When North Shore Tech football coach Paul Worth looks up and down his roster this year, he knows his Bulldogs are significantly younger than teams he has coached in the past — but that doesn't mean they can't have a little old-school flavor.
With the departure of quarterback David St. Pierre (to Endicott College) and his Massachusetts leading 28 touchdown passes last season, Worth has decided to do away with the spread offense and get back to the power offense the Bulldogs ran when Worth first began the varsity program back in 1994.
"Thirteen years before (St. Pierre) we ran the ball and we are going to run the ball again," said Worth, who believes senior tailback Jesse Wilkins will be the cog that makes the engine go. "We want to be smash mouth like we used to be. It's old school. We are going to run the ball, control the ball, and play defense. I learned that from Arthur (Adamopolous). We changed the numbers a little bit, but its that same old Peabody offense."
Wilkins was solid in his junior year but really came full-circle in his abilities over the final weeks of the season proving to be as valuable receiving out of the backfield as he is taking a handoff. Wilkins finished the season with eight receiving touchdowns to go with his 10 rushing TDs. Seniors Pat Wood and Conor Kelly are still battling for the starting quarterback job. If Kelly emerges as the signal caller of the Bulldogs Wood would move to wide out, where he led the team in receiving last year with 773 yards to go with eight touchdowns. If Wood emerges as the man under center North Shore Tech will still have tremendous talent at receiver with six-foot, three-inch senior Jordan Smith. In just three games with the Bulldogs last season (before suffering a season-ending injury), Smith led North Shore Tech with nine touchdowns and 732 yards on 32 receptions which comes out to 22.5 yards a catch.
Defensively North Shore Tech will try and counter being one of the worst run stopping defenses in the area last year by changing to a 3-5-3 with big, 290-pound sophomore Drew Lufkin looking to clog the middle at nose guard. Defensive end Mike Wallace, who Worth says is "tough as nails" will look to have a big year opposite fierce newcomer Kyle Hurley who will anchor the other end.
SDLqWe made a big change (defensively), there was really nothing wrong with our D (last year), but our personnel didn't fit what we ran anymore, so we are going to switch to an odd front," said Worth. "We have a lot of fast, speedy linebackers, and we are going to attack people and move around a lot. We are committed to it, even if we struggle early we will continue to run it."
If a new offense, new defense and an abundance of youth weren't enough adversity for Worth and the Bulldogs, the added challenge of four straight away games should spell a difficult beginning to the season for North Shore Tech.
"We're going to be the Road Warriors this year," joked Worth. "But we will be OK, I have a lot of talented guys on this team."
DOG BONES
Last year's record: 6-6
Head coach: Paul Worth (15th season)
Team captains: Undecided as of press time
Top returning rusher: Jesse Wilkins, Sr., RB (83-548-10)
Top returning passer: None
Top returning receiver: Jordan Smith, Sr., (32-732-9)
Last league title: 2005
Did You Know?: For the first time the Bulldogs will be running a 3-5-3 base defense predicated upon a fast, athletic group of line backers that can track ballcarriers from sideline to sideline.
2010 SCHEDULE
Sept. 11 @ S. Shore Tech11 a.m.
Sept. 17 @ Bristol Plym.7 p.m.
Sept. 24 @ Nashoba Val.7 p.m.
Oct. 2 @ Shawsheen2 p.m.
Oct. 9 Gr. Lawrence2:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 Diman Tech11 a.m.
Oct. 22 @ Manch Essex7 p.m.
Oct. 29 Mystic Valley10:30 a.m.
Nov. 5 @ Chelsea7 p.m.
Nov. 13 Minuteman Reg.10:30 a.m.
Nov. 20 Northeast Metro10:30 a.m.
