LYNN — You may know the story of Sheryl Yoast, the blonde girl from “Remember the Titans” who enjoyed football more than most kids her age. With Lynn English Football Coach Anthony LaFratta, it was a similar scene.
“My earliest memories really started when I was, jeez, in third grade. I was 8 years old,” LaFratta said. “My dad (John) actually started as an assistant coach at Lynn English. He coached under Gary Molea.”
On top of being a waterboy, LaFratta can still provide full detail from games two decades ago.
“The first game I remember, still, was against Lynn Tech,” LaFratta said. “Just walking into Manning Bowl, I had never been there before. I just thought that was the coolest thing in the entire world.”
From maroon-shirted fans packing the bleachers to players going through warmups, it was the Friday night scenery that did it for LaFratta.
“Definitely the environment,” LaFratta said. “They looked like NFL guys. They were so much bigger because I was so little.”
Now, he’s a part of those warmups. When it comes to his dream-come-true scenario, LaFratta said he doesn’t take it for granted.
“Especially when we go against, like, Swampscott, or even Revere, some of these teams that English has been playing for years,” LaFratta said. “Sometimes, I think back to certain games and certain memories I have.”
Some of his memories include English’s 9-2 record in 2000, and an overtime win against Swampscott in 2005.
Already a student of the game, LaFratta attended Peabody High, where learned more about the sport – and himself – through two major takeaways.
“First, I’ll be the first to tell you, I was not a great football player,” said LaFratta, who admits he didn’t work as hard as he should have. “I had to learn that the hard way. There were underclassmen passing me.”
Secondly, having gone through three coaches in four years, he learned “the importance of continuity” when putting together a football team.
“That’s really hard on the school [and] on the football team when you’re changing up, you know, schemes, language, [and] terminology,” said LaFratta, who played cornerback and tight end.
After learning about hard work and continuity, and during his sophomore year of college at Salem State, LaFratta went back to what he loved most.
“I started helping out, again, at Lynn English,” LaFratta said. “Just showing up on Friday nights and helping out wherever I could. From that point on, I was like, ‘I definitely want to coach.’”
With that mindset solidified, LaFratta became an assistant coach at Wakefield and Saugus.
“I always understood the game of football. I might not have been the greatest player, but I understood the Xs and Os pretty well,” LaFratta said. “I always enjoyed that.”
Now, it’s time for year two with the Bulldogs, who went 5-6 last season. When asked about last fall, LaFratta spoke of his group’s resiliency.
“We started 0-4. It could have been really easy for our guys to fold and quit,” LaFratta said. “But our group stuck together, and then we pulled off four straight wins. That speaks volumes about the team and my coaching staff.”
He also credited his defense for making good tackles, attacking the ball, and refusing to play scared.
“Our defense was very strong I thought,” said LaFratta, who looks forward to week two against Swampscott.
That said, good coaches change, too. LaFratta wants his offense to be more efficient and creative.
“I don’t think it’s much of a secret. We need to improve on the offensive side of the ball,” LaFratta said.
Last year was full of “baby steps” according to LaFratta, while this season the program is “hitting the ground running.”
“Our big core guys are coming back, including two of our four captains,” LaFratta said. “We’re way ahead of where we were.”
English kicks off its season Sept. 8 against Lawrence at Manning Field (7:30 p.m.).
