Football season begins next week

By Jack Nicas

After years of disappointment, including a string of 33 straight losses and injury-plagued seasons, the Somerville High School football program is finally ready to shatter its reputation as a perennial loser. With a strong senior class looking to go out on top, junior and sophomore classes that posted undefeated freshman seasons, and a ‚Äúphenomenal‚Äù freshman class according to head coach Harry Marchetti, this year’s team looks to deliver an exciting season.

Marchetti said much of the optimism stems from the increased number of hopefuls showing up at August preseason practices. ‚ÄúIt’s almost twice as much [as last season],‚Äù team captain Mike Stanton said.

‚ÄúThe numbers are better this year than they ever have been,‚Äù Marchetti said. ‚ÄúWe’ve come out of the dark ages, and with numbers comes promise.‚Äù

The team finished with a 5-5 record last season, overcoming injuries that sidelined many of their best players, including Senior star running back Ricardo David for all but two games. David graduated last year. Marchetti said that adversity opened an opportunity for younger players to step up.

‚ÄúSome freshmen and sophomores got game experience at the end of last year,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúAnd you can’t teach them experience. Hopefully it just translates to this year.‚Äù

The team will be relying on their senior captains to lead the way, such as linebacker and offensive lineman Herman Edward, quarterback and safety Mike Stanton, and starting linemen Bobby Taylor and Steven Francis. However, the team’s young talent blossoming into impact players will be just as important, Marchetti said.

He called starting sophomore defensive linemen Kevin Wint and Doug Lazo a “phenom” and a “monster” respectively. Wint said his goals are to “wreak havoc on defense and smash some quarterbacks” this season.

Marchetti looks to capitalize on his younger, deeper, more athletic team with a brand new offense this year. ‚ÄúWe’re going to concentrate a lot on passing the ball,‚Äù he said. Team captain Stanton is battling incumbent starting quarterback Jason Marcini for the reigns to the new offense.

Stanton said the new strategy includes a lot of spread sets, a focus on the short passing game, and running the ball off-tackle.

Wint said the defense would remain a 4-4 setup, which calls for four defensive linemen, four linebackers, and three defensive backs.

Marchetti said the team’s goals for the season include ‚Äúobviously to be competitive,‚Äù but more importantly he looks for the team to grow together. ‚ÄúWe’ve made a lot of strides-not just on the field, but as human beings,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúI’d like to grow as a team on and off the field.‚Äù

The coach said he wanted to challenge his team, so he “put [their] backs up against the wall” and lined up a difficult schedule. They open the season against defending Division III Superbowl Champion Greater Lawrence Tech and play Cambridge Rindge & Latin, who was 7-4 last year, on Nov. 14. Marchetti said he expects Malden Catholic and Reading Memorial to be difficult matchups as well, with two much-improved squads. However, the biggest game of the season falls on Oct. 24 when the team travels to rival Everett, he said.

‚ÄúEverett’s the big game,‚Äù Marchetti said after detailing how close Somerville came to spoiling Everett’s  perfect season last year. Somerville was up 7-0 with three minutes left in the first half, but Marchetti said the team ‚Äúmade mistakes and lost momentum,‚Äù only to ultimately lose 34-7.

“[Everett] know[s] we can compete at that level,” he said. “Now we have to finish the job and play complete games. Complacency is the first hurdle.”

Marchetti said no matter whom they play, they will be the tougher team. ‚ÄúWe’re going to bang people; that’s my style,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúWe may lose a game but we’re not going to get out-hit or outworked‚Äù
Stanton, whose work ethic Marchetti calls the epitome of the team’s philosophy, shares his coach’s sentiments: ‚ÄúWinning is the first priority, but if we play our best and still lose, I don’t feel bad as long as we worked hard.‚Äù

The season opens at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 versus Greater Lawrence Tech at Dilboy Stadium.

Returning Players:
Captains:
Herman Edward – Senior – Linebacker and Offensive Lineman
    League All-Star
    Ready to make comeback after injuries last year.
Bobby Taylor – Senior- Offensive and Defensive Lineman
    League All-Star
Steven Francis – Senior – Offensive Lineman
    Three-year Starter
Mike Stanton – Senior – Quarterback and Safety
    Marchetti- ‚ÄúNot the biggest, fastest or most talented kid,
    but he works hard. Forced his way into the lineup last
    year and has now looked real good at [quarterback].‚Äù

Impact Players:
Davis Guera – Senior – Running Back and Defensive Back
    An impact player on defense and the team’s starting
    running back.
Jason Marcini – Senior – Quarterback
    Battling Stanton for team’s starting quarterback position.

Up and Coming Underclassmen:
Doug Lazo – Sophomore – Offensive and Defensive Tackle
    Marchetti- ‚ÄúHe’s a force-a monster.‚Äù
John Wallace – Sophomore – Offensive and Defensive Lineman
    Marchetti- ‚ÄúHe will make an impact this year.‚Äù
Kevin Wint – Sophomore – Offensive and Defensive Lineman
    Marchetti- ‚ÄúHe’s a phenom-a two-way starter for us.‚Äù
Josh Scary – Sophomore – Defensive Back
    Marchetti- ‚ÄúA tough, tough kid.‚Äù

Photos by Jack Nicas