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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES

  • South defeats North, 13-6 in Agganis All-Star Classic

    LYNN -- South coach Neal Weidman shuffled through a mix of quarterbacks before finally settling in with Brian Santry. It was crunch time, and Weidman had faith in the 6-foot quarterback from Swampscott. With 3:09 remaining on the clock and his team clinging to a 1-point lead, Santry delivered a 35-yard touchdown pass down the center of the field to Kyle Gotham of Revere to help the South defeat the North, 13-6, in the 52d annual Agganis All-Star Classic at Manning Bowl in Lynn Thursday night. Gotham burst through the up seam on a stick-and-go, and the South's North safety bit on the short route, leaving the 6-2 receiver wide open on the goal line.(   06/28/2013 12:00 AM )

  • Shriners Football Classic a successful closing run for Blue Hills Regional's Vincent Burton

    WALTHAM -- It had been a while since Vincent Burton had stepped onto the football field at Bentley -- one year, six months, and 19 days, to be exact -- but as soon as he arrived last weekend, the memories came flooding back. The 152 yards on 37 carries. The 1-yard rush for a touchdown that eventually stood as the game-winner. The hoisting of the Division 4A Super Bowl championship trophy after Blue Hills Regional's narrow 16-14 win over Cathedral. Sure, the atmosphere at Saturday's 30th Shriners Football Classic was a little different than it was on that chilly day in early December 2011 -- the weather was hot and hazy, the game merely an exhibition this time around -- but Burton enjoyed it just the same.(   06/27/2013 12:00 AM )

  • South stars roll past North in Shriners Football Classic

    WALTHAM -- For Alex Jette, who starred on the gridiron for North Attleboro in the fall, Saturday's 30th Annual Shriners All-Star Football Classic represented a bit of a conundrum: His red-and-white helmet, which he wore while playing for the South all-stars, had Hockomock League rival Mansfield's big green logo on it. "I got the Mansfield 'M' on there, and it was a little tough to put that one on," Jette said, unable to hold back a laugh. Jette, however, was able to put rivalries aside and the helmet -- and his receiving prowess -- to good use, corralling catching a touchdown pass in each half as the South beat the North All-Stars, 21-7, at Bentley University.(   06/23/2013 1:00 AM )

  • North and South All-Stars meet in 30th annual Shriners Football Classic

    It might not be a crisp fall Friday night, but Massachusetts high school football in Massachusetts will be played this weekend. The 30th annual Shriners All-Star Football Classic will take place this be is Saturday at 4 p.m. at Bentley College. The North All-Stars will be coached by Dan Bauer of 2012 Super Bowl champion Beverly. His assistant coaches are Sean Maguire (Burlington), Ted Dalicandro (Newton South), E.J. Perry (Andover), Pat Ross (Roxbury Latin), and Tim O'Connor (Haverhill). "Obviously with Dan coaching, we're excited and proud of him. We had an outstanding year last year and he's brought two Super Bowl titles in three years. It's such a great game and a great tradition for a good cause," said Beverly athletic director James Coffey. All Proceeds from the game will be donated to the Shriners Hospital in Boston.(   06/21/2013 10:17 PM )

  • Framingham's Bob Jachowicz remembered as a mentor, coach and educator

    Bob Jachowicz came to Framingham in 1951 after graduation from Holy Cross and never left. Jachowicz, who died May 9 at age 84, was a longtime football coach and educator at Framingham High and Framingham South and is an inductee to the Lynn English High school and Mass. High School Football Coaches Halls of Fame. "When we played South Thanksgiving Day in my early years, I'd walk up to him and tell Bob I couldn't sleep the night before and he'd just chuckle and tell me to relax, enjoy the game and that my turkey would still taste good afterwards,'' said former Natick coach Tom Lamb. Jachowicz was well known for his storytelling, singing and his Thanksgiving Eve get-togethers at his home. (   05/16/2013 1:20 AM )

  • High school athlete pushes for defibrillators at games

    A new requirement that defibrillators be available at all varsity football and hockey games could go into effect next school year, thanks to the efforts of a Milford teen. Sean Burns, a sophomore at Milford High School, was only 14 years old when he heard about the near death of a fellow hockey player on the ice, but the event turned him into an instant lobbyist. In the past two years, Burns has testified on Beacon Hill, persuaded businesses to donate nine AEDs to local schools and youth programs, and won a yes vote from the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs athletic programs at 373 public and private schools in the state. (   05/09/2013 12:00 AM )

  • National Football Foundation's local chapter to hold awards ceremony on May 13

    High school football's best and brightest will be honored on May 13 at the annual awards ceremony of the Jack Grinold Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.(   05/06/2013 4:01 AM )

  • North Reading's Nolan Vesey helps power River Rats to national U-18 hockey title

    Nolan Vesey did his best to upend Malden Catholic's bid for a third consecutive Super 8 title in March. Fourteen seconds into the game, the senior captain gave Austin Prep a 1-0 lead, and then added score as Prep rallied from a 3-1 deficit. MC hung on for a 3-2 victory, but Vesey had no time to dwell on the loss. The next day, the North Reading teen made the drive to the Foxboro Sports Center for practice with the Neponset River Rats. His focus, a national championship. Last month, Vesey and the River Rats capped a 33-4-2 season with a 4-3 win against the St. Louis AAA Blues at Robert Morris University, capturing the USA Hockey Tier 1 18-and-under national title, the best season in the program's six-year history. (   05/05/2013 1:14 AM )

  • Andover High senior Mark Zavrl receives Courageous Award from state football coaches

    Just hours after undergoing surgery to repair complete tears to the anterior cruciate, medial collaterial, and posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Mark Zavrl was wheeled out to midfield on Oct. 12 to join his fellow Andover High football captains, in the pouring rain, for the coin toss before their game against Lawrence. On Thanksgiving morning, donning his blue and gold No. 33 Golden Warrior jersey, he walked out to midfield for the coin toss prior to Andover 's 22-19 playoff-clinching win over Central Catholic. On Sunday evening, Zavril was one of four seniors to receive the Paul Costello Courageous Player award at the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association's Hall of Fame banquet in Randolph. (   05/02/2013 1:20 AM )

  • Coaches to lead football camp

    The Friends of Natick Football and the Natick High School football coaches will hold a four-day summer workshop camp at the end of June at the high school to teach fundamental football skills and techniques to students in grades 2 through 8. to interested young athletes. The camp allows participants, for attendees, who will be grouped by age, to try different positions, and will include a competition on the last day. It will be held at Natick High, and meet on June 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and June 26 through June 28 from 8:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. The cost to attend is $140 for advance registrations, or if registered prior to the workshop, or $150 for sign-ups at the camp. registered there. Funds raised from fees The proceeds will benefit the high school's football program. Applications for the camp are available at www.natickfootball.com. For more information, call David Dorant at 617-699-7512, or e-mail him at ddorant@comcast.net. (   04/28/2013 12:00 AM )

  • North Reading's Jared Coppola continues his courageous fight from crippling injury

    At age 20, Jared Coppola has seemingly endured a lifetime of challenges. Yet, the former St. John's Prep student-athlete continues to push on, undeterred by his daily routine. His resiliency is no surprise to those who know Coppola, who suffered a paralyzing neck injury during an on-field collision four years suiting up for the St. John's Prep football team, fracturing his fifth cervical vertebra. On Sunday (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), his aunt, Robin Coppola Shelgren, is hosting a fund-raiser at St. John's Prep in Danvers, named "An Hour of Therapy" to help fund further rehabilitation for Coppola in Atlanta. (   04/25/2013 12:00 AM )

  • Rockland's Alyssa Jasper targeting a national title in javelin

    Launching the javelin into the air with all of her might is a relatively new passion for Alyssa Jasper. The 2011 Rockland High grad has only been throwing the jav for two years, but she is already targeting a national championship. A sophomore at Worcester State University, Jasper is likely headed to the NCAA Division 3 Track & Field Championships, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Her best throw is 141 feet, currently the fifth-best throw in the country in Division 3. The top 16 throws are invited to the nationals. Last year, Jasper placed 15th. The 19-year-old Jasper has also qualified for the New England Division 3 championships in the shot put (   04/25/2013 12:00 AM )

  • Newton's Mike Mullowney guides Junior Eagles girls' hockey team to national title

    Three years ago, there was no Junior Eagles girls' hockey team. And judging by the first tryout, it looked like it might stay that way. Seven girls showed up. "We wound up with 13 players (10-year-olds) that first year," said coach Mike Mullowney, a 46-year-old Newton resident. "We found a goalie from Watertown who was very good. We started beating teams that had beaten us earlier in the season." His team is now made up of 11- and 12-year-olds, with no geographic restrictions for club programs, though Mullowney pretty much stayed local. The payoff has been swift and stunning. Last month, after winning the state championship, the Eagles captured the national championship, defeating a team from Chicago in overtime at Valley Sports Arena in Concord. (   04/25/2013 12:00 AM )

  • No vote on new Blocksidge Field in Swampscott Swampscott delays vote on new field

    The Swampscott Board of Selectmen opted not to bring the newest proposal to rebuild a town athletic field up for a vote next month, but that doesn't mean it won't be coming up again. Ultimately, Swampscott town officials explained, the decision not to bring the Blocksidge Field plan before the May 6 annual Town Meeting was based on timing and priorities. "We want to wait until the five-year capital plan is complete, to see where it fits in," said Rich Malagrifa, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. "We've also got some drainage issues, and want to do a townwide drainage study, so that's thrown in also." (   04/25/2013 12:00 AM )

  • Julia Sullivan throws no-hitter to lift Sandwich over Marshfield

    In the first inning of Sandwich's softball game against Marshfield on Wednesday, senior pitcher Julia Sullivan ripped andan RBI double to give the Blue Knights a 1-0 lead. their first run. That was all the offense Sandwich (3-0) would need as Sullivan pitched a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and no walks as the Blue Knights won, 6-0. defeated the Rams, 6-0, in Marshfield. "It was her best pitching performance of the year," said Sandwich coach Jean Russell. of Sullivan who improved to 3-0 on the season."Her fastball had some giddy-up on it and she hit her spots, so it didn't matter what she was throwing. She was in control of all of her pitches." Sullivan, a lefty lefthander, almost had a perfect game, if it wasn'twere it not for a pair of errors made in the field.(   04/10/2013 11:35 PM )

  • Snowfall led to financial hit for football semifinals and Super Bowls, says MIAA Football Committee

    At the MIAA Football Committee meeting Tuesday, matchups and bad weather were blamed for low attendance in the semifinals and Super Bowls this past fall season.(   02/27/2013 12:00 AM )

  • Alex Collins finally signs with Arkansas

    A day later than expected and with his father -- not his mother -- by his side, highly recruited Florida running back Alex Collins signed his letter of intent to play at Arkansas. (   02/08/2013 5:47 AM )

  • High school football commitments

    A look at the high school seniors who have decided which college they will attend. (   02/06/2013 2:45 AM )

  • Everett running back Jakarrie Washington leads Massachusetts college recruits on National Signing Day

    National Signing Day is Wednesday, and Massachusetts is sending a lot of talent to the college football ranks. (   02/06/2013 2:39 AM )

  • MIAA grants appeals

    Seven schools were granted their appeals after a second attempt to change their divisional placement before the MIAA Football Committee Wednesday. (   01/31/2013 7:55 AM )

  • SportsLog: Tennessee Titans are interested in hiring Gregg Williams

    Gregg Williams may be a step closer to returning to the NFL after being suspended indefinitely for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty program. Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak has talked with Williams and is interested in adding him to his Tennessee staff, said a person familiar with the situation.(   01/28/2013 12:34 AM )

  • MIAA penalizes Natick for use of wrong football; Gardner barred from winter tournaments

    Plymouth South's and Natick's ongoing dispute regarding Natick's use of an illegal football at the Nov. 27 playoff game landed before the board with South appealing the decision of the Football Committee to punish Natick only by requiring Natick coaches to attend a class. In a discussion that was part "yes-you-did," part "no-I-didn't," the two sides split time expressing innocence and frustration. (   01/17/2013 5:59 AM )

  • Lynn Classical grad Jeff Akers on top of his game as college football official

    Last Thursday night, Jeff at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, Akers, 49,Akers received the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's Joseph V. McKenney Award as the region's top collegiate official from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. He is on the short list of officials who might be hired by the National Football League. A standout linebacker at Lynn Classical High School, where he played on two Super Bowl squads, Akers received a scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 1986, and he played for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (   01/17/2013 12:36 AM )

  • MIAA Football subcommittee grants division changes for seven schools

    Sixteen schools in the North sectional appealed to the MIAA Football subcommittee to change their divisions. With an additional 11 from the South sectional asking for a change on Tuesday, only seven of the 27 total schools were allowed to make changes. (   01/10/2013 10:54 AM )

  • Rich McKenna right at home in Billerica, as head football coach

    Rich McKenna left quite an impression on Peter Flynn, as both a player and assistant coach at Billerica High. So much so, that Flynn hoped McKenna would be his eventual successor as head football coach. Flynn ended his successful 23-year run at the helm of the Indians in November. On Friday, McKenna stepped down as head coach at Westford Academy to accept the same position at his alma mater. (   01/10/2013 12:00 AM )