By Jim Stout
MaxPreps.com
BROCKTON, Mass. --- First, a little history:
They don't call Brockton the "City of Champions" for nothing.
Former world heavyweight boxing champ Rocky Marciano was born and raised here. Long-time middleweight titleholder Marvin Hagler called Brockton his home while perfecting his craft in the early 1970s. Ex-New England Patriot wide receiver Greg McMurtry is a Brockton High graduate and so, too, is Dr. Ken MacAfee, a former two-time national champion at Notre Dame and ex-No. 1 draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers.
Not to be outdone, the winningest coach in Massachusetts state football history once worked the sidelines at Brockton's Marciano Stadium for 35 years, 323 victories and six undefeated seasons.
Oh yes, one other thing: Today's edition of the Brockton High Boxers isn't bad, either.
"We only lost three or four starters and we're hungry after what happened last season,'' said Brockton senior offensive tackle Andrew Jameson. "We want to get back to where we were."
Brockton, which will be celebrating 110 years of interscholastic football this season, has never been far from the top. The school played its first game in 1897 and has since won 716 times (716-337-64). It enjoyed its first unbeaten, untied season (11-0) in 1924. The Boxers won 323 games between 1969 and 2003 under its former and record-setting coach, Armond Colombo. They captured back-to-back state Division I Super Bowl titles under Colombo's son and ex-star quarterback, Peter, in 2004 and 2005.
But while Brockton reached the Division I final against last season, it went a mere 6-6 overall and was soundly beaten by Everett in the Dec. 2 Super Bowl in Quincy. Youth and injuries undermined the team at various times during the season. The arrest in mid season of its star junior running back, Jarron McNeil, for armed robbery threatened to crush the Boxers' indomitable spirit.
It wasn't always the best of times a year ago for this gritty city of 94,000, which is situated just 20 miles south of Boston.
A City of Champions, however, does not sit still or discontented for very long.
"We had a lot to work though last season," said Peter Colombo, who will begin his fourth full season as head coach on Sept. 7, when Brockton visits Boston College High.
"Hopefully we'll be better for it in the future. I know in going back and looking at the film of the Everett game and showing the kids, they could see we weren't that far from being right there with them. We beat a 10-0 team (Dartmouth) to get to the final so you can see the kind of schedule we play and how it prepares us."
If Rocky Marciano was Brockton's first native son and first champion, then Peter Colombo is the city's first native nephew. In addition to being the son of the most successful football coach in Massachusetts' history, he is a first nephew of the late Marciano; his mother, Betty, was Rocky Marciano's sister.
After playing quarterback for his father at Brockton through the 1975 season, Peter Colombo went on to Holy Cross, helping the Crusaders record their last two wins over Boston College prior to the split between Division I-A and I-AA schools. He also helped score a road win over Air Force and its then-head coach, Bill Parcells.
Colombo eventually came back to Brockton to help his father as an assistant coach after spending years in private business. He took over in an interim capacity in 2003, when Armond Colombo began facing health issues, and produced his first of back-to-back state titles in 2004, when the Boxers went 11-2 and beat Everett in the final. Brockton went 13-0 in 2005 and topped Xaverian for the Division I crown before falling to 6-6 a year ago.
Armond Colombo remains active and still helps his son as a volunteer assistant on Colombo Field at Marciano Stadium.
"Last year was tough," Peter Colombo said. "Never mind losing your best player (McNeil, 401 yards rushing in four games before his arrest). We had to live with the entire trauma of dealing with one of our own and his troubles. On the field, Jarron was right up there with the best that have ever played at Brockton.
"We've learned from it," he added. "In a city school such as this, we've done a lot to identify the kids who'll be able to make the full commitment to this and do what it takes to win at this level. As I look back, we maybe had some kids at first who probably shouldn't have been here. But the fact that I'm in school every day (as an English teacher) helps. We have a terrific coaching staff, too, and this is a special group of kids."
Arguably no position at Brockton is as special as its college-sized offensive line. With the exception of 6-foot-2, 270-pound junior guard Henry Thevenin, all of Brockton's starters up front are seniors: Jameson at tackle is 6-4, 300; Brian Kelley at guard is 6-2, 250; the center at 6-1 290 is Josh Previte and Moises Samy at tackle is 6-4, 322.
"We've been working together for three and four years," said Jameson. "We know each other's moves."
"Anyone who understands football knows how difficult it is to put together an offensive line," Colombo said. "Obviously these guys are huge, but just as importantly if not more so, they can move their feet and they work well together. We're pretty excited about the possibilities."
The Boxers also return senior starting quarterback Vaughn Askew (697 yards passing in 2006, 454 rushing), running back Josh Marsh (650 yards rushing, 8 touchdowns) and wide receiver Sharrieff Hall (18 catches, 283 yards). There never seems to be a shortage of high-voltage skill players at Brockton.
"The kids all love football around here," Colombo said. "The (New England) Patriots have been great for football in this area in promoting the game and doing it right. It's a great model for kids and coaches alike."
Now Brockton would like that model to produce another state championship. That, after all, is what a City of Champions does.
"Last season is behind us," Samy said. "We want that ring."
Jim Stout is the MaxPreps.com Regional Media Manager for the Northeast. He may be reached at 203-563-2297 or at jstout@maxpreps.com.