Plymouth North Football Star Named to ESPNBoston All-State Team

senior fullback and linebacker Matt Walsh had the type of football season worthy of some hardware. 

The Atlantic-Coast League all-star and team co-captain dominated on both sides of the ball and ultimately earned a spot as a linebacker on the ESPNBoston All-State team for his defensive efforts this season. It is a high honor for the hard-nosed, two-way player that almost didn't suit up for the Eagles this fall.

 "I was honored. I was pretty excited that hard work pays off, but it wasn't just me. I wouldn't have been able to do without my teammates around me," Walsh said.

Walsh was the focal point of the Eagles offense, but his presence was also vital on the defensive side, where he had more than 100 tackles, five fumble recoveries, and five sacks to earn the ESPNBoston nod.

Walsh was close to turning in his pads and stepping away from the football field prior to the season. The talented catcher has committed to play baseball at Franklin Pierce College next year and, with a chance for a potential future in the sport, he did not want to risk injury.

"Before the season I didn't want to play, mostly for baseball reasons. I didn't want to get hurt. But once my uncle got the (head coaching) job, I knew I wanted to play with my best friends and for my uncle," he said.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Dwayne Follett, the senior-laden Eagles finished second in the Atlantic Coast League at 8-3 overall, just missing a chance for a Super Bowl appearance.

It certainly wasn't an easy season for Walsh. The senior athlete suffers from compartment syndrome, which is the compression of nerves and blood vessels in an enclosed space. In this case, he struggled with building pressure in his calves.

"It got to the point one game I cramped up so bad it was hard to move my leg, but the trainer did well helping me the whole time," Walsh said.

"The pressure is supposed to be around 10. The compartments (of the calves) were over 50. It was pretty bad," he explained. "They wanted me to (have surgery) during the football season. I said no to that and I did it as soon as I could (after the season) so I could be ready for baseball," Walsh said.

"He is probably the toughest kid I have ever coached in any sport. He wills himself to do well," Follett said.

Walsh earned a starting spot on the varsity roster his freshman season due to his defensive skills. By the midway point in the year he earned some time on the offense as well.

"He was never the focal point of the offense. There were always older kids with more experience around him," Follett said.

But this year, Walsh put the team on his shoulders and carried the ball more than 200 times for more than 1,000 yards, scoring 15 rushing and two receiving touchdowns.

"Our entire offense revolved around him running the ball. That led to our success this season. His hard running style wore down the defense. It's very difficult to stop," Follett said.

Running backs coach Joe DeSisto referred to Walsh as, "the best fullback to wear a Plymouth uniform in the last 40 years," Follett said.

With 20 seniors on the roster, the Eagles played a tough schedule.

"Week in and week out all year, we had great games. We never got blown out and had an opportunity to win every game," Follett said.

It was the loss to Dennis-Yarmouth in late November that ultimately kept Plymouth North out of the Super Bowl. Despite finishing in a three-way tie for first-place, the playoff bid goes to the team that has not been to a Super Bowl in the longest time.