Sports
Young Fenwick Football Team Will Rely on Speed
Small core group returns to lead the Crusaders in coach Dave Woods' 14th season.
To say that youth will be served on the football team this season is understating the case. Underclassmen will play an important role as the Crusaders attempt to rebound from an injury-marred 3-8 campaign of a year ago.
Among Fenwick’s four captains is sophomore Nick Bona, the first underclassman to earn that distinction during coach Dave Woods’ 14 seasons. Bona, perhaps the Crusaders’ most skilled and versatile performer, is joined by seniors Will Clancy, Mike Dainis and Brandon McCauley.
Woods’ hopes the Crusaders are able to offset a general lack of size with abundant team speed. “We have a great attitude and a bunch of hard-working kids,” said Woods, whose squad spent part of the pre-season at training camp in Moultonborough, N.H.
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The Crusaders plan a return to their usual Wing-T attack this season after having run the Spread almost exclusively in 2010 to take advantage of the talents of the record-setting duo of QB Bret Kidik and WR Ryan Lipka. The shifty Bona (5-8, 165) is competing for the QB job with junior transfer Fran Hannon (6-1, 210) and may also see time at one of the slot positions, joined by classmate Charlie Maistrellis (5-8, 155). Dainis (5-6, 155) is the top returning wide receiver from a year ago.
McCauley (5-9, 175) and Clancy (5-9, 185) are the anchors of a group of linemen that includes seniors Chris Roth (6-1, 270) and Dan St. Pierre (5-11, 215) and junior John Coviello (6-1, 180). All are likely to see two-way duty along with senior Hunter Schultz (OL/LB) and sophomore Ben Kaupp (OL/LB).
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Bona, Maistrellis and Dainis will patrol the defensive backfield. Sophomore James Traversey and Hannon are slotted as defensive ends in the Crusaders’ base “52” set. Seniors Ryan Hurst and Greg Boudreau are also in the mix for playing time.
Woods – six wins shy of 100 with an overall record of 94-52 – ranks St. Mary’s of Lynn and Cardinal Spellman as the top Catholic Central Large clubs this fall. The Crusaders open the season with six rugged non-league games – including four straight against CAL/NEC Div. 4 teams – starting with tonight’s date at Donaldson Field (7 p.m.) when they meet reigning Div. 4A Super Bowl champion Northeast Regional. Fenwick begins league play on Oct. 21 at home against Archbishop Williams.
