Catholic Conference

BC HIGH
Coach: Ron St. George (third year at BC High, 26th overall, 191-83-4).
Last year's record: 9-2.
Playing surface: Artificial turf.
Football website: bchigh.edu.
Returning starters (16): Brian Sullivan, RB/DB, Sr., 5-8, 170; Mitch McClune, RB/LB, Sr., 5-8, 185; Tom Duffy, RB/LB, Sr., 6-1, 200; Bill Miller, RB/LB, Sr., 6-1, 180; Geoff Gottbrecht, C/DE, Sr., 6-1, 230; Steve Alibrandi, G/LB, Sr., 5-10, 220; Keith Burkinshaw, DB, Sr., 5-10, 195; Tom Conley, TE/DE, Sr., 6-1, 230; Cody Morgan, DB, Sr., 5-8, 165; Mike Ridge, T, Sr., 6-2, 240; Jeff Vernet, T, Sr., 5-11, 260; Geordi Werrett, K, Sr., 5-7, 190; Kyle Ewanowski, RB/LB, Jr., 6-1, 195; Tyler Horan, DE/RB, Jr., 6-1, 210; Jabreel Wingard, FB/LB, Jr., 5-11, 228; Nnamdi Obukwelu, G/T, Jr., 6-2, 240.
Returning letter winners (11): Joe Cavanaugh, G, Sr.; Nick DiBella, T, Sr.; Rick Gilbody, RB, Sr.; Tom Pepe, G, Sr.; Greg Sands, G, Sr.; Mike DiMattdeo, TE, Jr.; Bill Kiley, QB/DB, Jr.; Pat Moynahan, G/LB, Jr.; Niall Murphy, DB/DE, Jr.; Mike Murphy, T, Jr.; Tom Snow, C/DE, Jr.
Strengths: Tradition, work ethic, senior leadership.
Concern: Execution.
Outlook: The Eagles graduated a prolific scorer in Liam Regan (10 TDs in '06) but St. George is hoping that a combination of backs can make up the difference. "We have a lot of backs that could be really good," St. George said. Senior captains Mitch McClune, Tom Duffy, Bill Miller, and Brian Sullivan will give George different offensive options. The Eagles are returning 16 starters, and that experience should prove valuable in the first two games of the season against Brockton and Andover. ''We've got a lot of kids returning,'' St. George said. ''If we stay healthy, we are staying cautiously optimistic about the season.'' George had plenty to say about his opponents, and offered his teams to beat this season. ''The championship of Division 1 goes through Xaverian and St. John's Prep.'' The Eagles don't face either team until November, but play them back-to-back in a tough home stretch before finishing with Catholic Memorial on Thanksgiving.

CATHOLIC MEMORIAL
Coach: Alex Campea (fourth year at CM, 55-45 overall).
Last year's record: 1-9.
Playing surface: Artificial turf.
Football website: catholicmemorial.org.
Returning starters (17): Julian Anderson, LB, 6-0, 245, Sr.; Julian Colarusso, WR, 6-4, 180, Sr.; Chris Rooney, S/TB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Rob Schaetzl, FB/LB, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Mike Buttimer, K/TE, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Giddens Rateau, G/DE, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Joe Murphy, WR/DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Tom Gomberts, WR/DB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; AJ Currelley, RB/DB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Isaac Whitworth, FB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Chris Kerrigan, FB/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Shaun Millien, OL/DL, 6-8, 335, Sr.; Brendan Belschner, C/DE, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Brennan Williams, OL/Dl, 6-4, 255, Sr.; Nick Cataldo, OL/DL, 6-2, 275, Sr.; Josh Boyd, WR/DB, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Matt Boyd, QB/DB, 5-11, 195, Sr.
Returning letter winners (3): Brendan Monteiro, Sr.; Kevin Vixama, Sr.; John Leblanc, Sr.
Strengths: Size, experience.
Concern: Depth.
Outlook: With 17 returning starters, the Knights have to be considered one of the more experienced teams in the always-tough Catholic Conference. They will look to their captains to contribute on both sides of the ball. With Chris Rooney and Rob Schaetzl coming out of the backfield and the Julian Colarusso/Joe Murphy tandem at receiver, CM will put points on the board. Anderson and Buttimer lead a strong group of linebackers. Campea has this program going in the right direction and believes this team is ready to win now. ''The young guys that struggled last year used that experience to improve their skills,'' he said. ''We still have lots of work to do but I see this being a very solid team on both offense and defense.'' The Knights will have the opportunity to show the conference how much they've improved at the end of the season as they finish out their schedule against Xaverian and BC High.

MALDEN CATHOLIC
Coach: Joe Gaff (third year at MC, 5-16 overall).
Last year's record: 4-6.
Playing surface: Artificial turf.
Football website: maldencatholic.org.
Returning starters (10): Craig Richardson, LB, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Mike Riley, QB, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Ryan Curtis, RB/CB, 6-0, 195 Sr.; Robert Machado, RB/LB, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Cole McDonough, WR/S, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Patrick Suza, C, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Marc Steinberg, G, 5-11, 215, Sr.; Michael Timmons, G/DT, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Kenneth Watkins, WR/CB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Mark Sylvester, OT/DT, 6-3, 250, Jr.
Returning letter winners (12): Andrew Dalbeck, LB, Sr.; Bryan Denehy, WR, Sr.; Peter Grava, LB, Sr.; Joe Joyce, LB, Sr.; Patrick Long, T, Sr.; Stephen Murray, G, Sr.; John Sullivan, C, Sr.; Greg Marcellin, T, Sr.; Dan Joly, RB, Sr.; Andrew Desimone, QB, Jr.; Shawn Kelley, LB/FB, Matthew Muldoon, LB, Jr.
Strengths: Senior leadership, experienced and talented offensive line.
Concern: Strength of schedule.
Outlook: This team is the result of a three-year rebuilding process. After going 1-9 two years ago, MC is looking to continue its improvement and make noise against the conference powers. The team will ride all-league running back Robert Machado, who Gaff says is one of the top five athletes in the state. Mark Sylvester and Ryan Curtis will lead the Lancers' defense. The Lancers also have experience on their side as they have 31 seniors returning from last year's squad. ''We've worked hard on conditioning in the off season and continue to improve,'' Gaff said. ''Having a healthy Riley [who broke his arm in week 3 last year] will help us tremendously as well.'' The team faces an early test as it faces conference rival Xaverian to open the season. ''This might be the strongest conference in the league, Gaff said. ''All of the teams in this league are pretty close in terms of talent so it should be a fight to the finish." MC opens with defending champion Xaverian.

ST. JOHN'S PREP
Coach: Jim O'Leary (24th year, 163-77-2).
Last year's record: 7-4.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: stjohnsprep.org.
Returning starters (9): Scott Darby, QB, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Derek Coppola, RB, 5-7, 170, Sr.; Patrick Dempsey, WR, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Patrick Higgins, FB, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Nate Brakely, OL, 6-4, 220, Sr.; Thomas McTeague, K, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Peter Neal, CB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Mike Papagani, OLB, 5-8, 180, Sr.; Andrew McHugh, OLB, 6-1, 205, Jr.
Returning letter winners: Too many to list.
Strengths: Returning skill players on offense, kicking game.
Concern: Rebuilt lines after losing 50 seniors.
Outlook: St. John's will look to carry on its proud football tradition as it enters its 100th season. Prep will lean on its offense to help an untested defense. The return of Scott Darby, Derek Coppola, Patrick Higgins, and Patrick Dempsey means those sitting in the re-done Cronin Memorial Stadium will be able to sit back and watch an offense with plenty of weapons. Coppola was the Eagles' workhorse last year as he rushed for more than 1,300 yards. He and Darby, who threw for close to 1,000 yards last season, will need to kill a lot of clock as O'Leary eases his young defensive players into starting roles. Among the nonconference opponents are Everett, Brockton, and Dracut (who topped the Eagles in a 40-34 shootout last year). "This schedule is one of the toughest I can remember," O'Leary said. ''Having all those seniors last year was great. But now our defense is a bit inexperienced, we all know playing JV is a lot different than this level."

XAVERIAN
Coach: Charlie Stevenson (15th season, 119-34-1).
Last year's record: 8-4.
Playing surface: Artificial turf.
Football website: xbhs.com.
Returning starters (10): Paul Freeman, DE, 5-11, 235, Sr.; Paul Asack, OLB/K/P, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Tony Sullivan, OT/DT, 6-0, 209, Sr.; Matt Richmond, G, 6-1, 218, Sr.;
Returning letter winners (12): Paul Asack, LB, Sr.; Anthony Boch, LB/RB, Jr.; Robert Crossen, DB, Jr.; Paul Freeman, DE/FB, Sr.; Tony Sullivan, OT/DT, Sr.; Matt Richmond, G, Sr.; Matt Guay, Jordan Kelley, DE/OT, Jr.; Brian Mellett, QB, Sr.; Craig Parsons, RB/DB, Jr.; Matt Richmond, G, Sr.; Colin Ross, LB/RB, Sr.
Strengths: Running backs, core of young wide receivers, special teams.
Concern: Inexperience at quarterback.
Outlook: The Hawks are usually not the biggest team on the field but what they lack in size they make up for in speed. Look for a balanced offense to spread the field, and for the ground attack of Paul Freeman and Matt Guay to take the pressure off the quarterback. Senior Brian Mellett, junior Anthony Varrichione, and sophomore Alex Phelan are battling to become the top signal-caller. Paul Asack, the team's star linebacker and also the team's kicker/punter, will lead a strong special teams. "We're a young team. Many of these players had important roles last year as backups and are ready to step in as starters," Stevenson said. "I think these guys realize the importance of coming out strong and playing solid football . . . I think this conference is exceptionally competitive and our schedule won't do us any favors." The young Hawks players will have to learn to play in front of tough crowds because they go on the road against Brockton, Everett, BC High and end the regular season at St. John's Prep in the highly anticipated Thanksgiving game.

Compiled by Pat Ouellette