Lexington may lose lion

Eyesight problems could sideline coach Tighe, 84

Lexington High School football coach Bill Tighe. (Globe files)

Have one conversation with Bill Tighe and it's hard to believe his claims of "running a tight ship."

Though the longtime Lexington High football coach maintains his practices are disciplined, his lighthearted nature and sense of humor tell another story.

"He's so funny," said junior running back and cocaptain Brian Walsh. "He's always smiling and cracking jokes with us. He has a nickname for most of us and they're all pretty funny. He tries to come off as intimidating, but he's the nicest guy ever."

On Thanksgiving, Tighe wrapped up his 33d season on the Minuteman sidelines, guiding Lexington to a 24-14 Middlesex League win over Burlington. The game may have been the last for the 84-year-old Tighe, who is recognized by the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches as the oldest active high school football coach in the country.

On Monday, Tighe met with Dr. Robert Anderson to decide whether surgical intervention to repair damage in both eyes will allow Tighe to return next fall. Three years ago, Tighe developed degenerative macular disease in his right eye. Over the past year, his left eye has been troubled by glaucoma and cataracts.

Later this month, Tighe will have surgery on his right eye to gain more peripheral vision. Anderson will operate on Tighe's left eye next month to repair some of the damage from cataracts.

Tighe won't make his final decision regarding his return until both procedures are complete.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose," said Tighe. "Right now I've got to get the two surgeries and then figure out how I feel. I haven't been seeing the field the same way as before, and I like to see the whole field. I know what my heart wants to do next year - I'm just not sure my eyes are on board."

Ask him why he's been coaching so long and the answer is simple. "I just love it," said Tighe. "I have a lot of energy left and I love football. I'm older than dirt. I'm the oldest coach in America, but that's not going to stop me from doing what I love. Thanksgiving was very special. We lost five starters and had to play a lot of young guys, so the win was especially nice because we did it without some key players."

Before he came to Lexington in 1975, Tighe coached at Malden for nine years and Wakefield for 15. In 1986, he retired as a guidance counselor at Lexington, two years after one of his most memorable seasons.

"The last time we were in the Super Bowl was 1984," he said. "We played Brockton in front of 30,000 fans at Foxboro Stadium. Fortunately, we were able to get to that game. Unfortunately, it was against one of the best teams in the state. That was a very big moment."

Tighe's career record stands at 257-222-3; his record at Lexington is 177-175-3 after the Minutemen went 4-7 this season. Whether or not he returns next fall, Tighe is clear about what he'll miss most.

"The kids," he said. "It's always been about the kids. I love working with them, building relationships with them, and seeing them move on to bigger and better things. If I can't come coach next year, I don't think I'll be back at all. I can't be around the game and not coach. I just love it too much."

Superlative seniors

Methuen High senior twins Matt and Mike Bartlett could not have drafted a better ending to their final game together. Playing against playoff-bound rival Dracut, the Bartletts led Methuen to a beautifully executed, 37-33, win over the Middies. In front of a home crowd reminiscent of those in the mid-'80s, when the Thanksgiving Day rivalry was at its peak, the Bartletts anchored a well-balanced offensive attack.

With Methuen clinging to a 30-27 lead late in the fourth quarter, Matt, the team's starting quarterback, orchestrated a four-minute drive capped by a 7-yard touchdown run to provide a 10-point advantage. Mike, a running back, helped set up the play, taking a direct snap on a third-and-1 play and rushing for 10 yards.

"He told me that he loved me and how much he's loved playing with me," said Matt of the twins' sideline-embrace. "It was a special moment, standing on the sidelines with my brother, who I've been playing with my whole life. We just stood there, watching the clock wind down on our last game together."

Lawrence quarterback Ramon Heredia may have played only half the game, but it was enough to secure his name in Lancer history. The senior threw three touchdowns in the second quarter as he surpassed the 50 all-purpose touchdown mark and eclipsed 4,000 career yards. Heredia helped Lawrence to a 39-0 win over Greater Lawrence; a halfback for two seasons, he threw 15 touchdown passes this fall. The Lancers finished the season 7-4, the team's best record in 14 years.

Dazzling debuts

Freshman quarterback Nick LaSpada was an impact player from the start, directing Billerica (7-4) to a 6-0 start. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound LaSpada was an offensive force this year, prompting Indians head coach Peter Flynn to call him "the best athlete I've seen at Billerica High since Tom Glavine." Against Merrimack Valley League foe Chelmsford, LaSpada ran for a touchdown in a 22-16 loss.

After two seasons on Pat Murphy's staff at Dracut, Jeff Moore took over the program this fall after one year at the Groton School. A former Lowell High standout, Moore led the Middies to a 9-2 season, the Merrimack Valley Conference title, and a playoff berth. The Middies played Dual County League winner Acton-Boxborough in a Division 1A first-round game Tuesday.

Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com.