PEABODY — In order for a team to succeed, it needs players who are willing to step up and
assume the role that’s best for the group. Some players will get the touches and score touchdowns, but others play just as big a part in a team’s success by bringing leadership, toughness and doing the “dirty work.” That’s what senior h-back/linebacker Jake Sousa brings to the Peabody football team.
“Jake plays hard,” Tanners coach Mark Bettencourt said. “In his first three years, he’s shown that he’ll play hurt. He’s a tough, hard-nosed football player. He enjoys playing fullback and blocking, he enjoys playing linebacker. He motivates our defense. Generally, he comes into the game on offense when we need tough yards. He brings the grit to our football team.”
Peabody’s running a new-look spread offense but that doesn’t diminish Sousa’s impact on that side of the ball. Sousa might not carry the ball for big yardage gains but he blocks for ball-carriers and helps create open lanes- just as important as any other responsibility on offense.
“I was never one of the guys that got the limelight when it came to scoring or anything,” Sousa said. “I was always the guy running in front of the guy that scores. When I see myself make a nice block on film after a game, that’s great. I was never in it for scoring touchdowns.”
Bettencourt agreed.
“Just because we’re spread out doesn’t mean our offense is vastly different,” Bettencourt said. “We’ll pull our guards, our centers, it’s just not a small box anymore. Instead of going double-tights, we’re going to use the whole field. A lot of the plays we run, Sousa looks at me and says ‘coach this is just like us. I’m just leading up the gap.'”
Sousa enters his first season playing a key defensive role this year. He played strictly offense last season after dealing with a hand injury. Now back at full strength, Sousa stepped up to the challenge when the Tanners needed a linebacker to solidify their defense.
“I always think about the team first,” Sousa said. “This year I’m playing defense, I never played defense last year. I had to because that’s what the team needs. I’m here for the team, not for myself.”
The Tanners have also made plenty of changes to their defensive schemes this fall but Sousa feels the team’s adjusting well. He keeps his playbooks handy and studies them as if he were preparing for another course on his academic schedule.
“It’s just like school,” Sousa said. “It’s all studying and everything. I have my own offensive and defensive playbooks. All I do is look over the plays to make sure everything’s right. We have the basics down, now it’s adding all these new installations. Right now it’s a big class with 60 kids in it.
“This year it’s a complete different look on offense and defense,” Sousa said. “The juniors and seniors this year are so much closer this year. This year we have such a great mix that I feel we can go that far. Right now we’re taking it one game at a time. That’s all we can focus on.”
Prior to the start of the season, Sousa was voted a team captain by his teammates. Bettencourt said it came as no surprise, as he saw leadership qualities within Sousa during the senior’s first three years in the program.
“We have five captains this year because it was a close vote,” Bettencourt said. “You could kind of tell over the last three years. If you had to guess three years ago who the captains would be, you’d guess Jake. He has a toughness to him that makes him a great football player but he keeps the guys loose.”
Peabody started the 2018 campaign on a positive note last week when the Tanners defeated Somerville, 36-7, in their season opener at Coley Lee Field. Up next for Peabody is another Northeastern Conference challenge Friday night when the Tanners visit Danvers.
“I’ve never seen my coaches happier,” Sousa said of the season opening win. “They were all smiling. Coach Bettencourt was the happiest I’ve seen him, probably since the last time we won an opening game. We brought a lot of energy and I loved it. Now we’re onto the next game, that’s what we’re all about.”
Peabody and Danvers will kick off at 7 p.m. at Dr. Deering Stadium.
FRIDAY GAMES
Malden at Classical (5): The Rams looked as though they haven’t missed a beat from last season, scoring 52 points in a win at Medford to open the year. Keith Ridley threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Nashaun Butler.
Saugus at Northeast (6): After everything that has transpired at Saugus, a football game will be played Friday night in Wakefield. The Sachems scored 12 quick points at Amesbury last week but couldn’t hold the lead in the closing stages of a loss. They’ll play another non-conference tilt Friday before diving into their Northeastern Conference schedule.
Somerville at English (7): Beverly gave English a battle last Saturday but the Bulldogs answered the bell with a stellar second half. Matt Severance threw three touchdown passes, Prince Brown caught two of them and Ishmile Bangura ran for two scores. Somerville will look to bounce back from a 36-7 loss at Peabody.
Medford at Winthrop (7): Both teams are looking for their first win of the young season. The Vikings came close last week when they hosted Pentucket, but fell 27-21 in a non-conference game. Bobby Hubert threw a touchdown and ran for another.
Marblehead at Revere (6:30): Perhaps the biggest challenge for Revere will be finding a way to contain Magicians running back Tim Cronin. Last week against Triton (a 55-0 Marblehead win), Cronin scored four touchdowns and ran for 167 yards.
Swampscott at Triton (7): The Big Blue held on for a 21-20 win in their season opener last Saturday against Greater Lawrence. Graham Inzana shook off a pair of early interceptions and tossed touchdowns to Jonathan Oriakhi and Andrew Augustin. Freshman Xaviah Bascon scored his first varsity touchdown on a rush.
Lynnfield at Wayland (7): The Pioneers continue their early-season travels with another road game, in search of their first win of 2018. Lynnfield’s defense looked solid during last week’s game but the Pioneers fell 15-13 at Newburyport.
Fenwick at Dedham (7): Cory Bright left last Friday’s 28-0 season-opening win with an injury but Chrys Wilson stepped in under center and played a solid game. Fenwick coach Dave Woods said he expects Dedham to be one of the tougher opponents on his team’s schedule.
Central Catholic at St. John’s (7): Trent Tully powered the Eagles to a 43-14 win last Friday over Haverhill with three touchdown carries. St. John’s also looked solid defensively, forcing multiple turnovers and giving the offense a short field to work with.
Salem at Essex Tech (7): The Witches defeated Austin Prep 25-6 last Friday in their season opener.
SATURDAY GAMES:
St. Mary’s at South Boston (noon): The Spartans travel to White Stadium for a non-conference clash against Southie of the Boston City League. Jalen Echevarria was a highlight-reel machine last Friday, scoring three touchdowns for St. Mary’s in a 30-12 win. George Freeman added a touchdown run.
Gloucester at Beverly (1): The Fishermen aim for their second win of the season after defeating Revere in Week 1. The Panthers dropped their first game to English.
Tech at Mystic Valley (1): The Tigers didn’t score much in last Saturday’s 6-2 win over Nashoba but a win’s a win. Perhaps this year’s Tech team will get the job done on defense. Chance Buono scored the lone touchdown of the win. Mystic Valley’s also 1-0, coming off an 18-0 shutout of Chelsea.
Roxbury Prep at KIPP (7): The Panthers are hoping to bounce back from last week’s loss at Greater Lowell. KIPP won it’s home opener last fall so perhaps Manning Field brings the Panthers better fortune.
