LYNN — There’s only one thing left to do when you get all the way to the Super Bowl and lose. And that’s to get back there and win.
That’s the mission for the St. Mary’s football team, who went 8-5 last year and ended its season in an 18-0 loss to Blackstone Valley in the Division 7 Super Bowl.
It marked a major letdown to a season that, to that point, had been remarkable. But the Spartans lost to Fenwick on a chilly Thanksgiving Eve, 60-0, and were then blanked by Blackstone.
“We’re putting that behind us,” said coach Sean Driscoll. “We ran into a really good team. They did some things to us that we weren’t expecting.”
Driscoll’s immediate concern is how does he replace the inimitable Jalen Echevarria, who was the find of the season, leading the Spartans in his first year of varsity football, while navigating the always-tough Catholic Central League.
“I don’t think you fill that gap very quickly,” said Driscoll, starting his second season with St. Mary’s after 12 seasons at Winthrop. “But he set a tone for some of our younger guys. He was such a competitor. He just did everything right.”
Echevarria is one of 18 seniors lost to graduation, which would indicate that the Spartans are starting from scratch.
They are not.
Quarterback Derek O’Leary is back. Actually, O’Leary was kind of a happy accident last season, taking the job after projected starter Connor Donohue was hurt in preseason. O’Leary did so well that when Donohue was finally able to play, he was catching O’Leary’s passes.
“He has a strong arm,” said Driscoll. “And he’s definitely the leader of the offense. He’s developed into quite a passer.”
While Driscoll has some experience returning, “we have a lot of key concerns too. It’s tougher and tougher to find linemen on both sides of the ball, and we’re going to have to do a lot of rebuilding. Our skill spots are more solid.”
Still, with so much rawness up front, “we’ve had to take things slower, but once we get up to snuff, we’ll be OK. The key for us is to stay healthy and stay fresh.”
One of the key linemen Driscoll will rely on is senior Alec Colaccitti, a guard/linebacker; and junior Zach Barden, an outside linebacker/tight end. Big things are also expected from running backs Sal Affilitto and George Percy..
David Brown, a freshman receiver and defensive back (and son of basketball coach Dave Brown) “has already made a big impression on us,” said Driscoll.
“The key for us,” Driscoll said, “is learning to do the little things. The big things will take care of themselves. We will need to stay healthy, too, and see how fast our kids can mature.”
St. Mary’s opens Thursday (7:30) at home against Boston English, followed by another home game next Friday (6:30) against South Boston.
“English is a well-coached team,” said Driscoll. “We will have an uphill battle against them.”
Schedule
9/12 – vs. Boston English (7)
9/20 – vs. South Boston (6:30)
9/27 – at Cardinal Spellman (6:30)
10/5 – vs. Bishop Fenwick (7)
10/11 – at Archbishop Williams (6)
10/19 – vs. Arlington Catholic (4)
10/25 – at Mashpee (7)
11/27 – vs. Austin Prep (6)
