Turnaround season for Norwell football
Three weeks into the season, the Norwell football team has a better record than the Patriots, and more important, is putting last season behind them.
“I think it says an awful lot about the senior leadership because they were here two years ago when we were 7-4, and they know what we were usually about, and they went through last year when we were 0-11,” said head coach Jim Sullivan. “Now they’re back as seniors trying to put Norwell back on the map of football.”
After ending last season without a win, Norwell had work to do and confidence to regain before suiting up for this fall.
“We had to work harder than last year,” said senior fullback and captain AJ DeBenedictis.
And the work paid off in their close victories over against Millis and Cardinal Spellman in the first two weeks of the season, followed by a convincing 27-7 win over Pembroke last Friday.
“I think it's important for our confidence,'' said senior quarterback and co-captain Dan Regan said before the Pembroke game. "We're learning how to win. We've been through every situation.”
Although the team’s hard work is an important aspect of their recent success, there are some other factors in play. A huge issue last year was injuries, with 14 players spending time on the disabled list.
“There’s a lot of kids who didn’t play almost all season last year because of injuries, and they’re back and most of them are all seniors, and they’re very excited,” Sullivan said.
The team also has a different mentality this year.
“Right from the beginning of practice, the kids have had a different attitude to improve every day,” Assistant Coach Matt Luccarelli (below) said.
The team may also have another source of inspiration.
Coach Sullivan was recently diagnosed with throat cancer, which will cause him to miss games and practices occasionally.
“Because we have Mr. Sullivan's situation, it's been important to us to show him we care,” said senior fullback and co-captain AJ DeBenedictis.
Regardless of the reason behind their success so far, the Norwell players aren't getting too far ahead of themselves.
“We try not to set the long-term goals other than we want to win the next game,” Sullivan said. “Just win the next game and other things will take care of themselves.''
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