WORCESTER — Things are looking great this fall for the Assumption football team. The Greyhounds, 9-1 on the season, earned the Northeast-10 conference championship and clinched a berth in the Division II NCAA Tournament which kicks off this weekend.
Down the stretch, No. 15 Assumption has relied on a pair of local players who’ve made solid contributions on offense. Lynn native Brendan Tobey, a senior quarterback, has taken command of the team’s offense as Assumption’s signal caller. Peabody native Doug Santos, a sophomore running back, has emerged as a reliable offensive weapon who makes the most of his carries.
Tobey, a Malden Catholic product, has completed 49 of 87 pass attempts this season for 715 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. Most recently, Tobey went 18-of-27 for 169 yards and two touchdown passes in Assumption’s regular season finale, a 35-31 loss to Bentley.
“I’m very lucky. We have a lot of talent on this offense,” Tobey said. “Our offensive line blocks really well up front. Our receivers and running backs are really talented. I’m just lucky to be able to be around them, give them the ball and let them do what they do.”
A three-year varsity quarterback at Malden Catholic, Tobey came into his senior season with high aspirations. Assumption has grown into a Northeast-10 powerhouse and Tobey wanted to end his college football career with another winning season.
“We wanted to win the conference championship and make another run at the playoffs, which we’ve already been to twice in my time here,” Tobey said. “We didn’t finish the regular season on the best note, but we still have an opportunity to get a win this weekend and end our season on a better note.
“It means a lot. Going into my freshman year we weren’t even in talks to win the conference or make the playoffs,” Tobey added. “Sophomore year we won a playoff game and last year we came up short in the playoffs. It means a lot to go on another run with this group of guys. It’s great to have that opportunity.”
In order for a football team to win nine of its 10 regular season contests, things have to click in all stages of the game. The key to Assumption’s success this fall, Tobey acknowledged, is the team’s ability to play at a high level in each phase.
“Our offense has been playing really well as well as our defense and special teams,” Tobey said. “Our special teams has been the heartbeat of our team, our offense has been able to score touchdowns and our defense is one of the best in the country. All three phases have helped us win games.”
Santos, a three-year varsity running back and outside linebacker for Peabody High coach Mark Bettencourt, joined the Greyhounds last fall after a decorated career in his days wearing the Tanners uniform. As a senior at Peabody, Santos tallied 2,049 yards and 26 touchdowns and was named co-MVP of the Northeastern Conference.
“The career I had at Peabody High helped mold me into the player that I am today,” Santos said. “The coaches here motivate me to be a better player just like the coaches did at Peabody. I’m really grateful for that.”
This fall, Santos has carried the ball 53 times for 226 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His best performance came in a Nov. 4 win over American International, when Santos logged seven carries for 45 yards and a touchdown en route to the 40-3 Greyhounds win.
“I just wanted to help our team win the conference and make the playoffs,” Santos said. “I was hoping that everyone around me had the same goals and it looks like they all did.
“All of us are playing at a high level and that includes offense, defense and special teams,” Santos added. “We have a different mentality coming into this year. Coaches have picked the right guys to make plays and that has helped us get to where we are right now.”
As part of a talented Assumption backfield that averages 193.3 rushing yards per game and has found the end zone 23 times this season, Santos is well aware of how important it is for him to make the most of his opportunities with the ball.
“I have to make the most of my touches,” Santos said. “That’s the way it is on a team where everyone’s capable of making a big play. Everyone’s a playmaker. We all have to make the most of our opportunities with the ball because you don’t know when the coaches are going to call your number again.”
The Greyhounds begin their quest for a playoff run on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) when they host California (PA) in a first-round clash. The Vulcans, 9-2 on the season, hail from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
“We’re going to have to play team football,” Tobey said. “We have to focus on the little things. The opponents are a lot better. The tougher teams will be here. We just have to play our game and hopefully that leads to us making a run.”
“They can expect a handful,” Santos added. “We came into this season with a different mentality. We’re definitely looking to spread the ball around. We’re looking at our tapes to correct our mistakes and we’re going to play our game.”
