OK, I’ve taken some time to ponder criteria for this team, which will be an annual event as long as I’m around to comment about it.
Again, this is no all-state, all-league, all-scholastic or Eagle-Tribune All-Star team.
To make my team, an athlete has to play with passion and personality, do something athletically that makes you stick out from the rest.
You have to look good doing it. As Mike Muldoon says, I’m a big fan of someone who looks and plays the part.
Nine-five percent of the athletes, I will have seen. Unfortunately, I did not see all the teams in this region.
The guys who impact in other sports will often get the nod over those who don’t.
I will pick a player of the year, 11 offense, 11 defense, a kicker and a punter.
Player of the Year
I thought about giving two players of the year, but really look around, was there any standout defense or defender, a game-changer? Not really.
Some very good ones, but nobody dominated.
So I’ll stick with one. Is there any question?
Georgetown’s Joe Esposito ran and threw for over 1,000 yards. That’s a lot of offense, a ton.
He did it with style and duende, and kept his team, a team that many had sloughed off when it changed leagues, in the race until the final snap of Thanksgiving.
The southpaw goes down as one of the all-time greats. He a one-man wrecking crew for a team that was a point away from the postseason.
The team
WR … Pat Phillion, Methuen … Saw the Rangers two-and-a-half games and the kid always put on a “yards after catch” clinic. Billerica had no answer for him, and neither did Central. He’s my nifty guy on this team. Elusiveness at its finest.
WR … Aaron Brunette, North Andover … An area-best 41 catches for an area best 625 yards. He caught everything in his direction. Against Lawrence, it was almost like he was invisible to the defense. An old-fashioned style chain-mover. He’s the “Iceman.” He just doesn’t make mistakes and waits until you do.
Flanker (Every team I’m associated with will have a flanker, folks. I just like saying it, flanker) … Mike Calzetta, Lawrence … Any wideout, who runs precise routes and catches everything, 36 balls for 459 yards and four TDs, then doubles as a pass-rushing defensive lineman, is worthy in my book. One word of advice, though, play hoop Calzy. You’ll regret it someday if you don’t.
HB … Derek Furey, Timberlane … If I wanted a game-breaker, I might have gone to Eric Guinto or Methuen’s Mike Bartlett, both all-scholastic types. But there was something about the way a hobbled Furey, with a really tender ankle, attacked the Exeter defense in the playoff game. Along with all the TDs and the gaudy yardage numbers, he showed all kinds of heart and tried to punish people. I like that a lot.
FB … Gary Glines, Londonderry … My team’s got plenty of flash, I need some grit, so I’ll look to the “Beast.” Glines caught my eye on a Channel 9 highlight reel early, carrying defenders. kids bounced off him. I need that from my fullback. I was sold that Friday night.
QB … Ramon Heredia … I’ve seen more of this kid than anyone over the last three years. I’m telling you, if there’s a D-3 program looking to build an offense somewhere, Ramon is the guy. 50 TDs in three years, over 4,500 yards of offense, throws the long ball as well as the slant and screens. Runs like a halfback. He doesn’t play defense, but more than one interceptor knows the kid also hits like a truck. What a career! I’d go to battle with him any Saturday.
OT … Alex Blane, North Andover … Maybe it’s a potential thing, but this kid, who is still young and coming on, really knows how to fill out the uniform. If North Andover is to rebound from a down 2008, it will have a lot to do with Blane protecting Brandon Walsh’s back side.
OT … Ryan Raymond, Pinkerton … Won me over with the effort on Mack Plaque weekend. His face was in the mud all night long, yet Raymond kept making plays. He rose to the occasion on a night when the whole state was watching. There’s a lot to be said for that.
OG … Jorge Escoto, Lawrence … To be honest, when Big Jorge told me he was playing football this summer, I laughed and figured his helmet would be back on the shelf by Labor Day. He stuck it out, though, and went from lost a little bit against Central, to a two-way force on Turkey Day. That says a lot for a senior who hadn’t played the game since freshman year. Against Haverhill, he busted into the backfield, found the football and knocked a top running back Noel Figuereo to the ground, just by allowing the kid to run into him. It was a Ted Washington moment. Jorge had arrived. Good for you Jorge. You did it, and did it well.
OG … Pedro Cruz, Lawrence … Cruz was the best lineman when Lawrence’s front five struggled three years ago and he was the best lineman on an offensive line that could play with any this season. He attacks, he pass blocks and he never stops. You hear an awful lot about the Lawrence skill kids, but he’s been a horse, in the shadows, and a huge part of Lawrence’s revival.
C … Zak Adamopoulos, Central … Delivered the quote of possibly the decade when talking about his relationship with QB Shain Jowett: “As sophomores, we weren’t a shotgun team, so Shane and I were very close.” Priceless. I wonder if he’ll use that as a yearbook quote, too. No, seriously, he’s been an athletic blocker and the motor never stops running on defense. Had four catches at tight end before the coach was forced to move him back to center. He’ll make some noise in hoop and baseball, too, before he’s done.
DE … Ben Proulx, Pinkerton … I’m tough on Benny, have been since he was a toddler. And he had no chance to make my team, simply because his dad and I have been best of friends since high school. I figured to be safe I’d err. I saw all the tackles, the sacks, the tackles for loss, and heard other people rave, but I held out. Then I saw Ben do something in the state title game that few kids do. He took on and steamrolled Nashua dynamo David Zocco. A first-team all-stater, Ben is the real deal. The sky is the limit, if we can only get him directions to a weight room.
DT … Josh Nitso, Londonderry … When Lancer coach Jon Rich told me his nose guard was the team’s leading tackler, I was intrigued. When he told me, the kid’s technique is merely grabbing kids by the handful and ripping them down with sheer strength, I knew he was All-Longo material. Nitso’s also pretty darn smart, beating the stereotype of the “un-smart” lineman. He’s got 2,100 SATs and the desire to be an engineer.
DT … Brian Nicoll, Timberlane … If one football game means anything, I’ve spotted the early favorite for New England wrestling champ at 285. Of course, Nicoll is already the defending champ, but … He simply pushed the pile on every snap, kind of a high school version of Richard Seymour. Athletic for his size, he’s a disruptive force, one that along with Nitso will allow my ends to do what they do best, penetrate and punish.
DE … Juan Olivo, Greater Lawrence … As I’ve said, my ends aren’t Belichick ends, they are gap-knifing penetrators, who annhilate backfields behind the line. “Bamboo’s” performance in the 2007 title game was one for the ages. He came back and did the same for a lesser team, but the effort is to be heralded. He’s a player. There’s a reason the BC coaches inquired about him after the Super Bowl. He’s probably not that good, but as a high school player, he’s mighty fun to watch.
OLB … Chris George, Pinkerton … Part defensive end, part linebacker, all hitter. I don’t know how the kid danced 80 yards for a score in the title game. Who knew he was that elusive? I knew, watching him play defense, he was tough and could deliver a hit. I’d call him the most underrated two-way guy in the region.
MLB … Steve Serwon, Amesbury … I’m telling you I’ve seen three amesbury games over two seasons, and the kid has 40 tackles in them. He overwhelmed Lawrence, totally unblockable. The Turkey Day cements his spot here.
OLB … Matt Fiore, Pentucket … I still don’t know what positions he plays, line, linebacker, guard, tight end, fullback. All I know is that when you run against Pentucket, he’s at the bottom of almost every pile. Tough to find a better tackler in the CAL Large.
DB … John DiBitetto, Central … Speaking of hits, this guy is the author of the DiBitetto crackle, a sound you hear often when this guy lowers the boom. It’s distinct, and it has to be painful, at least to the guy being smooshed.
DB … Colby Verge, Pinkerton … Before the knee injury a couple years ago, I had him pegged as potentially the best football player in the state. Big plays in big games. Has some flash and the penchant for striking at just the opportune time. A pest to any opposing guard in hoop too.
DB … Darren Hartwell, North Reading … Jacoby Ellsbury in shoulder pads, he played all the skill positions for the Hornets at one time or another. Versatile, fast and runs everything down in center field, both in baseball and football.
DB … Bruce Vieira, Pelham … You didn’t think I was going to leave the Boss off, did you? Two undefeated championships are special if your in some rinky-dink Haverhill slo-pitch softball league. But to win back-to-back state titles with 22 straight wins, take a bow, big man.
Kicker … Shawn Clukey, Pinkerton … Somewhere Central’s Cam Walsh has a more than legitimate beef. Clukey gets the call in a Bush/kerry type nail-biter for two reasons: 1. He had opportunities to make bigger kicks (Walsh didn’t have many big chances) and made them; 2. He got up from that wicked hit in the state title game that sent him to the hospital.
Punter … Justin Marsan, Methuen … OK, I’m stealing here, because if he’s on my team, I’m using the Ranger safety all over the field, offense, defense, special teams. I often tell the story of being on the sidelines at Foxboro one time and having Dolphin punter Matt Turk shatter my ear dreams with a thud as he warmed up two inches from me. The sound of the football leaving Marsan’s foot is the closest thing to that. It also helps that he’s an all-scholastic-caliber safety, too.
Situational subs
I’d love Andover’s John Hennessy as my backup QB, and could you imagine going to the bench for Andover’s Chris McConnell, when we went four wide.
McConnell would also be my man in the return game.
If we went against a running team, I’d be tempted to go with another enforcer type at safety, most probably Central’s Shain Jowett.
If we went to a 3-4 set, Amesbury’s Jesse Burrell would get the call at outside backer and I’d move Fiore inside (Heck, the kid can play anywhere).
I’m not a spread guy, so we wouldn’t be in the shotgun, but if we did I’d have no problem going with Methuen’s Nick Fabrizio at center and pushing Zak A. over to guard.
Oh well, it’s just one man’s opinion on a wild football year.
When the dust settles next Saturday at Gillette Stadium, I’ll give out Longo’s final Top 10.
