Happy to be a building block
Walpole native Guidone starring for Pirates (3-0)
Jake Guidone plans to hold nothing back this weekend when the Pirates sail back to the Tsongas Center.
Fresh off a bye week, the Walpole native is ready to get back to business, toeing the offensive line for the undefeated Massachusetts Pirates (3- 0) of the Indoor Football League.
The team, which moved to Lowell in the offseason, plays host to the Iowa Barnstormers on Friday (7:05 p.m.) in what promises to be another action-packed arena football affair. After enjoying a pair of convincing victories on their new home turf, the burly lineman is confident.
“I think we look good,” said Guidone. “I like what we’ve been doing. We utilized the bye week and made sure we stayed on top of things. The guys looked great at practice. I’m excited to see what we can do on the field.”
A 6- foot- 3, 315- pound lineman, Guidone certainly knows his way around the gridiron. He worked out with the Green Bay Packers in September after attending rookie minicamp with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent this past season.
Guidone starred as a graduate student at the University of Connecticut. He started all 13 games in 2022, helping the Huskies to their first bowl game in seven seasons. The Westwood resident previously played for the Big Green of Dartmouth from 201721 and was a highly decorated offensive lineman. As a sophomore he played in all 10 games and was twice utilized as a receiver, while also seeing spot duty at tight end, primarily as an extra blocker.
He relishes his role on the line.
“It’s a gritty job,” said Guidone. “That’s the role of the offensive lineman, getting the dirty work done and letting the other guys do their thing. That’s the essence of the offensive line and I love it. Yes, you don’t get recognized so much, but the other guys on the team know and see what you do and they appreciate it.”
The Pirates lead the alltime series with Iowa 3-2. Despite enduring a 0-2 start, the Barnstormers shouldn’t be taken lightly. In their previous encounter last May, Iowa held a 3821 lead at halftime, before exploding on a 16- 0 third quarter run. The Barnstormers ended up running away with a 73- 43 landslide at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. It was the most points an opponent has ever scored against the Pirates in team history, and something Guidone doesn’t want to see repeat itself.
“We’ve been watching film on them since the bye week,” said Guidone. “We’re getting familiar with their talent and players, and what they like to do. I think they’re a great team. They’re definitely going to bring it, so we have to be ready.”
The Pirates have also proven they can put up some big offensive numbers as well.
Quarterback Alejandro Bennifeild was 15- of-16 passing for 173 yards and five touchdowns in their most recent victory over
the Sioux Falls Storm. He leads the league with 425 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Massachusetts also has the second most efficient offense in the league with a 178.1 rating.
“We’ve been doing well,” said Guidone. “The team has been clicking. We’re starting to catch our groove. I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet.”
He’s also adjusted well to playing in his adopted hometown of Lowell.
“I personally haven’t been to Lowell too much growing
up in Walpole and living in Westwood,” said Guidone. “But it’s been cool exploring the area. We have a lot of local sponsors, so we’ve been able to try some new restaurants around the city. I love Lowell. It’s a beautiful place and exciting to put it on for the fanbase.”
He’s looking forward to seeing the local support grow even bigger Friday night.
“They can expect a hell of a game,” said Guidone. “It’s going to be fun, exciting, and should be a great time.”