College gameday schedule
2008 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: South in attack mode
The last time we saw the Newton South football team, it was about to pull off quite the upset. The Lions’ valiant efforts against Lincoln-Sudbury on Thanksgiving Day prevented L-S from capturing a piece of the Dual County League crown.South fell, 20-12, but not before now-senior quarterback Derek Russell showed why the Lions could be a tough matchup for DCL opponents this season.“I think Lincoln-Sudbury was by far the best team in the league last year,” reflected third-year Lions (3-8) head coach Ted Dalicandro.Russell, now also in his third year with the Lions, will look for other options now that play-makers Isaiah Quinones and Miles Bellinger have graduated. The Lions will once again be quick and athletic, but someone’s going to have to step up.“We’ve got to find some guys who can catch the ball, find a way to replace them (Quinones, Bellinger),” added Dalicandro.Alas, there is good news for the blue and orange. Promising junior halfback Kwame Francis-John joins Russell in what should be another high-flying Lions offensive attack.Francis-John will return kicks, punts in addition to being a major factor coming out of the backfield. Other candidates for seeing serious playing time on the offensive side of the ball include running back Willie Allen, whom according to Dalicandro is “finding himself as an athlete now.” Newcomer Tevin Osborne has impressed in the early going and may be a key rushing component, particularly on third down.Experienced and talented linemen Jelani Blandin and Lucas Walker should open up nice holes for the backs and anchor a steady offensive line.After proving he is capable of leading his team to late-game victories last year, Russell gives South one of its better chances in recent years to post a winning season.“If he (Russell) can get better than last year, we’re in good shape,” predicted Dalicandro.It also helps having starting fullback/linebacker Mike Heller return from a devastating torn Achilles injury. Heller’s unparalleled work ethic and solid production on the ground will bode well for South.“He (Heller) looks in great shape,” said Dalicandro. “He leads by example. No matter what he is going to play a hundred percent. We’re really blessed to have him.”In battling back from his second Achilles injury, Heller claims that he was “disciplined not to do stuff before I was supposed to.” According to the veteran leader, the Achilles is now “a hundred percent.”While depth is always a concern on Brandeis Road, the early signs point to a possible reversal of that disturbing trend. South’s current junior class saw quite a few minutes last year as sophomores. The senior class is a large one, headlined by tri-captains Russell and Heller. (Junior lineman Walker rounds out the captain trio.) And, finally, few players have hung up the spikes in the early going.“I think our team has gotten more depth than last year,” said Russell.South’s coaching staff resembles last year’s edition, except for former freshman coach Tony Principe stepping into assume the defensive coordinator spot.“Unfortunately losing is contagious. I think the coaching staff has turned the corner and alleviated the negativity surrounding the program,” said Dalicandro.But it comes back to being able to give L-S a run for its money and having a span of four losses in which each was decided by a touchdown or less.“I thought the kids realized not to be afraid, not to give up on the game,” said Dalicandro about what South was able to take away from a hard-fought loss.So will South’s oft-explosive offense flex its muscle strongly enough to post a winning record. It’s first test is a Friday night visit to the North Shore against Bobby Tarr-less Bishop Fenwick on Sept. 12.After Bishop Fenwick will be challenging bouts with league foes Wayland (home opener), Waltham, Acton-Boxboro and, of course, Lincoln-Sudbury, prompting Russell to say: “The competition is going to be harder once the season begins.”Still, if South can get off to another fast start (2-1 last season) and hold its own in league play, a winning record may be in the cards.“We want to have more wins than losses,” Heller said. “Hopefully make a run for a league title.”
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