For Mansfield's seniors, waiting is over

Linemen getting their chance to start

From left, Mansfield's linemen: Dan Glavin, Sean Vinciguerra, Shawn McCabe, Greg Bluestein, Nevin Cruz, Shawn Collins, and Matt Cushing. (Barry Chin/Globe Staff)

At Mansfield High, players have grown accustomed to waiting for their turn to play. With so many players in the historically competitive program, players accept that their first time to start a varsity game may not come until their senior year.

This season, Mansfield boasts offensive and defensive lines made up only of seniors. The only returning starter is 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound Dan Glavin, a two-way tackle.

The rest of the players who make up the starting unit have had a chance to contribute in limited roles, but mostly, they received their playing time as part of the scout team. This season, they are starters.

The offensive line also features tackle Sean Vinciguerra (6-1, 250 pounds), guards Shawn Collins (6-1, 230 pounds) and Shawn McCabe (5-11, 215 pounds), center Matt Cushing (6-4, 215 pounds), and tight end Andrew Kelley (6-4, 195 pounds). The defense starters include tackle Greg Bluestein (5-9, 230 pounds) and end Shawn Kelley (6-4, 190 pounds) along with Collins and Glavin.

"These guys have worked hard the last three years, so it's finally good to see them get their chance," said Glavin, a three-year starter. "Not many kids get a chance to start at Mansfield, and they practice really hard just to start one season."

Mansfield, which has won five Super Bowls since 1992, was 10-2 last season and is off to a 2-1 start this year. The Hornets handed Franklin a 16-0 loss in a Hockomock game last week, following up a 22-6 win against Marshfield, a 2007 Super Bowl finalist.

On game day, the senior linemen don't hesitate to say the game begins with them. They credit line coaches Tim Selmon, Joe Russo, and Russ Rapoza with preparing them for the season.

Selmon, who was a lineman at Virginia Tech, has been instrumental in developing a strength and conditioning program that Mansfield coach Mike Redding said has not only helped the linemen, but the team overall.

By the time the linemen get their chance to play, they are more than ready, Redding said.

"They get a chance to develop," Redding said. "By the time they step in they know the offense and they're comfortable with each other."

Redding said the scout team is when players can be noticed but also can help their teammates on game day.

"We just tried to make the defense look bad," Collins said of his experience on the scout team.

Even though most of them are only a year removed from the days of waiting for their chance, the seniors don't feel sorry for the younger players behind them.

"It's their turn to take it," Bluestein said.

Canton learns how to win

Canton coach Jim Goff couldn't tell you the last time a Bulldogs team started the season 3-0. This is just his fourth season, and only two years ago, his team was playing for its first win in two seasons.

But this year, the Bulldogs are undefeated and preparing for tomorrow's game against Franklin, the 2007 Hockomock League runner-up. Canton won its first Hockomock game last week, 25-13 against Oliver Ames, and each win gives the Bulldogs a little more confidence, Goff said.

Canton could just as easily be 1-2entering this week's game after slipping by Quincy (8-7) and Madison Park (12-8). But the Bulldogs found a way to win.

Entering the season, Canton was looking to returning starter Jordan Guyton to lead the team's offense at running back. He was voted a team captain as a junior and collected more than 1,300 yards rushing last year, but a shoulder injury has limited his appearances this season. Goff said when Guyton couldn't play his teammates stepped in.

"It's been really positive," Goff said. "It's one of those things that if you had to pick an MVP right now for our team, I don't think you do it. There's a lot of different kids who are contributing."

Franklin and Canton have a history, mostly dominated by Franklin (1-2), which defeated the Bulldogs, 45-8, last season and 16-14 in 2006.

Westwood gets measure of revenge

Close didn't get Westwood much last season. The Wolverines lost three games by a combined total of 11 points in 2007. Among the toughest losses was a 28-25 double-overtime loss to Hopkinton and a 7-6 setback to Ashland.

Last week, Westwood avenged the Hopkinton defeat by coming back for a 27-23 win, courtesy of James Berluti's touchdown run in the last 20 seconds. Westwood improved to 2-1 and tomorrow will have another chance to take on Ashland (0-3) in a Tri-Valley League game.

Among the consistent players this season has been running back Jamal Hill, who had 157 yards on 13 carries against Hopkinton.

Westwood coach Paul Hallion said one improvement he would like to see against Ashland is in the team's defense. As the team's defensive coordinator, he takes part of the responsibility, but he was disappointed the unit allowed about 200 yards rushing.

"We're looking to fill some of the holes defensively," said Hallion.

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.