Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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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 Worcester
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