Each of the four Lynn schools playing this weekend is looking to make a different statement when the season gets underway tonight, with a doubleheader at Manning Field as the featured attraction.
In the opener, at 5:00, St. Mary’s will host Saugus while Classical plays Medford in the 7:30 nightcap.
The Spartans are coming off a Super Bowl appearance, but some of the key players on that team have moved on, noticeably Liam Reddy, Abraham Toe, Cam Sakowich and Joey Silvestri.
Still, there’s plenty left. Calvin Johnson, who proved to be a devastating runner/receiver last year, will take over as quarterback and the Spartans will run a double-wing offense to accommodate his skill set.
The Spartans have a lot of talent and experience in the skill positions, but hope to rebuild their offensive and defensive lines as the season progresses.
Saugus is coming off a tough 1-10 season and will be guided by Anthony Nalen, in his first season.
The Sachems will have seven sophomores among their starters, but can count on senior Mike Mabee to call signals.
Nalen has seen some success in his career, going 9-2 during his stint at Bishop Connolly
“They’re a Northeastern Conference school, and they’ll be excited to play us,” says St. Mary’s coach Matt Durgin.
Medford at Classical
At Manning Field tonight (7:30), this is the Classical coaching debut for Brian Vaughan, who has seen success at Pope John and Boston English.
The English graduate, who was on the Bulldogs’ 1990 Division 3 Super Bowl team, will install a no-huddle spread offense this season. He hopes to put pressure on opposing defenses by tiring them out by chasing down his speedy running backs.
Keith Ridley seems to have the inside track as the starting quarterback.
As for Medford, this is the Mustangs’ first game as members of the Northeastern Conference. They’re coming off a 3-8 season in 2016.
Coach Jason Nascimento will look to quarterback Joel Dilfa to fill the shoes of the graduated Ben Antoine’s hands.
Lynn Tech at Chelsea
At Chelsea Stadium (7), the Tigers were 3-8 a year ago, good enough to make the MIAA post-season. However, they drew a potent Brighton team and were bounced in the first round.
The Tigers should be set in the run department this year. Both Steffan Gravely and Keoni Gaskin are returning, and both took turns dazzling fans last season.
So far in his career, Gravely has scored 64 touchdowns, eclipsing Kennedy Gomes’ record. Gaskin eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark last year as well.
The Red Devils, 4-8 last season, will be strong out front but will have issues with skill positions, according to coach Jack Halas.
Gloucester at Revere
At Della Russo Stadium (6:30), the Patriots have finished second to the Fishermen in their division of the Northeastern Conference for two straight seasons, and coach Lou Cicatelli is getting weary of it. And, as luck would have it, they’re in the same division in the newly-aligned NEC.
The Patriots rely heavily on their defense, as most of their returnees stood out on that side of the ball in last year’s 6-5 season. Offense might be a different story, however.
Last year, coach Tony Zerilli’s Fishermen were 8-3, but this year they’re a little thin on the offensive line. Also, they’ll have to survive without all-everything Christian Sanfilippo.
Peabody at Somerville
At Dilboy Field, Somerville (7), Tanners’ coach Mark Bettencourt’s coming into the season with high expectations. He admits the last couple of years have been chaotic, as the Tanners have tried to cope without one of the best players they ever had (Doug Santos).
This year, he said, it’s a new ballgame, and Bettencourt hopes to do better than the 5-6 record the Tanners had last season.
The Highlanders are part of the GBL crew that came over to the NEC in the merger (the other team being Malden; Everett, the fourth team, will play in the NEC in every other sport, but will remain independent in football).
This year, Somerville look to make some noise in the new league, with UConn-bound quarterback Elijah Jeffreys and wide receiver Jiovanny Pierre, who is also a Division 1 prospect, leading the way.
Marblehead at Triton
At Triton Regional in Byfield, the Magicians fell a game short in the Division 2A Super Bowl last year. And while they lost a considerable amount of talent from that team, they have a considerable amount coming back, starting with captains Teddy Mayle, Nick Corsini and Aidan Gillis.
The Vikings had a team for the ages last season, winning the Division 3 North championship but falling to Hanover in the state semifinal.
Lewi L’Heureaux is gone, but coach Pat Sheehan doesn’t expect too much of a dropoff at quarterback, as Tommy Lapham stands ready to assume command.
Newburyport at Lynnfield
At Pioneer Field (7), two longtime Cape Ann League rivals get ready to open the season, with the Pioneers hoping to improve on last season’s 7-4 record, in which they made the Division 3A North semifinal before falling to St. Mary’s.
Among the players who hope to make an impact this season are quarterback Matt Mortellite, who was the field general last season; and Cooper Marengi, Anthony Murphy, Nick Kinnon, Harry Collins and Nate Drislane.
Ben Smolski has returned to his alma mater this year, and hopes the Cllippers can improve on last year’s 4-6 season.
Winthrop at Danvers
At Dr. Deering Stadium in Danvers (7), the Vikings are in Year 2 of the endless journey as they await the completion of the refurbished Miller Field. They hope to have it ready by their Thanksgiving game against Revere.
Coach Sean Driscoll says this may be the youngest teams he’s had in his 10 years as Winthrop coach.
New coach Ryan Nolan has a similar problem. Last year, the Falcons had a senior-laden team that lost to North Reading in the Division 3A semifinals.
Other games tonight include Methuen at Malden (7), Mystic Valley at Nashoba (7), Salem at Austin Prep (7) and Tewksbury at Malden Catholic (7).
SATURDAY
Beverly at English
At Manning Field (2), the Bulldogs open their season against last year’s Division 2 North champion — a team they almost beat last year before the Panthers came roaring back for the win.
English features southpaw Matt Severance at quarterback. Severance, a junior, began coming into his own last season and expects to make even greater strides this fall.
Signal-caller Tom Landry’s a senior, but he’s starting his first-ever game for the Panthers.
Fenwick at Hamilton-Wenham
At Hamilton-Wenham (1), Crusaders’ coach Dave Woods celebrates his 20th year on the sidelines hoping to better last year’s 7-4 record. He’ll have Cory Bright back at the helm calling signals, and all Bright needs is three more touchdown passes to break the school record.
Jim Pugh is in the second year of his coaching comeback at Hamilton-Wenham.
St. Johns’ at Haverhill
At Memorial Stadium (2), the Eagles are two weeks away from opening their new field, which will be named for former coach Fred Glatz. They’re young, by Prep standards, but still have much talent to work with, starting with quarterback Mike Yarin. However, Wes Rockett, who had been counted on to contribute as a receiver, is out for the season with a knee injury.