All right, sorry for no picks this week. Seriously, i’m getting a tad tired of it. And there’s no way I could ever have picked Methuen over Andover or Newburyport over North Andover.
That said, there’s plenty of news.
Have to start with hoop, where sensational freshman Derek Collins has transferred out of Central Catholic to North Andover High.
“It was too bad because he would have truly helped us,” said Central coach Rick Nault. “You’re talking about a potential four-year starter for us, somebody who can really help spread the floor with his shooting and get the ball to our big guys.”
According to Nault, Collins, who Nault had running in the top 7 this summer in Hoops for Hope with the varsity, just never got comfortable at Central, wanting to be with his friends at NAHS.
“Whatever is best for him,” said Nault. “He’s a good kid, and I wish him well.”
Collins’ departure reopens the door at point guard for the Raiders where upperclassmen Cam Wroblewski and starting QB Andrew Ouellette, among others, might again be thrust into the mix.
There’ll be few tears shed for the Raiders on this one, obviously when you return Carson Desrosiers and Jimmy Zenevitch up front with slasher Michael Alvarez and defensive maven Luis Puello at the swing positions.
Not sure of the MIAA implications, but I’m pretty sure Collins will have little or no problem getting the approval to play immediately for the Knights, since no season has started yet.
All right, switching gears back to the gridiron a minute here.
Tremendous atmosphere for Lawrence-Central. There were students everywhere, and that was the greatest part of it all. It wasn’t just old curmudgeons like myself watching a game,
The kids on both sides were electric and involved. Good stuff.
The fans got to see history, too, as Michael Calzetta finally dropped a pass. It’s something you never, ever see. Of course, he made up for it by punishing Central the rest of the night with an array of catches, including one diving toe-dragger on the sideline that Ben Watson could go to school on.
By the time he’s done this year, Calzetta’s highlight film might end up being one of the all-time greats on youtube.
You’ll find no bigger fan of Lancer Harvey Blanco as an athlete. Friday night’s effort might have been one of the diminutive running back/linebacker’s alltime best.
All of 5-6 and 160 pounds, Blanco was all over the field last night as the Lancers somewhat controlled the CCHS ground game.
On the other side, we bring you the hit machine known as Central’s Zack Latrell, who ended Devin Montanez’ night with a steamrolling hit over the middle. Central PA announcer Bob Rooseboom had to call Lattrell on at least 15 tackles last night.
Inside word has Lattrell close to making an Ivy League decision. As recently as a couple weeks ago, Harvard and Brown were high on his wish list.
As for thoughts on the game, I have to say, coming in, I was a tad down on Lawrence. Honestly, i guess I still wonder if year in and year out whether the Lancers will be able to compete. Will they continue to have a run of athletes like the last two years, Blanco, Blanco, Heredia, Brown, Cruz, Calzetta, Elwell, Nova, Montanez, even good role players like Stephen Mannion and lance Thigpen and the like.
That said, I think about the win over Chelmsford and last night’s effort here against Central, if they could find a way to bottle that intensity, maybe they can belong.
They were so well beaten by Billerica a week ago, never in it. I just wondered if they could bounce back, an they did.
Now, they have a chance to run the table and get in the playoff mix.
Speaking of playoffs, Central has that look, confident, sharp, opportunistic.
“I like this group of kids, they just find a way to make plays,” said Raider coach Chuck Adamopoulos. “You saw that here against Lawrence. Those two early fumbles were huge. And when they came at us, Andrew Ouellette had the two big picks.”
Of course, the Raiders have a tough road with Chelmsford, Methuen, Billerica and Andover to close it out. Things will be pretty interesting.
