ITEM PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
Classical’s Chandler Laguerre, left, and English’s Jeremy Garcia will play for the Fitchburg State football team this fall.
By KATIE MORRISON
REVERE — For their entire high school careers, Classical’s Chandler Laguerre and English’s Jeremy Garcia have been on opposite sides of the field as rivals.
Next Thursday, they’ll play for the same side for the first time ever during the 55th annual Agganis All-Star football game. And while it’ll be their first time playing for the same team, it definitely won’t be their last.
Garcia, Laguerre and Laguerre’s Classical teammate Renzo Pappaterra, who is also playing for the South squad in the Agganis game, are all committed to play for the Fitchburg State football team next season.
The Agganis Classic serves as a perfect reintroduction for the three, who are trying to shed any leftover desires to butt heads with each other.
“It’s pretty weird, because a few months ago we were cracking each other,” said Garcia. “Today we’re on the same team. It’s not that different since we’re from the same city, but during the season…” Garcia smiled as he bumped his fists together. “During the season, we’re clashing.”
Both Laguerre and Garcia said that they’ve never played alongside a member of the rival team, not even in a pickup game. But they, and the rest of the Agganis South roster, have a little more than a week before they have to play as a cohesive unit on a big stage at Manning Field.
There are challenges in any all-star game, with kids from several different schools learning to play as a team. Those challenges can be magnified when playing alongside a rival that has been an enemy on the gridiron for years.
Garcia, a defensive end, said that he hasn’t had the urge to tackle any of the three Classical players on the team — Pappaterra, Laguerre and Danny Maria — but that may be because the opportunity hasn’t presented himself.
“I haven’t had a play where I had to go up against them. But if there was …” Garcia said with a playful smile.
“I’ve always got my eyes open,” Laguerre, a wide receiver and linebacker, joked.
The three Classical players are joined by English’s Garcia and running back Daekwon Shepherd, who is headed to Merrimack College in the fall.
While there is some awkwardness in joining forces with a rival, both Laguerre and Garcia are looking past the Agganis game, and know that having a few familiar faces closeby come fall will be a huge benefit.
“I kind of felt naked walking in because I didn’t have anyone I knew going to Fitchburg,” said Garcia. “Now that I do, I feel more comfortable.”
Laguerre agreed.
“It will definitely be fun, I think we’re going to be a good trio in Fitchburg,” he said. “I’m feeling it.”
Fitchburg has been a big destination for Lynn football players over the last few years. The trio will be joining Jevon and Malcolm Brown-Simpson, both rising seniors and English grads, as well as Classical grad Eri Pleitez and Lynn native and Everett High grad Zac Pierre. English alums Taron Seaforth-Howard and Jermaine Patterson both graduated from Fitchburg this year, and played big roles for the Falcons.
Garcia and Laguerre agree that they want to help put Lynn on the map in college football, and the chemistry that they have from playing in the same city will help them succeed. The former rivals hope that the Agganis game will be the first of many successes they encounter over their next four seasons together.