Q & A with Ray Doucette
Those who follow Division 1 football in these parts know that there can be outstanding subplots outside of who wins and loses games. Check back regularly as we examine players, coaches, games, and teams in different ways.
Ray Doucette has been the starting quarterback of the Cambridge Falcons since his sophomore year. Since his emergence, he has rapidly risen to become one of the top quarterbacks in Eastern Massachusetts.
Doucette's numbers have been nothing short of astronomical. He has thrown for well over 5,000 yards and already has 48 passing touchdowns in his career. Though he plays on a team that has had the incredible misfortune of playing in the same Greater Boston League as Everett, he has nonetheless established himself as possibly the premier signal-caller in Division 1.
This year is different. For the first time, Doucette finds himself without receivers Jesse Sparks or Joshua Adams. Sparks, Adams, and running back Vinson Givans graduated after last season, taking their combined 27 touchdowns with them.
Coach Joe Papagni, who assumed the head coaching position when Doucette claimed the starting quarterback role, understands that his team's offense can no longer rely on the quick home run because of personnel changes. He also has expressed his belief that his commander-in-chief of the offense was not simply a product of outstanding complementary pieces.
It has been a slow acclimation period for Doucette and his Hawks. Having sandwiched a slim win over Peabody between an overtime disappointment in Reading and a thrashing at the hands of Catholic Memorial, Cambridge sits at 1-2. Doucette has only thrown for two touchdown passes in three games, something that does not correlate with his previous seasons.
Click the "full entry" link below to read our Q&A with Ray Doucette.
Going deep with Ray Doucette
Do you feel pressure to prove skeptics wrong?
I don't feel pressure. Because Josh (Adams) and Jesse (Sparks) are gone, I think that I'm going to have to step up and everyone on the team is going to have to step up.
This is your senior year. Knowing this is your final chance for a ring, how do you approach the season?
It's different, it's important, but I don't approach it differently than any other season.
How is having Coach Papagni ever since you've been playing?
Coach Papagni is doing a great job. He was the defensive coordinator before he was the head coach, so we're all used to him.
Where are you looking to continue your football career?
I'm looking to get into Ivy League schools. I'm being recruited by Maine, Duke, URI, UConn, and BC, among others.
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Look for updates from:
- Bob Holmes: A Reading resident (Go Rockets!) and Boston College graduate, Holmes is the Boston Globe High School Sports Editor. We remind you now that his weekly picks are often made in jest so everyone just calm down when he picks against Everett for 11 straight weeks.
- Mike Carraggi: An Everett native (Go Tide!), Mike attends Eastern Nazarene college and is entering his second year with the Globe. He'll focus on Division 1 this fall, which means he'll spend a lot of time in his hometown, which Forsberg thinks is cool because the Tide have that Fried Dough cart.
- Emily Wright: A Hyannis native (Go Barnstable Red Raiders!), Emily is a senior at Emerson College and has been with the Globe since the end of July. She'll cover Division 1A and will be the first intern we've trusted to navigate her way to Dennis-Yarmouth or any other school on the Cape.
- Mike Grossi: A Lexington native (Go Minutemen!), Mike attends Northeastern and has been with the Globe for two months. He'll cover Division 2 and 2A and unsuccessfully lobbied to include Lexington in the preseason Top 20.
- Jonathan Raymond: A native of Benicia, Calif. (a suburb of San Francisco), Jonathan attends Northeastern and has been working at the Globe since the end of June. He will be focusing on Division 3 and is likely woefully underprepared for covering a game in a foot of snow.
- David Carty: A native of West Bridgewater (Go Wildcats!), David is a senior at Emerson College and has been working at the Globe for a year. He'll cover Divisions 3A and 4 because, "small school ball is in my blood."
- The bench: You'll also catch updates from our regional contributors, including Globe North's Julian Benbow and South's Monique Walker. Correspondent Brendan Hall will have updates from the Globe West coverage area and will often try to sneak in Central Mass. news.
