Hometeam 2010 Football Preview - Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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CENTRAL MASS. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE
WWW.TELEGRAM.COM/HOMETEAM
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RICK CINCLAIR
Fitchburg senior running back Tyrie Osby runs around Leominster’s Jared Wilbon
during last year’s Thanksgiving game.
Fitchburg Red Raiders
Home field: Crocker Field. Grass field, 25 Circle St.,
Fitchburg.
Brain trust: Coach: Ray Cosenza (22nd season,
152-84-1 career). Assistants: Paul DiGeronimo, Dan
Walker, Tom Gammel, Dan Roy, Tom Whatley, Nick
McNamara, Dan Ortiz.
Returning starters: 12 (6 offense, 6 defense).
Top players: Sr. RB Tyrie Osby, Sr. QB Kyle Phillips,
Sr. WR D.J. Wilson, Jr. TE Eric Comeau, Jr. WR/S
Quinton Perkins, Jr. RB/DB Mike Reardon, Jr. T/DE
Tyler Robar, Jr. G/LB Eric Myles, Sr. RB/SS Steph-
’fon Teague, Sr. RB/DB Jeff Duenas, Sr. FB/LB
Wesley Colon, Sr. T/DT Nate Dauphinais, Sr. C/DT
Mike McNamara, Sr. G/DT Tramayne Teague.
Out with the old: The Red Raiders graduated two of
their four Division 1A all-stars in RB Byron Teague
and DE Jamison DiGeronimo.
In with the new: Jr. T/DT Jeff Fanelli, Jr. C/DT Dylan
DiGeronimo, Jr. G/NG Anthony Dellogono, Jr.
WR/DB Deshawn Figueroa, Sr. T/DT Sha’Keale
Johnson, Jr. RB/DB Ricky Matta, Jr. WR/S Toni
Onikeku, So. WR/DB Berny Platel, Jr. G/NG Sebastian
Dalmaud, So. G/NG Tommy Duong, Sr. QB/DB
Josue Desir, Sr. T/DT Brendon Carignan, Jr. FB/LB
Jose Cabrera.
When the Red Raiders have the ball: Spread offense. …
Scored 163 points last year. … Phillips is back for his
third season under center. … Phillips will have some
good targets in Wilson and Comeau. … Perkins had a
tremendous freshman season and returns to Fitchburg
after sitting out last year. He could provide the
Red Raiders with that game-breaking offensive force
they lacked last year. … Osby will get most of the
carries, but Reardon will step in when needed.
When their opponents have the ball: 4-4 defense. …
Allowed 199 points last year … Osby returns at
outside linebacker after making the Division 1A
all-star team there last year. … Myles was named to
the Division 1A all-star team as a sophomore
linebacker. … Robar and Colon return at linebacker.
… Teague and Duenas will provide a foundation for a
solid defensive backfield. … Robar returns at defensive
end.
In the trenches: Fitchburg returns a solid line,
including Dauphinais at tackle, Tramayne Teague at
guard and McNamara at center. … Comeau is also
one of the better blocking tight ends.
One to watch: Phillips has been running the Fitchburg
offense for a while and could be ready for a big
season. The senior has plenty of weapons with
Wilson and Comeau back as well as the X-factor in
2999: 5-6 (1-4 Division 1A)
By Jim Wilson
Perkins, who looked like a star for Fitchburg in 2008.
Behind enemy lines: “They always have a great line
and this year they have some great receivers,” a rival
coach said. “They might be the fastest team out
there. You can never count them out.”
The quote: “Division should be very strong with
Wachusett and St. John’s to defend their Super Bowl
championships,” Cosenza said. “I feel the league has
great balance, and each and every week you have to
be ready to play. We are looking forward to another
exciting, challenging year.”
Schedule:
Sept. 10.......................................Nashoba, 7
Sept. 17 ............................North Middlesex, 7
Sept. 25.........................at St. Peter-Marian, 1
Oct. 1.........................................St. John’s, 7
Oct. 8......................................at Brockton, 7
Oct. 15 ....................................at Burncoat, 7
Oct. 22....................................Shrewsbury, 7
Oct. 29......................................Wachusett, 7
Nov. 5....................................at Algonquin, 7
Nov. 12 .....................................at Gardner, 7
Nov. 25...............................at Leominster, 10
Key game: Oct. 1 vs. St. John’s. Always a big game
for Cosenza — a St. John’s Athletic Hall of Famer —
this game will go a long way to seeing how much
better Fitchburg is from a disappointing 2009
campaign. The Red Raiders were blanked by the
Pioneers last year, so they’re certainly looking for a
little revenge.
2009 results:
Fitchburg 8 ...................................Nashoba 7
Fitchburg 41......................North Middlesex 14
Fitchburg 15........................St. Peter-Marian 6
St. John’s 28................................Fitchburg 0
Brockton 27................................Fitchburg 12
Fitchburg 33 .................................Burncoat 9
Shrewsbury 10..............................Fitchburg 0
Wachusett 41 ...............................Fitchburg 0
Fitchburg 34 ..............................Algonquin 12
Gardner 24 .................................Fitchburg 14
Leominster 21...............................Fitchburg 6
Jim’s take: The Red Raiders play a brutal schedule,
and that’s always tough when you’re trying to steal
wins. Fitchburg has a good number of talented skill
players and their speed is a huge weapon. Look for
them to rebound this year and get back among the
top teams in Division 1.
5
Follow the Red Raiders’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
DIVISION 1A
Leominster Blue Devils
2009: 5-7 (3-2 Division 1A); Division 1 Playoffs
Home field: Doyle Field. Grass field, 130 Priest St.,
Leominster.
Brain trust: Coach John Dubzinski (30th season
overall, 211-96-6 career, 25th season at LHS,
177-85-2 at LHS). Assistants: Roger Mercier, Pat
Leary, Charlie Raff, Scott Percival, Mark Curley,
Jose Navarro, Brian Williams.
Returning starters: 7 (3 offense, 4 defense).
Top players: Sr. RB Nick Wilford, Sr. OL Lucas
Tocci, Jr. RB Cortez Ludden, Jr. TE Kevin O’Connor,
Sr. OL/DL David Ferguson.
Out with the old: The Blue Devils graduated four
Division 1A all-stars in RB Malik Daniel (1,024
rushing yards), OL Ryan Demar, WR Jared Wilbon
and DB Curtis Ludden (639 rushing yards, 10 TDs).
In with the new: Sr. WR/DB Eli Sanchez, Jr. WR/DB
Kyle Sanders, Sr. QB Kyle Ford, So. QB Garrett
DelleChaie.
When the Blue Devils have the ball: I-formation. …
Scored 186 points last year, fourth-highest in
Division 1A. … Wilford is the only skill player
returning to the Leominster offense. … Ludden
should step in and help out in the backfield after
impressing as a sophomore. … O’Connor will play
tight end. … Sanchez and Sanders (122 receiving
yards) will see time at WR. … The battle for the
quarterback spot has been between Ford and
DelleChaie.
When their opponents have the ball: 4-4 defensive
alignment. … Allowed 212 points last year, thirdhighest
in Division 1A. … O’Connor (45 tackles) and
Ludden will lead a strong defensive backfield for the
Blue Devils. … Ferguson and Tocci will stop the run
on the defensive line.
In the trenches: Ferguson and Tocci return to
anchor the Leominster line.
One to watch: Running backs should be a strength
for the Blue Devils, with Wilford and Ludden moving
into spotlight roles. Both were impressive in limited
action last year — Wilford played solid defense and
rushed for 45 yards against Marlboro, while Ludden
scored a touchdown against Fitchburg on Thanksgiving.
The two will be expected to keep the Blue
Devils competitive this year until the younger
players can develop.
By Jim Wilson
The quote: “Our goal is to improve day to day and
week to week,” Dubzinski said.
Schedule:
Sept. 10.........................................Everett, 7
Sept. 17........................................Doherty, 7
Sept. 25...............................at Holy Name, 1
Oct. 1...............................North Middlesex, 7
Oct. 8....................................at Algonquin, 7
Oct. 15 .................................at Wachusett, 7
Oct. 23..................................at St. John’s, 1
Oct. 29 .......................................Brockton, 7
Nov. 5 ................................at Shrewsbury, 7
Nov. 12 ...................................at Marlboro, 7
Nov. 25 ....................................Fitchburg, 10
Key game: Oct. 15 at Wachusett. Always a tough
matchup for Leominster, the Blue Devils head to
Holden to face the defending Super Bowl champs.
Wachusett knocked Leominster out of the playoffs
last year, and by Week 6, the Blue Devils should be
ready for the rematch.
2009 results:
Everett 14 .................................Leominster 6
Leominster 21...............................Doherty 15
Holy Name 42..........................Leominster 14
Leominster 21 ....................North Middlesex 0
Leominster 26.............................Algonquin 0
Wachusett 39............................Leominster 7
St. John’s 28 ............................Leominster 6
Brockton 13...............................Leominster 9
Leominster 35 ........................Shrewsbury 20
Marlboro 22 ............................Leominster 20
Leominster 21..............................Fitchburg 6
Wachusett 13 ............................Leominster 0
Jim’s take: Leominster lost quite a bit from last
year, but the Blue Devils return talent in Wilford and
Ludden. The running backs and defensive backs
shouldn’t be a concern, and history has shown
Leominster manages to find hulking linemen to put
up front. If the Blue Devils can find the players to
step in and fill the holes, they could be one of those
teams that start contending at the end of the
season and become the team nobody wants to play.
5
Follow the Blue Devils’ every game this fall
at www.telegram.com/hometeam.
STEVE LANAVA
Leominster senior defensive back Kevin O’Connor flushes Holy Name quarterback
Ben Whitney out of the pocket during a game last September.