Long Season Ahead For KP Football

No coach ever wants to concede the season prior to it even beginning, but one would have to agree that the King Philip football program has a very tough road ahead.

With only two returning starters in inside linebacker Nick Lussier and offensive guard Jason Litchfield and back-up tailback Charles Ruffin, the Warriors will be a very young and inexperienced team playing in a tough Hockomock League.

“The league is what it is, and it's always tough to have a young team, but it’s another situation having a young team in the Hock,” KP Head Coach Brian Lee said. “Even our nondivision games [Wayland and Medfield] are no easy task. You’d like to play a couple of cream puffs heading into your league schedule, but it’s not going to happen with these two — they’re both Super Bowl caliber teams.”

The last football remembrance Warrior fans have is the 35-18 beating of neighboring rival Franklin on Thanksgiving Day as KP concluded its season with a 9-2 record. Those were great memories. What's ahead for this year’s team is still up in the air.

“Coaches never really like to say this year is a rebuilding year, but this year may very well be,” the coach said. “We have a lot of openings to fill and when we’re done there’s going to be a lot of new faces on this team.”

Even after a week and a half of practice, Lee still has no real idea as to who will be playing where when the Warriors take to the field for the first time on Friday, Sept. 9. Prior to the season opening kickoff, KP will scrimmage against Norwood and Walpole, where the Warrior coaching staff can hopefully put the pieces to the puzzle together.

With a glaring hole left by the now-gone Jake Cox, Lee and his coaching staff will have to decide who gets to lineup under center this year. The battle is between sophomore JJ Dillon and junior Christian Vellante. Dillon was the signal caller on the freshman team, while Vellante held the position on the junior varsity squad.

“Christian is a little more experienced, and has practiced at the higher speed game. JJ is younger, but did a good job as the freshman quarterback,” Lee said. “Both have very good command of our offense. It will all come down to who feels more comfortable in the fire and steps up to be the leader.”

Lee will be looking for several players to make plays on offense, including juniors Sammy McDonald and Joe Cochran at the wide receiver position and Mike Winborne and Mike Viola at tight-end. As for the offensive line, there are still eight athletes looking to secure four positions.

Where King Philip fits into the scheme of things in the Hockomock League will all depend on who makes the squad and takes their game to the next level.

KP will open the 2011 season on September 9 with Wayland at 7pm.