Bay State Carey football capsules
BRAINTREE
Coach: David Flynn (second year).
Last year's record: 5-6.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: braintreeschools.org/athletics/index.htm.
Returning starters (8): Mark Caufield, RT, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Tom Thackery, TE/DE, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Dave Pizziferri, RG, 5-8, 280, Sr.; Mike Campbell, C, 5-8, 240, Sr.; Mark Feeney, C, 5-9, 240, Sr.; Corey Dixon, FB/LB, 5-10, 235, Sr.; Tom Reid, FS, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Nick Chambers, DE, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Steve Hobin, DT, 6-0, 240, Sr.; Sean Mullen, LB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Paul Osis, NT, 5-9, 195.
Returning letter winners: Too many to list.
Strength: Skills positions and speed
Weakness: Inexperience on the line
Outlook: Flynn enters his second season with Braintree and after implementing a new optional package offense last season, he said his team, "retained a lot over the year and worked very hard in the offseason." Tom Thackery, Tom Reid and Mark Caufield, who Flynn called "three of the better leaders I've ever been around while coaching football," will help the underclassmen to understand the new offense. Flynn also called Reid "one of the better safeties in the league." Flynn likes to spread teams out and has the weapons to do so. Starting QB Evis Drenova has a strong arm and went to a few camps this summer and according to Flynn, "he runs the option package very well." He has two big, sure-handed receivers to take aim at in juniors Phil Baier and Joe Gaughan. Four tailbacks will be used in the option package, including two quick seniors Herald Arzo and Kevin O'Connell, explosive junior James Lapommeray and hardnosed sophomore Joe Donovan. Corey Dixon will be the featured fullback in the option and will have two guys rotating in, creating a situation at TB and FB where fatigue is not an issue. "We want to keep fresh legs on the field," said Flynn.
BROOKLINE
Coach: Lazaro Mitjanis (second year)
Last year's record: 1-10.
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Football website: brookline.ma.usfootballnet.com.
Returning starters (12): James Aird, OT/DT, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Chris Alicea, OL, 5-7, 165, Jr.; Michael Bennett, TB/OL, 5-8, 165, Sr.; Dimitri Efthimiou, WR/DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Bobby Sessler, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Dillan Gucheil, IL/C, 5-7, 195, Sr.; Chad Hunt, IL/FB, 6-0, 195, Jr.; Kyle Hunt, WR/FS, 6-2, 190, Jr.; Jeremy Miller, QB/DB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Joel Parent, TB/DB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Matt Rosen, QB/TE/OL, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Marc Cabarin, 6-2, 240, Jr.
Returning letter winners (12): Same as above.
Strength: Team speed, athleticism
Weakness: Depth
Outlook: Brookline is 1-28 over the last three seasons but is much more experienced this year with 10 bodies returning after only one returned the year before. Michael Bennett is co-captain and the star on this team and according to Mitjanis "a lot of Colonial Athletic Conference teams are interested in him." Brookline has an interesting four-way quarterback competition playing out which could produce Jeremy Miller, Matt Rosen or either of two sophomores, Arthur Azatyants and Irving Scott, as the day one starter. Chad and Kyle Hunt are returning starters and Kyle was the leading receiver and tackler last year. Brookline will set up in the I-formation on offense and with an eight-man front on defense. James Aird is one of Brookline's biggest bodies and best players on both the offensive and defense lines. "The key for us is trying to teach our young guys to believe they can win," said Mitjanis. "We have to take baby steps." With only about 40 kids in the program right now, depth will continue to be a problem here.
FRAMINGHAM
Coach: Gary Doherty (10th year, 55-66-1).
Last year's record: 6-5.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: framinghamflyers.com.
Returning starters (6): Danny Guadagnoli, QB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Aaron Pearl, C, 5-10, 225, Sr.; Josh Silva, RB, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Marc Thompson, OL, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Ryan Williams, NT, 6-0, 235, Sr.; Pat O'Connell, LB, 6-0, 215, Jr.
Returning letter winners (10): Charles Nyamekye, WR/DB, Sr.; Steven O'Rourke, LB, Jr.; Paul Ouma, QB/OLB, Sr.; Kyle Wilson Jr., WR/QB, Jr.; Boris Beade, K/WR, Sr.; Brett Siflinger, WR/LB, Jr.; Jesse Mitchell, WR/DB, Jr.; Matt Frazier, WR/DB, Jr.; Nick Liquori, WR/DB, Jr.; Connor Egbert, TE/DE, Jr.
Strength: Experience at skill positions, potential
Weakness: Team chemistry, inexperience, lack of returning starters\
Outlook: Framingham returns just five starters this season but should fair well with talented athletes starting at the skill positions. Danny Guadagnoli will be under center of this I-formation offense and according to Doherty, "he's a smart kid who can read [defenses] very well. We think he's going to have a great year." Newcomer Andres Bustamente, who Doherty called a "great addition for us from Westborough," and Charles Nyamekye are competing for the starting job at running back and could end up rotating through. Nyamekye, who also runs track at Framingham, "could become a great football player," according to Doherty. There is ongoing competition for several positions including wideout, linebacker and in the secondary. In a league that is "very balanced, not as top heavy as some and with good parody, a lot of teams will have a chance this year with no real favorite," said Doherty.
NEEDHAM
Coach: Dave Duffy (10th year, 51-38-2).
Last year's record: 6-5.
Playing surface: Grass.
Football website: nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/sports_act/index.html.
Returning starters (6): Mike Sharpe, G/MLB, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Brian Hopkin, MLB, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Drew Roy, QB, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Dan Falby, DE, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Jean Baptiste, TB/OL, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Lucas Cushman, OL, 6-0, 180, Jr.
Returning letter winners: Too many to list.
Strength: Running back, receivers.
Weakness: Inexperience on defensive line.
Outlook: Senior Drew Roy started at tight end last season but will quarterback Needham's multiple set offense this season. Duffy considers Roy one of the team's strengths and says the senior captain, "can throw the ball and run with it." Jean Baptiste and Brian Hopkin, two tough, experienced kids, will patrol the backfield, which Duffy plans to keep fresh by limiting the time his backs and QB spend on the defensive side of the ball. "I'd like to limit the use of two way players," he said. Dan Falby was elected as one of the three captains along with Mike Sharpe and Roy and according to Duffy, "has gotten much bigger and much stronger." The defense will set up in a 4-4 formation and will need to learn quickly with only four returning starters on the defensive line. Needham is still a senior led team with 27 after graduating 30 in the spring. "We will rely on them to push us through," said Duffy. Duffy admitted that the league was very tough last year and played at a level that "will require some work for us to get there. I hope we can be in the playoff hunt."
NEWTON NORTH
Coach: Peter Capodilupo (24th year, 132-120-2).
Last year's record: 7-4.
Playing surface: During construction, the team will play home games at Boston College (turf) and Newton South (grass).
Football website: nntigers.com.
Returning starters (10): Matt Alpert, WR/DB, 6-3, 175, Sr.; Ed Asaley, WR/DB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Kevin Castanaze, RB/LB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Giovanni Clayborne, TE/DE, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Noah Goldberg, LB/OG, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Hymlaire Lamisiere, FB/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Rob Levenfeld, T, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Steven Lang, RB/DE, 5-11, 210, Sr.; Steven Long, RB/DE, 5-11, 210, Sr.; E.J. Metallides, C/DT, 6-1, 290, Sr.; Kyle Ross, QB/DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.
Returning letter winners (8): Roger Cerqua, TE/LB, Sr.; Paul D'Amore, G/T, Sr.; Christian Ford, LB/C, Sr.; Dan Giovanucci, T/T, Sr.; Arron Goodman, T/T, Sr.; Alex Maclean, T/T, Sr.; Hao-Hua Wu, WR/DB, Sr.; Abasu Watanabe, WR/DB, Sr.
Strength: Skill positions.
Weakness: Lack of experience on offensive and defensive lines.
Outlook: Kyle Ross was fourth in Division 1A with 16 touchdown passes a year ago and Capodilupo believes Ross will be "one of the best quarterbacks in the league," this season. "He is intelligent, athletic and a leader with a good sense of the field." Ross worked hard and the offseason and has been 'throwing with authority" according to Capodilupo, who added that Ross has three experienced receivers in Giovanni Clayborne, Matt Alpert, and Ed Asaley. This team also boasts two of the league's better offensive linemen in Metallides and Levenfeld. "They have worked hard to become bigger and stronger," said Capodilupo. Both the offensive and defensive lines are otherwise inexperienced and Capodilupo says "it will be a real challenge for the new guys to make a cohesive unit. The O-line has to move the chains. We will go as far as they take us." Lamisiere, a track athlete with great speed and heart, started at FB last season but will move to RB and has looked very good so far.
WEYMOUTH
Coach: Kevin Mackin (third year, 12-11 ).
Last year's record: 9-3.
Playing surface: Artificial turf.
Football website: http://www.weymouth.ma.us/schools/commercial/.
Returning starters (8): Michael Waithe, FB/LB, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Royce Terrell, RB/S, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Jake Harrison, QB/DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Jim Gardner, T/T, 6-4, 310, Sr.; Dominic D'Allasandro, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Pat MacDonald, OL, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Michael Mathias, DT, 5-11, 340, Sr.; Barrett Jacobs, CB, 5-9, 165, Sr.
Returning letter winners: Too many to list.
Strength: Running back, size, experience on defense.
Weakness: Team speed, offensive line.
Outlook: Mackin inherited a 0-11 team two seasons ago but has turned the program around in a hurry. Weymouth was 3-8 in 2005 and 9-3 last season on the way to a Carey conference title and Mackin was named All-Scholastic Division 1A Coach of the Year. Weymouth returns its most important player, running back Michael Waithe, who was named a Bay State All-Star and All-Scholastic after finishing last season tied for the Division 1A lead in scoring (128). He ran for more than 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns. Waithe will be a force again this year but cousin Royce Terrell, "will be fighting him for the majority of carries," said Mackin. Both may see their production drop if the young and inexperienced offensive line doesn't mature quickly. Weymouth will rely on an aggressive and technically sound defense and a strong running game to win this year in a league Mackin calls "very balanced and well-coached." The defensive front eight is a group of, "very strong, good athletes," according to Mackin that should limit the opposition. The first challenge is just around the corner for Mackin and Co. as they travel to Natick for the season opener in a battle of Bay State champions. 
