Stepping up for Wildcats

Wilmington sophomore filling gap in backfield

Wilmington's Kevin Moriarty runs against Lynnfield in last Saturday's game in Lynnfield. (Lisa Poole for The Boston Globe)

The storyline is a familiar one at Wilmington High. A year ago, the name was Ernie Mello. This season, Kevin Moriarty has stepped into an elevated role in the backfield for the Wildcats offensive attack.

The similarity is not lost on Wilmington first-year head coach Mike Barry.

"It's a weird situation, really. We planned on a few guys last year and a couple got hurt so Ernie took over and played well so he stayed in," said Barry, who served as an assistant on former coach Bob Almeida's staff for 12 seasons.

"Now, it's the same thing: we're using a few guys and Kevin is in that mix and has had success early on."

Moriarty, like Mello a year ago, is stepping into some big shoes.

Last fall, Mello took over for Rich Barry, the reigning rushing leader in Division 2A who was sidelined with an injury. Mello went out and rushed for 1,725 yards and 29 touchdowns, including an astonishing seven-touchdown, 393-yard effort against Lawrence. He is now impressing his coaches at WPI as a freshman back.

Moriarty, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound sophomore who was a starting back on the freshman team a year ago, started the season second on the varsity depth chart behind junior Evan Butters. But with Butters banged up a bit, Moriarty has stepped into the starting lineup the last two games and delivered, playing a key role in the Wildcats' 4-0 start. In Week 2, he rushed for 104 yards in a 27-0 win over Shawsheen and followed that with another 104-yard performance in a 21-7 victory over Lexington, scoring a touchdown in each game.

"I had no idea I'd be in the mix until the first game," said Moriarty. "I knew we had [quarterback] Steve [Stewart] and Evan, so I thought I might see some time here and there. I didn't think I'd get this many carries so early on, but it just worked out that way. I feel some pressure. People expect Wilmington to have a really strong offense, so there's some pressure there."

The Wildcats, averaging 20.3 points per game, shoot for a fifth win tomorrow, hosting Hamilton-Wenham.

Though the 15-year-old Moriarty has a prominent role, Barry still maintains a running-back-by-committee approach. "We're still going to use a few guys to get the job done," said Barry. "The good thing is that when someone's not having a strong night, there are others that can step in. Kevin's a mature kid, he knows his role on the team. He doesn't take anything for granted. He's all about the team and doing whatever the team needs."

Moriarty teams up with Butters and quarterback Stewart, who presents a strong threat as a runner and a passer. Each offers something a little different: Moriarty charging straight ahead, Butters able to get to the outside, and Stewart supplying plenty of speed.

Moriarty's older brother, John, a two-way starting tackle as a junior, is confident his sibling will continue to be a contributor. "It's the future of the offense," he said. "I see Kevin doing well now, and I know he's just going to get better and better. There's pressure because Ernie was such a great runner, but then again, no one saw that coming. Ernie fell into it too. You never know."

McConnell sees success

Andover High junior Chris McConnell is also making his mark. A record-setting track-and-field star as a sophomore, McConnell's speed is being utilized as a first-year wide receiver for the Golden Warriors.

Last week, the state 40-yard-dash champion caught three touchdown passes in a 35-27 loss to unbeaten Billerica.

"It's just a matter of putting it all together," said McConnell. "We're all doing our thing and playing to our strengths, but it's just got to come together. I'm happy that I've been able to help the team so far, but it's a long season."

Also, quarterback John Hennessey returns after missing most of last season with a dislocated elbow.

Andover hosts Tewksbury tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com