St. John's Prep is the top pick in Massachusetts this season. But don't count out Everett, Natick, Reading Memorial and Walpole.
Johnathan Thomas and St. John's Prep are the top squad in the state coming into the regular season.
File photo by Mike Braca
Head coach: Jim O'Leary
2012 finish: 11-1
Team previewWith the return of Maryland commit
Johnathan Thomas
(1,794 yards, 15 touchdowns last season) and the team's entire starting
offensive line, the Eagles will have more than enough firepower to help
defend their Division 1 championship.
"We have a lot of people back," O'Leary said. "And our JV team had one loss [last year] by one point."
See the Top 15 Massachusetts football dynasties2. EverettHead coach: John DiBiaso
2012 finish: 11-1
Team previewCrimson Tide quarterback
Lukas Denis
is expected to be healthy to start the season, a big boost for the team
after cycling through three players at the position in 2012. Defensive
back
Lubern Figaro
will be the player to watch. He currently has offers from Boston
College, Michigan State, and UConn. But this team will certainly be
young, said coach John DiBiaso.
See every player from Massachusetts who signed with FBS programs last year3. NatickHead coach: Mark Mortarelli
2012 finish: 11-2
Team previewThe dynamic duo of
Troy Flutie, nephew of Doug Flutie, and
Brian Dunlap
return for their third season together. In 2012, Flutie threw for 35
touchdowns and ran for another 14. Dunlap, a talented receiver, caught
86 passes for 1,550 yards and 23 touchdowns. In two years with the Red
Hawks, Dunlap has amassed more than 2,700 yards and 41 touchdowns. They
join co-captain
Alex Hilger,
whom opposing coaches say may be the best athlete on the team, to form
one of the most explosive offenses in the state. The Red Hawks' only
worry comes on defense, where they have four returning starters.
"We
know we have some talented offense," said Natick coach Mark Mortarelli,
"but we have some deficiencies [on defense]. We're cautiously
optimistic."
See last season's Massachusetts all-league teams
4. Reading Memorial
Head coach: John Fiore
2012 finish: 13-0
Team previewQuarterback
Drew Belcher,
who helped the Rockets to a Division 2 Super Bowl title last season,
will be back to helm the team. He combined for 34 touchdowns last
season, throwing for 21 and running for 13. But it was the team's
defense that was most important, holding opponents to less than five
points per game last season. Senior
Liam Kenneally, a co-captain and the team's mike linebacker, will be key to helping sustain the team's high standards.
"We're
certainly not going to measure this year's team or this year's defense
against last year," Reading Memorial coach John Fiore said. "Certainly
our philosophy is just to improve every day. That is our program
philosophy."
See last season's Massachusetts playoff brackets5. Walpole
Head coach: Barry Greener
2012 finish: 10-1
Team preview
The
Rebels were heavy on seniors last season, but still return talented
players to compete in the stacked Bay State Conference (Herget).
Will Bolster will be back at quarterback. He tossed 17 touchdowns last season, hitting
Connor Moriarty
for six. Moriarty figures to be the team's lead running back and is the
only returning starter on defense at linebacker. But Walpole coach
Barry Greener is optimistic about a talented group of underclassmen that
will take the reins of the program.
"They're green, that's the issue," Greener said. "Depending on how fast they mature, the talent is there."
