, Dan Bacon, John Mazzola, Alex Duplessis, Eric Dickson. Returning starters: 10 (6 offense, 4 defense). Captains: Sr. QB Kyle McGinnity, Sr. G George Ocnos, Sr. RB Ryan Wales. Top players: Jr. C Zach Meath, Sr. WR Mike Fucci, Jr. RB Tim Hanlon, Sr. OLB Ryan Sullivan, Sr. OLB Shane Sullivan, Sr. WR/DB Mike Popienicuk, Jr. OL/LB Kyle Vaccaro, Jr. OL/DL Mike Shulman, Sr. OL Mike Dowd. Out with the old: The Tomahawks did not graduate any Division 1A all-stars, but did say goodbye to WR Adam Scopetski (182 receiving yards) and leading tackler Eric Taggart (50 tackles). In with the new: Jr. OL/LB Kyle Vaccaro, So. WR/LB Galen Garris, So. QB/OLB Mike Halloran, So. OL/DL Bob Campbell, So. RB Zhavon Copeland, So. OL/DL Ben Mountain. When the Tomahawks have the ball: Spread offense. ... Scored just 116 points last year. … McGinnity is a two-year captain under center. … Fucci missed most of last season with an injury, and his return is a welcome one for the receiving corps. … Wales is a two-year starter in the backfield. When their opponents have the ball: 4-4 defensive alignment. … Allowed 331 points last year. … Ryan Sullivan (6-0, 160) and Shane Sullivan (5-9, 150) should shore up the outside linebacking spots. … Popieniuck will help out in the secondary. In the trenches: Ocnos is a three-year starter at guard and should anchor this unit. 2009: 1-10 (0-5 Division 1A) By Jim Wilson … Meath returns at center. … Mountain (6-2, 220) certainly looks like he lives up to his name. He joins with the 6-foot, 250-pound Dowd on the line. One to watch: McGinnity will go a long way toward helping the Tomahawks rebuild. A Division 1A all-star last year, McGinnity carried the bulk of the Algonquin offense by throwing for 526 yards and rushing for a team-high 671 yards. What you should know: Long has been pleased with what he has seen from the rebuilding Tomahawks in the weight room during the offseason. Schedule: Sept. 11.................St. Peter-Marian, 7 Sept. 18 ......................at Marlboro, 7 Sept. 24.........................at Milford, 7 Oct. 1...............................Gardner, 7 Oct. 8..........................Leominster, 7 Oct. 15....................at Shrewsbury, 7 Oct. 22 .....................at Wachusett, 7 Oct. 29............................at South, 7 Nov. 5............................Fitchburg, 7 Nov. 12 .........................St. John’s, 7 Nov. 25 ....................at Westboro, 10 www.stgeorgeworcester.org Key game: Sept. 11 vs. St. Peter-Marian. This will be a good test to see just how well Long’s plan to rebuild the Tomahawks is progressing. 2009 results: St. Peter-Marian 13 ..........Algonquin 7 Marlboro 37....................Algonquin 7 Milford 21 .....................Algonquin 14 Gardner 36 .....................Algonquin 0 Leominster 26.................Algonquin 0 Shrewsbury 31................Algonquin 7 Wachusett 55................Algonquin 21 Algonquin 35........................South 9 Fitchburg 34..................Algonquin 12 St. John’s 48 ..................Algonquin 6 Westboro 21...................Algonquin 7 Jim’s take: The Tomahawks have a good plan in place, and Long is the guy to get them to the next level. Hopefully, a few more wins this year will get the numbers up in the program, and Algonquin will be back in the postseason mix sooner rather than later. 5 Follow the Tomahawks’ every game this fall at www.telegram.com/hometeam. September 25th & 26th JIM COLLINS
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Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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