Here is a look at each EMass prep football team heading into the 2018 season.
BB&N
League: ISL7
Coach: Mike Willey (5th season). Career: Career: 23-11.
Last year’s record: 7-2
Strengths: Senior leadership, experience at quarterback.
Concerns: Overall depth.
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: The Knights boast a loaded roster on both sides of the ball in 2018, returning 17 starters, including all-league quarterback Ryan Eamer Jr. (Medfield), a team captain. The quarterback balances a potent offense complemented by fellow All-ISL honorees Tommy Maloney (tight end) and Zack Cyr (running back). Cyr steps in for all-league back Devin Marrocco, now at Colby. Senior captain Anthony LaMonica adds another layer of experience to the Knight offense at wide receiver. On defense, freshman Tyler Martin (6-2, 226 pounds) is a force at middle linebacker (as well as at H-back), leading the squad in tackles as an 8th grader, and earning an offer from Michigan, among others. The linebacker corps also returns sophomore Russel Campbell and junior Matt Bulman, forming one of the youngest and exciting groups in the ISL.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., vs. Lawrence Academy
Advertisement
Belmont Hill
League: ISL7
Coach: Chris Butler (7th season). Career: Career: 25-24.
Last year’s record: 4-4
Strengths: Experience on the defensive line, and at quarterback.
Concerns: Inexperience at skill positions.
Offense: Read option
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Outlook: After a 4-4 finish last season, coach Chris Butler has a strong senior class ready to make their ascent to the top of ISL7. Senior quarterback Mike Piazza, one of 16 returning starters, is back for his third season calling the signals. But he’ll have new faces in the backfield and at receiver. On defense, Belmont Hill returns a pair of all-league players, running back/linebacker Jaylen Bailey and defensive end Michael Glauninger. Shane Rockett also returns at defensive end. Those players set the edge well and allow defensive backs Justin O’Neil-Riley and Greg Desrosiers to roam the secondary with authority. Josh Wax is also back in the secondary. Senior kicker Patrick Walsh also plays a key role in the team’s offensive game plan according to coach Butler. His consistency allows the team to settle for points instead of attempting high-risk conversions.
Advertisement
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., at Roxbury Latin
Brooks
League: ISL9
Coach: Patrick Foley (6th season). Career: Career: 29-14..
Last year’s record: 7-2
Strengths: Depth and experience on offensive line.
Concerns: Inexperience at skill positions.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Outlook: Brooks welcomes back several key lettermen and two starters on the offensive line in Anthony Burnett and Andrew Iferenta. Along with Burnett, senior captains Nick Fulgione and Owen Borek will look to lead Brooks in the trenches. But with ISL MVP Pat Freiermuth now at Penn State, and the graduation of all-league quarterback Seamus Lambert (Trinity), Brooks may not be able to repeat last season’s success.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2 p.m., at Governor’s Academy
Dexter Southfield
League: Evergreen Bonnefond
Coach: Casey Day (9th season). Career: Career: 31-34..
Last year’s record: 4-4
Strengths: Experience at skill positions.
Concerns: Defensive secondary.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: Junior Luke Macphail returns as the starting quarterback and he’ll be surrounded by a number of weapons, including senior Tyrell Wiggins, a University of Massachusetts commit. An all-around athlete from Brookline who plays running back, wide receiver and defensive back, Wiggins will give foes fits in the Evergreen League. He’ll operate behind an experienced offensive line that includes returners Ryan Bingham (6-foot-1, 315 pounds), Joe Flinn (6-0, 220), Jack Mills (6-5, 280), Bryan Pacific (6-2, 290), and Ty Scurry (6-1, 270). The Evergreen has added four schools, Berkshire, Kingswood Oxford, Wilbraham Monson, and Canterbury.
Advertisement
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., at Hebron (Maine)
Governor’s Academy
League: ISL7
Coach: Jim O’Leary (8th season). Career: Career: 49-11..
Last year’s record: 6-2
Strengths: Defensive depth and experience.
Concerns: Inexperience at quarterback.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: Govs brings back several key pieces on defense, including senior captains Pat Flaherty, Luke Moriarty, Tim Roberts and Kevin Lemieux. Junior Shane O’Leary will start at quarterback for his father, Jim O’Leary, now in his eighth season as head coach. Another son, Peyton, a sophomore, will see time at wide receiver. With the graduation of tight end Shane Smith, newcomers Dan Flynn and Sam Winneg have stepped forward. The offense should flow through returning running back Quinn Stott, who hails from Newburyport.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2 p.m., vs. Brooks
Groton
League: ISL9
Coach: Jamie Lamoureaux (3rd season). Career: 6-10.
Last year’s record: 4-4
Strengths: Offensive line
Concerns: Depth/inexperience
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: The Zebras’ strength is up front, with four starters returning across the offensive and defensive lines. Senior captains Clement Banwell (6-foot-3, 215 lbs) and Jake Kissell (6-1, 230 pounds) will man the tackle spots on both sides of the ball. Another captain, Bennett Smith, starts at running back and linebacker. There isn’t a ton of experience at the skill positions, but coach Jamie Lamoreaux is hoping that the experience and skill up front will carve the way for a successful running game. The Zebras will be short on depth, with only 36 players on the roster.
Advertisement
Season opener: Friday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m., at North Middlesex
Lawrence Academy
League: ISL7
Coach: Jason Swepson (1st season). Career: Career: 0-0.
Last year’s record: 9-0
Strengths: Versatile linebackers, leadership at quarterback
Concerns: Depth at all positions, inexperience at running back.
Offense: Pro set
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Outlook: After capping off a perfect season with a league championship last season, Lawrence Academy returns six starters for new head coach Jason Swepson, a Seekonk native who played at Boston College and has coached at the college level. However, with only 29 players listed on the roster, creativity will be limited. Swepson will feature junior quarterback Brady Martin and sophomore back Tony Muse at the center of an offense guaranteed to produce big play after big play. On defense, linebackers Josh Arruda and Dan Rodier (Manchester) represent the ultimate chess pieces. Both possess enough versatility to play either inside or outside in a variety of schemes while their physicality and intelligence afford them the chance to disguise cover schemes and blitzes.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., at BB&N
Middlesex
League: ISL9
Coach: Joe Lang (23rd season). Career: Career: 88-85-2.
Last year’s record: 3-5
Strengths: Speed at defensive line, experience at wide receiver and running back.
Advertisement
Concerns: Depth at both offensive tackle positions, uncertainty at quarterback.
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: Middlesex returns 12 starters, but will open the season with a question mark at quarterback. Taking pressure off his two-way competition between senior captain Oliver Quon and junior Cole Cleary, coach Joe Lang will feature an offense built around captain Kabelo Tsotetsi. Senior interior lineman Casey Gillis and Alex Flynn offer Tsotetsi ample lanes to move the chains deep into opposing territory. On the opposite side of the ball, Quon returns as a starting defensive lineman known for his signature top-end speed and high motor. He forms a fearsome duo with fellow captain Derek DeLaine capable of disrupting any backfield.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2:30 p.m., at Thayer
Milton Academy
League: ISL7
Coach: Kevin MacDonald (23rd season). Career: Career: 118-54-3; 99-41-2 at Archbishop Williams.
Last year’s record: 5-3
Strengths: Skill positions and linebackers.
Concerns: Depth in defensive secondary.
Offense: Pro set
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: Not only do the Mustangs return 11 starters, including a healthy two-way star in Kalel Mullings, but they also welcome in a trio of talented transfers in Jake Willcox, Mitchell Gonser and Zach Brooks. Willcox starts at quarterback after directing Everett to an undefeated season and the MIAA Division 1 title last December.Gonser will move all over the formation the way he did at Medfield last season. Mullings (West Roxbury), one of the top collegiate prospects in the nation, returns from a shoulder injury and will look to lead Milton Academy at running back and as an outside linebacker. The Mustangs have another stellar two-way player in Eddie Duggan, who plays both tight end and linebacker.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., vs. St. Sebastian’s
Nobles
League: ISL9
Coach: Panos Voulgaris (1st season). Career: Career: 0-0.
Last year’s record: 4-4
Strengths: Experience at quarterback and on offensive line.
Concerns: Overall depth.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: A North Andover native who played defensive back at Merrimack for Jim Murphy, Panos Voulgaris returns to the Bay State to coach at Nobles. He resurrected the Episcopal High football program in Alexandrian, Va., leading the school to consecutive league championships and a 21-4-1 record over his last three years. He also was the head coach at Taft for four seasons. Voulgaris inherits a talented, but thin roster, with only 32 players. Key returners are senior quarterback John Grady and standout tight end Cam Large(6-foot-2, 240 pounds). The offensive line is a strength for with Sam Folse (6-foot-3, 295 pounds), Leighton Graham and Drew Kendall returning to bolster that unit.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1:30 p.m., at Rivers
Phillips Andover
League: Eight Schools Association
Coach: Leon Modeste (32nd season).
Last year’s record: 6-2
Strengths: Skill positions.
Concerns: Inexperience.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: In his 32nd, and final season at the helm of the Big Blue, Leon Modeste will have a great mixture of young talent along with experience. Graduating a healthy core of seniors on both sides of the ball, Phillips Andover will start five sophomores along with returning starters Will Litton (running back), Andrew Mazzone (center), Alan Hernandez (defensive tackle), Erik Fotta (linebacker/fullback) and Jake Jordan (running back/defensive back). The addition of five post grads, including Chelmford High product Sal Lupolo, one of leading scorers in Division 2 last fall, will be a boost. The list also includes Jake Bedell, Timmer Veraegh, Magnus Voge, and Lucas Blasi. Returning letterwinners Michael Thompson (quarterback) and Boris Shmuylovich (CB) should provide a spark for Phillips Andover as well. ‘‘The enthusiasm is excellent and although we play in an older league our kids are looking forward to the challenge,’’ said Modeste.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 3:30 p.m., at Loomis Chaffee
Pingree
League: Evergreen Bonnefond
Coach: Mike Flynn (1st season). Career: Career: 0-0.
Last year’s record: 4-4
Strengths: Leadership at running back and linebacker.
Concerns: Overall depth and youth.
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: Mike Flynn, a Springfield Cathedral and UMaine grad who was a 10-year NFL starter on the offensive line for the Baltimore Ravens, is coaching high school football for the first time. He has 11 starters returning, and he needs all 11 to demonstrate the leadership he spoke so highly of at the end of preseason. If not, then Pingree faces a tall task in climbing atop the Evergreen standings after finishing last season at .500. Look for senior captains Vito Visconti, Eric Adinkra, Grant Latimer, and Alexander Suny to play large roles on both sides of the ball this season. Latimer and Suny project to anchor the offensive line and set the edge on defense. The other two captains, Adinkra and Visconti, will split reps at running back while also patrolling opposing backfields at linebacker. With a roster that includes 12 underclassmen, expect plenty of sophomores and freshmen to see meaningful playing time at skill positions for coach Flynn.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1:30 p.m., vs. Portsmouth Abbey
Rivers
League: ISL9
Coach: Tom Bourdeau (4th season). Career: 3-21.
Last year’s record: 0-7
Strengths: Experience
Concerns: Depth
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: There is optimism after a winless season lastt fall. Coach Tom Bourdeau returns eight of 11 starters on offense and 10 of 11 starters on the defensive side. Quarterback Andrew Sanderson (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) is a senior captain. He’ll be flanked by another captain, senior back/linebacker Pat Mahoney and junior back Riley Van Duzer, who returns after a strong sophomore campaign. Senior defensive tackle Matt Rish, a four-year starter and a 2017 all-ISL selection, will be a force in the front seven. All signs point to more wins.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1:30 p.m., vs. Nobles
Roxbury Latin
League: ISL9
Coach: Orlando Patterson (5th season). Career: Career: 18-19..
Last year’s record: 2-6
Strengths: Experience on the offensive line.
Concerns: Injury at quarterback.
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: Will Greer, a four-year starter at quarterback, and three-year captain, broke a finger on his non-throwing hand in the preseason. But fifth-year coach Orlando Patterson expected his senior QB to be playing in the opener against Roxbury Latin. ‘‘Will Greer is one of the best athletes in the ISL and he’s largely underrated,’’ said Patterson. ‘‘He’s our go-to-player and I think he’ll come into this season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. It wouldn’t be surprising if he wreaks havoc on the rest of the league.’’ When healthy, Greer will have a pair of reliable targets in Sean Russell and tight end Javier Rios. Junior Collin Bergstrom leads the backfield after finishing the 2017 season with a 200-yard game against Rivers. Bergstrom will also play a key role at linebacker along with Jeremiah Rose.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., vs. Belmont Hill
St. George’s
League: ISL9
Coach: John Mackay (22nd season). Career: Career: 67-99-3.
Last year’s record: 1-7
Strengths: Depth at wide receiver and running back, reliable special teams.
Concerns: Inexperience on the offensive line, depth in the secondary.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Outlook: The Dragons welcome back 10 starters and 20 lettermen following a disappointing 1-7 campaign. Seniors Thaddeus Stern and Tom Mullin anchor an O line that will also include first-year starters Malek and Bassem Bedjaoui. Sophomore quarterback Ethan Augusto cut his teeth with a couple of varsity starts last season and will step in as the fulltime starter. Leading tacklers Matt Richards and Jack Morse return on the defensive front along with linebacker Justin Newman. Sophomore Makai Murray returns to anchor the secondary after leading the team in interceptions last year. St. George’s will unveil its newly refurbished Crocker Field in Saturday’s opener vs. Groton.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 3 p.m., vs. Groton
St. Mark’s
League: ISL9
Coach: Chris Young (6th season). Career: Career: 16-24..
Last year’s record: 5-3
Strengths: Experience at quarterback.
Concerns: Depth on the offensive and defensive line.
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: After a 5-3 campaign, St. Mark’s returns 12 starters, including senior quarterback CJ Schumaker. A capable rusher, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound signal caller will be handing off to returner Danny Ciccerello and Robert Dooley. Schumaker will look to build on his rapport with returning receivers Alex Batista, Jacob Silvester, Brett Federico and Joe Felix. Overall experience on defense is more of a concern for St. Mark’s, but seniors Tyler Gonsalves and Jake Lengel, both three-year starters, will anchor the group.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 3 p.m., at Tabor
St. Sebastian’s
League: ISL7
Coach: Bob Souza (41st season). Career: 176-121-9.
Last year’s record: 2-6
Strengths: Skill positions
Concerns: Defensive backfield
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Outlook: The Arrow offense should be rather potent this season, with a number of starters returning who should inject some pop into the attack. Bryce Gallagher (6-foot-2, 200 pounds), a three-year starter at linebacker and tailback, returns after being sidelined last season with an injury. He’ll provide great support to returning senior QB Bill Seidl. Seidl has no shortage of receiving weapons, including senior Alex Cherry (6-4, 210), Will Frisoli (5-10, 165), and sophomore Louis Hansen (6-5, 210). Gallagher will anchor the D, which returns five other starters, mostly across the front seven. ‘‘We expect ti be a solid team in a highly competitive league,’’ said coach Bob Souza.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m., at Milton Academy
Tabor
League: ISL7
Coach: Chris Rorke (2nd season). Career: Career: 2-6.
Last year’s record: 2-6
Strengths: Balance on offense.
Concerns: Overall lack of experience.
Offense: Spread
Playing surface: Artificial turf
Outlook: With 13 seniors lost to graduation and only three returning starters, second-year coach Chris Rorke has a very inexperienced group. Yet there is plenty of talent. Junior Reid Tolley, a transfer from Rye, N.Y., will start at QB, with freshman Jaden Keefner the backup. Because of injury, Tabor used five quarterbacks in 2017. Freshman Aidan O’Neill is expected to make an immediate impact at running back behind returning starters Nick Losardo and Oscar Hernandez, while 6-foot-5 wide receiver Connor Peterson should prove a consistent target for Tolley.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 3 p.m., vs. St. Mark’s
Thayer
League: ISL9
Coach: Jeff Toussaint (15th season). Career: Career: 43-69-1..
Last year’s record: 5-3
Strengths: Experience on offensive line and speed at skill positions.
Concerns: Inexperience on defense.
Offense: Multiple
Playing surface: Grass
Outlook: The Tigers bounced back from a 1-7 finish in 2016 with five wins last fall, and a three-way tie with Brooks and St. Mark’s atop the ‘‘ISL9’’ division. Thayer returns seven starters, including junior back Colin Plante, who is expected to lead the backfield. Junior Jack Thorbahn takes over at quarterback and he’ll look to all-purpose weapon Jack Schneider and others. Schneider led the Tigers in scoring with nine total touchdowns as a receiver, runner and returner last season. Thayer also welcomes in a downfield receiving threat in Myles Wilson, as well as another transfer from Brockton in Segun Okunlola, a standout defensive tackle/tight end.
Season opener: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2:30 p.m., vs. Middlesex