Thanksgiving 2012: Victory would be great for Peabody

The hopefulness of August has long since been replaced by a reality as stark as a grey November day. Nevertheless, the trials and tribulations of the winless Peabody High football team would be softened considerably should the Tanners defeat rival Saugus Thursday morning at Coley Lee Field (10).While the results have not shown on the field, interim coach Matt O’Brien has been pleased with Peabody’s positivity and work ethic in practice. And he likes the way the Tanners (0-9) have prepared for the Sachems (5-5).”The kids had a good week – they’re focused in. They know they have one more chance this year to get it right and there’s been a different vibe,” said O’Brien, at the helm since the mid-season resignation of Scott Wlasuk.”These kids are working hard. It’s not like they’re out there not trying; they’re fighting to the end, they’re not giving up and they’re still out there hitting. The younger kids have gained so much experience that it can only help them going forward. They’re learning and they will build on this,” he said.Thanksgiving, though, is a day for the seniors and the fact the Tanners will dress only nine highlights their youth and the inexperience that accompanies it.”Most of them will be out on the field in some capacity. I look at a guy like Pat Countie – this is his first year of football and he’ll be out there on special teams out of our respect for him sticking with it. And then there are our four senior captains (linemen Frank Lowrie, Jarod Vachon, Max Gordon and Brian Norwood) who have sort of had to learn on the fly but have been great all season leading by example,” O’Brien said.The keys to a Tanner win are straightforward – control the clock with productive drives, gang tackle on defense and perform solidly on special teams.”We can’t have our defense on the field for three-quarters of the game. We have to get helmets to the ball – when we do that, we’re okay. When we don’t, we give up the big plays. When you look at our season, we haven’t given up many touchdowns inside the 10-yard line and we’ve given up too many of 30 yards or longer,” said O’Brien of the Tanners, who have yielded an EMass-worst 41.9 ppg.The Sachems’ senior quarterback, C.J. Randolph (13 rushing TDs, four passing TDs), is the Tanners’ primary concern. A slick practitioner of the read option, Randolph will place severe stress on Peabody’s defensive ends, who must maintain leverage and read responsibilities or pay in the form of a long gainer.”He’s a good athlete and we have to do what we can to take him away. We can’t let him get into the open field,” O’Brien said.Sophomore Mike Raymond (5 TDs) gets the call at QB for the Tanners. He’s provided a bit of a spark for the offense since his mid-season shift from wide receiver. Junior Cody Wlasuk and sophomores Billy Teehan and Ryan Collins will be the primary running backs.”It all runs through Mike. He lacks reps but he’s getting more and more confident. We’re asking a lot of him but he has the potential to make big plays. We’re also looking to get Ryan a little bit more involved in the offense,” said O’Brien.