FILE PHOTO
Marblehead’s Harry Craig pulls in a pass over No.Reading defender Thomas McHugh.
By SCOT COOPER
MARBLEHEAD — Marblehead football coach Jim Rudloff’s current players on the 2016 Super Bowl-bound squad were in elementary school the last time the coach and his team made it to the big game. The year was 2009, and the coach said that there are similarities between that squad and this year’s team, but some subtle differences as well.
“In 2009 we had more talented individuals on the team, that’s not to say we don’t have talent on this year’s team, but we kind were an individual-driven team that year,” Rudloff said. “This year’s team has got to where they are as a team, everybody working to get it done.”
Rudloff said that the returning seniors and juniors on the 2016 team that will play Falmouth in the Division 2A Super Bowl Saturday (3:30) had a couple of tough playoff losses in 2014 and 2015, and it was very satisfying to finally break through and get back to the Super Bowl.
“That 2009 team, I would kind of compare it to the 1969 New York Mets. I mean nobody expected us to rise to the top that year, while this year’s team, the upperclassmen have kind of been knocking on the door,” Rudloff said.
Rudloff spent Tuesday morning in Foxborough with his captains, Manning Sears, Jaason Lopez, Harry Craig and Bo Millett. They were given a tour of Gillette Stadium and the group was able to go on the field where the Magicians will square off against the Clippers.
“It’s a very nice thing they do for the captains and coaches of all the teams playing in the Super Bowl,” Rudloff said. “You look at the eyes of the kids when they see the field up close and all of a sudden they get wide-eyed and they’re seven years old again.”
In addition to the tour, the team got to break bread with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and meet some Patriots personnel.
Saturday’s game is going to be the tipping point for either Falmouth or Marblehead. The Clippers barreled their way to the South title with a 27-20 win over Marlborough, improving their unblemished record to 12-0. Marblehead also comes into the game unbeaten at 11-0, so one of the two teams will leave Foxborough with a title, the other with its first loss.
Falmouth had to play four playoff games, outscoring Norwood, Milton, Westwood and Marlborough, by a combined 135-45 score. Marblehead got to the title game with playoff wins over Gloucester, North Reading and Wayland. The Magicians outscored those three teams by a combined tally of 102-33.
Rudloff said it’s been an incredible ride for his team and it hasn’t slowed down this week.
“With the system that they have now, it’s slowed down, but honestly it’s still moving pretty fast,” the coach said. “You’re working so hard to prepare the kids, it just doesn’t stop.”
The coaches and the team went out to Laser Quest in Danvers last Saturday night to blow off some steam and have some fun as a group.
“I spent much more time with the kids this past weekend between practices and Laser Quest, than I would on a normal football weekend,” Rudloff said.
Rudloff explained that the reason this year’s team has made it to the big game in Foxborough has been its dedication and effort in the weight room, both during the season, and especially in the off-season.
“One of the things about this team, this year, they’ve put in the work in the weight room. We put in some new workout schedules this year and the kids have really worked to get stronger as the season went along,” Rudloff said. “In years past we kind of lost some steam, some energy as the season went on, this year, I think we’re at our strongest we’ve been all year.”
The Magicians’ coaching staff and a large group of players went to the Falmouth-Marlborough game in Leominster on Nov.19, to take a look at the Clippers in action.
“You can watch film all day, it’s not the same as seeing a team play,” Rudloff said.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 3:30 p.m., one of six Super Bowl games that day.