If death and taxes are life's two certainties, then you can apply with conviction these two statements to the Masconomet Regional football this fall.
1.) Last year's two-win season will not be repeated;
and
2.) The Chieftains will have athletes — the universal term for players who are extremely good at multiple sports and can play wherever a team needs them — all over the gridiron.
Throw in the fact that Masconomet is now one of six teams in the newly formed NEC/CAL Tier 1, along with Peabody, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Revere and long-time rival North Andover, where anyone could emerge as league champion, and coach Jim Pugh's team is feeling good about themselves on the eve of the 2011 campaign.
"I think we're going to be in the thick of it," said Pugh, whose team won 65 games between 2003-09, an average of more than nine victories a season, as well as four straight Cape Ann League titles from 2006-09.
"We've got a lot of two and three-sport athletes who have earned all-star honors and, in some cases, are All-Americans. The nice thing is these kids are all winners."
You can't start talking Masconomet football without first bringing up the name of Kurt Hunziker. He's already committed to UMass Amherst to play lacrosse, but he's still regarded as one of the best high school football players in Massachusetts — and colleges continue to pursue him, hoping he might change his mind and strap on a helmet for them in the future.
A 6-foot-3, 220-pound inside linebacker who is beginning his fourth year as a starter (and second year as team captain), Hunziker had 158 tackles a year ago, the second straight season he's led the squad. Pugh calls him "one of the toughest kids I've ever seen," and everything Masconomet does defensively goes through him. He'll also line up primarily as a fullback this fall after playing tight end in the past.
Senior Tim Towler, who like Hunziker is a lacrosse All-American, is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound force at both defensive back and wide receiver. Fellow seniors Jake Gillespie, Curtis Kowalski and captain Nathan Silveira (5-11, 170) join him as pass catching options.
Captain Ben Panunzio, an all-star in basketball and baseball, is back for a second season at quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is also a member of the Chieftains' secondary at free safety.
Junior Dylan Mann (5-9, 180) has put on muscle in readying himself for a second season as the team's starting tailback; he'll also see time as a defensive back. Junior Casey Tines and highly regarded sophomore Michael Tivinis will also be asked to carry the football.
Eric Anastasio, a two-year starter who also kicks extra points and field goals, plays outside linebacker along with Kowalski, while Julian Bandereck (6-2, 190) plays inside with Hunziker.
"We know the Northeastern Conference in that we've scrimmaged Revere the last 7-8 years, played Danvers and Saugus in the past, and scrimmage Beverly," said Pugh. "But this will be different; it's no longer the (CAL) teams we're used to. We're ready for the challenge."
chieftains CHATTER
Last year's record: 2-9
Head coach: Jim Pugh (23rd season, 146-96)
Team captains: Kurt Hunziker, Sr. FB/ILB; Ben Panunzio, Sr. QB/FS; Nathan Silveira, Sr. WR.
Top returning rusher: Dylan Mann (502 yards, 2 TDs)
Top returning passer: Ben Panunzio (108-for-228, 1,217 yards, 8 TDs).
Top returning receiver: Kurt Hunziker (28 rec., 301 yards, TD)
Last league title: 2009 (CAL Large)
Did You Know?: Hunziker, who will play lacrosse at UMass Amherst on an athletic scholarhsip, was the No. 2 football recruit in Massachusetts for Boston College (behind only Chelmsford's Tim Joy).
2011 Schedule
DateOpponentTime
Sept. 9at Lowell7 p.m.
Sept. 16Salem7 p.m.
Sept. 23at Wilmington7 p.m.
Sept. 30at Triton7 p.m.
Oct. 6Gloucester7 p.m.
Oct. 15at Beverly1:30 p.m.
Oct. 21Peabody7 p.m.
Oct. 28at Lynn Classical7 p.m.
Nov. 4Lynn English7 p.m.
Nov. 11at Revere7 p.m.
Nov. 24North Andover10 a.m.
