Bowl snub motivates LA
Spartans too big to overlook
Lawrence Academy has a little bit of unfinished business to take care of following a disappointing end to the 2016 football season.
The Spartans were less than thrilled when the NEPSAC bowl committee bypassed them despite a solid 6-2 record. Fortunately for coach Paul Zukauskas, many of those same players are back for another go-round.
What jumps out at you is LA’s size. Linemen Cam Reddy, Ryan Betro, Finn Dirstine, Cam Walters and Donald Long all weigh in at 285 pounds or more. Tight end/defensive ends Joey Luchetti and Thomas Greaney are each 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds. Betro, Dirstine and Luchetti are all Boston College commits, while Greaney is committed to the University of Rhode Island.
Sophomore Brady Martin returns at quarterback after a solid freshman year, while fullback/linebacker Peter Bryant is excellent on both sides of the ball. Holliston transfer Spencer Aronson should fit right in at running back. Another transfer, wide receiver Justin Barron, will give Martin yet another offensive weapon.
Milton Academy was four points away from an undefeated ’16, and longtime coach Kevin MacDonald has many of the same faces back.
Alec Beesmer returns at quarterback, while sophomore running back Kalel Mullings already is generating national recruiting interest. The line should be solid as J.J. Bussgang, Owen Burke and Bryan Hanly return, and John Minicus was an all-ISL selection at defensive end. Greg Livingston returns to the defensive backfield, Jailen Branch is a quality receiver.and transfer Eddie Duggan is expected to step right in at tight end and linebacker.
BB&N closed the 2016 season with five straight wins, including a wild 63-41 victory against Suffield in the Ken O’Keefe Bowl. Defense will be a calling card as all-ISL defensive linemen Colin Lamphire and Jay Symonds (Pittsburgh), defensive back Mike Bulman, and linebacker Desi O’Mahony return.
Belmont Hill returns a solid nucleus off a team which captured the Kevin Fleming Bowl title. Duke-bound wide receiver Jake Bobo is back along with quarterback Mike Piazza and safety/wide receivers Justin O’Neil-Riley and Jake Haase. Isaiah Collins and Jaylen Bailey lead the Hillies backfield.
Don’t be shocked if Governor’s Academy makes a move toward the top of the league. Shane Smith and Patrick Flaherty are top-notch linebackers, while Camden Gagnon, Paul Holloway and Kevin Lemieux anchor the lines.
Brooks should be among the favorites in the ISL-9 as Penn State-bound tight end Pat Freiermuth, quarterback Seamus Lambert and defensive backs Jaylen Cromwell and Terrell Brown return to a team which competed in the Mike Atkins Bowl. St. George’s competed in the Hugh Caldera Bowl last year and return running back Tristan Edwards, defensive end Jackson Clark, defensive back Joey Everett and linebacker Will Rogers.
St. Sebastian’s will be without standout linebacker Bryce Gallagher (Northwestern), who is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury. The Arrows will lean on quarterback Billy Seidl, running backs Brian Craven and Brendan McKenzie, wide receivers Alex Cherry and Will Frisoli along with UConn-bound lineman Jonathan Pace.
New Noble & Greenough coach Rob Murray should have his team in the hunt as Newton North transfers John Grady (quarterback) and Sam Folse (offensive line) will mesh with a solid returning cast. Michael Sullivan and Dan Monaghan are two of the better linemen in the league, while running back Jason Medeiros and linebacker Uche Ndukwe were allleague selections a year ago.
Groton will be bolstered by the return of wideouts Noah Aaron and Lachlan Combs along with running backs Caleb Coleman, Robbie Long and Bennett Smith. Middlesex will lean on quarterback Derek DeMarzo (1,700 passing yards).
Rivers offensive linemen Ian Brostowski and Tim Lapsley will protect quarterback Andrew Sanderson. Quarterback Will Greer returns for Roxbury Latin and will be throwing to a receiving group led by Zander Keough.
St. Mark’s is expecting big things from junior running back Laquan McKever as well as wide receiver/ linebacker Jon Noel. Tabor joins the ISL, replacing St. Paul’s, and returns running backs Pete Lombardi and Angel Santiago along with tight end Seth Kourtesis. AllISL tight end/defensive end Drew Callahan and wide receiver/linebacker Kevin Deree are back for Thayer.
As for the local schools in the Evergreen League, Dexter Southfield is primed to make a move upward as it returns 20 starters, including running back Tyrell Wiggins, quarterback Luke Macphail and wide receiver Liam Kelly. Pingree will be very experienced as 18 starters return to the fold, including quarterback Patrick Aylmer, wide receiver Ricky Arias and running backs Eric Adinkra and Vito Visconti.