For Ruggles, return a home run

Reminded that a lot has changed since he was last coaching football in Townsend, Sandy Ruggles nearly cackles.

"That's such an understatement," he says.

The last time Ruggles was seen around these parts, he had coached North Middlesex Regional to its seventh straight Central Mass. Super Bowl appearance. The Patriots played for the Super Bowl from 1989 to 1995, winning all but the 1991 game, the first of the Patriots' five straight Division 1 Super Bowls against Fitchburg. Ruggles left after the 1995 season to take the head coaching job at UMass-Lowell, and neither he nor North Middlesex has been the same.

The Patriots have had four coaches since, including two stints from longtime assistant John Margarita (1996-99, 2004-07), but have yet to return to the postseason. They've been up and down, going 8-3 in 2006 but 0-11 last season, their second winless campaign since Ruggles left.

Ruggles left UMass-Lowell after the 2000 season, and the River Hawks have since eliminated the program. Ruggles then took the head coaching job at Ashland, where in four years he won five games, and has since served as an assistant at Lexington and Weston.

Ruggles is scrapping the wishbone formation that the Patriots used to achieve great success in the '90s in favor of a more modern scheme. He sees the athletic ability in players such as Justin Maudie, D.J. Webb, and Corey Lewis, and will utilize their talents in a spread-oriented option scheme similar to what Rich Rodriguez installed at the University of West Virginia.

It's premature to predict a dramatic improvement, but Ruggles's return rounds out an already tight Division 1 West.

"John was a hell of a coach," says Holy Name coach Mike Pucko. "But with Sandy back, that makes things a lot different, and more interesting. I look for them to be strong in the future."

Says Nashoba Regional coach Ken Tucker, whose Chieftains have played the Patriots each Thanksgiving since 1995, "It's good to see him back."

St. John's of Shrewsbury is a heavy favorite to make a fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years. The Pioneers are the deepest team in Central Mass., led by the imposing defensive front four of Phil Iaccerino, Kevin Griffin, Troy Moore, and Division 1 prospect Rob Blanchflower.

"They're like the Nebraska Cornhuskers with their size," says Pucko. All four linemen are 6 foot 4 inches or taller and average 250 pounds.

"We're just a smashmouth group. We get after it," says defensive end Iaccerino.

New Algonquin Regional coach Bill Long, an assistant the previous four years at St. John's, calls them the best defensive unit in Central Mass.

The Pioneers earned a share of the Division 1 North title, but lost out on playoff berth by a slim margin in a tiebreaker based on power rankings. There's still a bitter taste in some mouths, and the Pioneers are without cornerback Colin O'Rourke (broken leg) until October. They'll rely on linebacker Alex Papoojian and wide receivers Richard Rodgers and Kevin Lizzotte.

With just four returning starters on each side, Fitchburg coach Ray Cosenza faces a situation somewhat similar to 2005, when a young offense was led by sophomores Jeremy Kimber and Jonny Gomez. But a portion of the core from last year's 9-2 squad remains intact, including senior wideout Orlando Anderson, four-year defensive starter Ryan Robar, and left tackle Keith Bourne.

Bourne, a 6-4, 275-pound senior, is considered the state's most underrated prospect by some scouting reports.

Things could get interesting in the Dubzinski-ville district of Division 1 North. Former Millbury head coach Dave Palazzi, one of Leominster's greatest quarterbacks, is back in town. A run-and-shoot coach, he'll be the offensive coordinator for the Blue Devils, who are led by longtime run-heavy guy John Dubzinski. Wachusett Regional, headed by Mike Dubzinski, looks much improved after a 3-8 campaign in '07.

In Division 1 West, defending co-champion Nashoba is a favorite, thanks to senior Travis Patterson. In 2007, the hard-hitting halfback rushed for a school-record 1,405 yards, and has received some looks from a handful of Division 1 colleges.

Holy Name, which also shared the 2007 West title, is short on bodies but long on experience and talent. Pucko will field just 27 for his varsity. But the Naps return seven starters on both sides of the ball, including 6-1, 248-pound tight end/defensive end Brandon Potvin.

At one point last season, seven teams in Division 1 East were running a variation of the spread. Joining that mix will be Algonquin, which last saw success using the approach with the record-setting duo of Marc Eddy and Dallas Mall.

"You've got to just coach to what the team's strength is," Long says. "I'd love to be able to just line up in Power-I and run right and left, but unfortunately you can't make a living doing that. It's not about X's and O's, but about Jimmys and Joes."

Look for the Tomahawks, led by quarterback Mike Vulcano, to make some waves. Doherty's Yarwin Smallwood and Tekena Omoebegkuse should be a formidable backfield tandem, while defending Division 1A Super Bowl champ Shrewsbury returns four-year starter Paul Tizzano at safety and wideout. Marlboro and Milford will also be in the hunt.

With senior Bucky Richards (2,186 passing yards, 20 touchdowns in '07) in his third year under center, Millbury is one of the favorites to return to the Division 2 playoffs. But the Woolies aren't without flaws.

Their running game wasn't a glaring problem - Justin Tervo ran for 650 yards and 17 touchdowns - but enough that new coach Matt Friedman says, "Sometimes I felt we were in better shape facing third and 8 rather than third and 3."

In a Division 2 chock-full of capable quarterbacks - Northbridge's Zach Zidelis, Auburn's Jon Leroux, and Bartlett's Jesse Bond - the best of the bunch might be Southbridge's Tyler Ramsey.

Against Millbury in the second game last season, Ramsey broke his thumb early, but didn't bother to tell anyone until the game ended (Southbridge lost, 28-22). But Ramsey missed just one game, and played the following three at tailback before moving back under center.

He finished with more than 800 yards rushing and close to 1,000 passing, which was enough for Friedman to call him "as good as anyone in Central Mass. That quarterback is an absolute stud. He was the best kid we saw last year."

Says Southbridge head coach Frank Koumanelis, "He does some unbelievable things on offense. I shake my head and say, 'How the heck does he do those things?' "

Behind Ramsey and athletic wideout Victor Martinez (back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons) the Pioneers - who finished 5-6 but lost four games by less than a touchdown - should surprise more than a few.

With Zidelis, wideouts Jemal Clarke and Mike Padro, and tackle Casey Hippert, Northbridge will be tough to top, which is nothing new. Shepherd Hill Regional and Tantasqua Regional also figure to challenge.

First-year Grafton coach Mike Ross has installed the double Wing-T, which brings the number of Division 2 teams using that scheme to three. In a division rich with passers, that could make for some intriguing matchups.

In Division 3, the introduction of first-year program Groton-Dunstable Regional will make some ripples. The Crusaders, formerly a co-op with Ayer, will feature 10 players who were varsity starters for the 7-3 Panthers. Littleton, behind Zack Clark, should make noise once again, as should Narragansett Regional and Murdock. After years of futility, the Blue Devils are coming off a surprising 8-3 season.

After improving by eight wins and reaching the Division 3 Super Bowl, there are hopes of repeat success for Lunenburg. Speedy tailback Mike Rash returns to help shoulder the load. Junior John Burr, the Blue Knights' 325-pound interior lineman, might be one of the best linemen in Central Mass.

Everett, No. 1 in the Globe's preseason Top 20, opens tonight against Waltham. Other games of note involve local teams facing out-of-state opponents. Plymouth South hosts St. John the Baptist of New York tomorrow at 10 a.m. St. John the Baptist is led by coach Keith Schweers and plays in the New York Catholic A conference. St. John was 6-4 last year . . . And Marshfield boarded a plane yesterday and headed to California to face Beverly Hills tomorrow. Game time is 10 p.m. The Rams hosted Beverly Hills in 2006 and lost, 31-20.