LYNN — For the past two seasons, St. Mary’s football team has had its season cut short in the first round of the state tournament. Last fall’s 20-15 loss to Sandwich still lingers for head coach Sean Driscoll and his players.
It’s even been a driving force in camp this summer.
“That loss, last year, really left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth,” Driscoll said. “It’s two years in a row now with a first-round exit. We all know what the goal is at St. Mary’s. They had a good start to camp and it’s turning into a motivational thing now for them.”
The Spartans will rely on their experience this fall, bringing back several key contributors from last year’s group.
Quarterback Yaniel Belliard returns for his third year as a starter – a steadying presence who has taken his leadership to another level, according to Driscoll.
“He’s worked very hard in the offseason, in the weight room, and he has been throwing the ball a lot with his receivers and tight ends,” Driscoll said. “He’s turning into a good leader for us.”
St. Mary’s also boasts a strong backfield with a mix of veterans and new faces.
Senior Rowan Merryman returns as a key running back, joined by Jimmy Jennings and newcomer Tyren Hoeun, a transfer from Lynn Classical who is expected to make an impact on both sides of the ball.
“I think between Tyren, Rowan, and Jimmy – in addition to Yaniel – we have a great group of runners,” Driscoll said. “Tyren, on the defensive side, is a tremendous player and I think that gets overlooked at times. He’s a great addition, a great kid, and he’s going to be a great person for this school and a great student-athlete.”
But Driscoll said the team’s greatest strength may be its combination of experience and depth up front.
“Having some experience is always nice, and I think it’s a huge part of it,” he said. “Our defensive line has a lot of returners with a few new additions and I think we’re going to be in a good situation with them this year. St. Mary’s is a small school, so depth can be an issue at times, but we believe we have some depth on both sides of the ball – especially on the offensive and defensive line – which is hard to come by in high school football.”
On and off the field, Driscoll has been encouraged by the way his leaders have welcomed newcomers like Hoeun into the program.
“Any time you’re in a private school and you get people coming from different areas around the North Shore, it’s about making a team and having them gel,” Driscoll said. “Our leaders have welcomed the new guys to the program and into the school. The camaraderie begins to build within the first five days here.”
The Spartans open their season at home against Swampscott, and Driscoll is eager to set the tone.
“We want to get off to a strong start.”
