WINTHROP– With a junior-heavy roster, the Winthrop football team begins a new era in 2019. Players who were inexperienced underclassmen last fall will step into bigger roles this season as they aim to lead the charge.
“We’re really excited,” second-year coach Jonathan Cadigan said. “I think this group of juniors has gotten beat up pretty good. You can see they’re starting to look like juniors and seniors should. I’m excited to see them be the bigger boys on the field.”
Cadigan guided Winthrop to a 5-6 mark in his first season as head coach. The Vikings struggled early on but started to blend together toward the tail end of the season.
“I thought last year we were very close to being an 8-3 football and very close to being a 3-8 football team,” Cadigan said. “We were in very close ball games, some we won and some we lost but we were fairly competitive.”
Winthrop’s offense aims to be a more consistent unit this fall. It starts with junior quarterback Bobby Hubert, an Item All-Star in 2018. Hubert took over under center midway through the 2018 season.
“Last year he was probably our best running back,” Cadigan said. “Because of the situation we were in he became a quarterback. This year, we’ve done more with motion and different formations. Last year his mind went a million miles an hour and I think the game’s starting to slow down a bit for him.”
Bryan Conceicao (linebacker/running back), Austin Daigneault (running back/safety) and Tyler Rockefeller (tight end/linebacker) return for their junior seasons.
“All these kids have played since they were freshmen,” Cadigan said. “It feels like I’ve had them forever.”
Senior linemen Andre O’Campo and Pat Teixeira are this season’s captains.
“I think they’ve grown into their leadership roles,” Cadigan said. “Pat’s more of a silent guy. Him and Andre were the top two guys in the weight room, in terms of attendance. The commitment is certainly there.”
Cadigan knows competing in the Northeastern Conference is always easier said than done. But Winthrop has learned to embrace the challenge posed by conference opponents.
“I love our league,” Cadigan said. “Being a smaller school you can look at it two ways. Us and Salem are the only two Division 6 teams. I love the challenge of facing Beverly in week 1. It’s a tough task but it gets you ready for the playoffs and the end of the season.
“We’ll play anybody. That’s our philosophy this year.”
Winthrop opened the season with a 21-6 loss to Beverly last Friday. The Vikings aim for their first win next Friday (7) when they host Saugus.
Schedule:
9/6 – vs. Beverly (L 21-6)
9/20 – vs. Saugus (7)
9/27 – at Danvers (7)
10/4 – at Swampscott (7)
10/11 – at Classical (7:30)
10/18 – vs. Salem (7)
10/25 – at English (7)
11/28 – vs. Revere (10)
