Scituate wins one for Michael Spinola
Former assistant coach killed in car accident
SCITUATE — In the weeks leading up to the Div. 4 Super Bowl, there was plenty of excitement in Scituate.
If you were to walk into a business on Front Street, chances are you would have heard the game being discussed by anxious Sailors fans, since they were making their second trip to a state championship in the past four years.
But few outside of the confines of the Irish Riviera are aware the program suffered two devastating losses during their playoff run — including former assistant coach Michael Spinola.
Spinola, 29, was killed in a car accident on Nov. 18.
The Sailors and the community have since hoped to honor the life of someone who meant so much to so many in the coastal town.
“That was definitely a hard week,” said Scituate coach Herb Devine. “In years past, I’ve talked about the heart Mikey played with, the leadership he had. He would do anything for you. We tell the story all the time, about playing Duxbury one year where we put him up against their 6-foot-7, 260pound offensive lineman going full scholarship to Boston College. We put Spinola, 5-foot-4, probably about 165 pounds soaking wet, up against the kid, and he was just like a little gnat all day. That just kind of shows the heart he had, and I think the kids rallied around that.”
Spinola was a key player for Scituate in 2009 and 2010, primarily as a running back. However, he was always willing to play any position when called into duty.
In 2015, Spinola joined the Scituate coaching staff, along with his close friend, Mike Stewart.
“Mikey was a person with great character, great heart,” Stewart said. “Obviously, on the football field, he’s a player you want on your team. As a coach, he’s one that you want to have on your staff. He knew a lot about the game … anything he had to say about something, I’d listen. A lot of kids would listen.”
The month of November hit Scituate’s program hard. On Nov. 15, Ramapo (NJ) High School coach Drew Gibbs experienced chest pains at practice before collapsing on the field. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died due to complications from emergency surgery at the age of 59 on Nov. 16.
Longtime friends, Devine and Gibbs had been exchanging advice and sharing wisdom on the game of football with one another. Gibbs was widely regarded as one of the premier coaches in New Jersey, and frequently hosted camps at Scituate High with Devine during the summer. Itt was Gibbs who taught Scituate senior Keegan Sullivan one of his favorite plays — the stretch — which allowed the Sailors star to get into space more consistently.
For 13 straight years, Duxbury had dominated the Patriot League, defeating each and every conference opponent that it took on.
Despite the fact that the Sailors owned the top overall seed in the Div. 4 field, the predominant line of thinking shared by most experts was that they were simply too dinged up to keep pace with such an explosive Dragons team.
But as the Sailors walked onto the field at Gillette Stadium, many were wearing black wristbands for Spinola, while others donned green decals remembering Gibbs on their helmet, reading “DG.”
Draped over the Sailors’ bench was Spinola’s old No. 28 jersey.
With 27 seconds left in regulation Friday, and Scituate trailing 13-12 following a 10-yard touchdown rush by Andrew Bossey, Sullivan jogged over to the sideline, where Devine was waiting.
“He said, ‘We’re going for it,’” said Sullivan. “Didn’t even hesitate.”
Devine drew up a play, one which he had been pondering since Scituate’s initial loss to Duxbury back in September. That night, the Sailors found themselves in essentially the exact same spot, only to falter with a mishandled snap during a grueling 27-26 loss to the Dragons.
The Sailors lined up in a T formation. Then, quarterback Henry Gates handed the ball to Sullivan. The senior cut to his left, then slid past a tackler to pay dirt for the go-ahead, two-point conversion rush, clinching the state title for Scituate.
“I know Mikey’s watching down right now,” Stewart said. “He’s so proud of us. He’s so proud of this team, he’s so proud of this program. It’s been a long couple of weeks, and he’s been watching us the whole time. For it to end the way it did tonight, it was truly something special.”