LYNNFIELD – Despite losing 21 seniors, including last year’s standout quarterback Tyler Adamo and four other Cape Ann League First Team All-Stars, the Lynnfield football team is hoping to continue its success from 2024, when the Pioneers finished 9-2 and won a second straight CAL championship.
Head Coach Pat Lamusta said he is hopeful that a healthy dose of competition during the preseason will translate into success both on and off the field.
“It’s early, but this is an eager team with so many people desiring a role and wanting to learn,” he said. “No one really has this established feel, so it’s a very hungry group. At the same time, yes, they are competing against each other, but there’s a really nice bond among the grades that I’m seeing.”
Senior captains Ben Gazit, Luke DiSilvio and Matt Tracy will lead the team this year.
“They’ve been great multi-sport athletes and are a pleasure to have in the building,” Lamusta said. “If you ask any teacher, they’ll tell you they are stand-up guys.”
Gazit returns as a two-way lineman, the only returning starter on either line.
“Ben has the most playing-time experience,” Lamusta said. “He started playing a decent amount as a sophomore, so he really brings experience in terms of leadership.”
Gazit said the team is learning every day.
“We’re getting there,” he said. “I’m the only returning starter on the line, so I’m trying to get everyone to work their hardest. Hard work will get you there; hard work beats talent every time. Everyone is hungry. That’s the difference between this year and past years when people already had their spots locked in. This year, everyone is fighting for their spots, and that’s what makes the competition great and makes everyone better.”
DiSilvio will see action as a receiver, running back and defensive back.
“Luke is always smiling, and all the younger kids know they can go to him with anything,” Lamusta said. “He’s just a really, really nice kid and a tremendous athlete. He can do everything. We feel like we can put Luke anywhere on the field.”
DiSilvio is confident the Pioneers are showing signs that, despite their inexperience, players are already stepping up their games.
“Pretty early on, you could see we picked up the talent that we lost. We have guys doing the right things and people stepping in and playing good leadership roles,” he said. “This year, of course we want to get back to where we got last year and obviously do better. We don’t want to feel what we felt last year when we lost in overtime. We want to play for a Super Bowl in Gillette. That’s our ultimate goal. We’ve already established some great bonds, so I think we are going to have a great season.”
Tracy will start at quarterback after backing up Adamo the last couple of years. Adamo earned just about every honor a player could earn last year, including the Baker Division Most Valuable Player, Daily Item All Star, Boston Herald All Scholastic, Boston Globe All Scholastic and CAL First Team honors.
“As a quarterback, Matt has some big shoes to fill, but he’s viewing it as a challenge,” Lamusta said. “The guys really follow him. He has a really good verbal style of leadership, which some kids don’t always have right away. Matt’s a very poised person and is a leader on the offense.”
Tracy said he is confident the Pioneers are ready to continue their winning tradition.
“It’s going pretty well. I think we have a pretty good team with some great coaches, so I think it’s going to be a successful year,” Tracy said. “We’ve changed the offense this year as far as personnel and plays, and it’s going pretty well.”
Tracy said the team’s primary goal is to make a deeper run in the playoffs and also defend its CAL title.
“We’ve had a pretty good run in the CAL for the past few years, so we want to try to keep that going,” he said.
Other key returners include wide receiver/defensive back Dan Lemieux, back for his third varsity season. Lamusta said Lemieux will also see action on returns.
“He’s like a Swiss army knife.” Lamusta said. “He had big plays for us last year as a junior. He’s not the biggest kid, but he’s very physical. He will also likely punt and kick. Honestly, he’s going to be doing it all.”
Also returning are senior linebacker Kevin Keyes, senior receiver/defensive back Will Mandile, senior lineman Alex Morales and senior receiver/outside linebacker Tobin Ventolieri. Lamusta said he also expects senior transfer Spencer Liu to contribute in the defensive backfield.
“Although he’s jumping into football for the first time, he’s a great athlete,” Lamusta said.
Senior lineman Morales, who did not play last year, is also in the mix.
Juniors competing for playing time include receiver/defensive back Joel Attubato, linebackers Chase Bergeron and Lucas Deraps, and receiver/defensive back James Pasquale.
Sophomores Alex Amico, Marco Tare and Jack Tranfaglia, along with juniors Cole Hixon and Joe Rosa, are stepping up to fill the line.
“Some of these guys have switched positions to play line, which is very cool,” Lamusta said.
Regarding the league, Lamusta said, “Everyone’s better.” He expects North Reading, Newburyport and Amesbury to be “very good,” Ipswich’s young players to be more seasoned, and Hamilton-Wenham to have a new look under a new coach.
Last year, the Pioneers’ pursuit of a Division 6 state title ended in overtime against Fairhaven, 36-34, in the Elite Eight. They closed the season with a 43-36 Thanksgiving Day victory at archrival North Reading.
“Our goal this year is one game at a time, to try to push even further and perform well in the season to set up a good opportunity in the playoffs,” Lamusta said. “Let the work do the talking. I like them to have a one-game-at-a-time attitude, or even a one-practice-at-a-time attitude. Win the day and let’s see how far we can take this thing.”
