Going Home Again: Wakefield Family Begins to Rebuild

Warriors open up season on Friday at Landrigan confronting Reading

Published in the September five, 2018 edition

Past DAN PAWLOWSKI

WAKEFIELD — John Rafferty isn't spending much time thinking about Wakefield's perfect 9-0 season during his senior year when he accounted for 124 of the Warriors' 230 points and won the Shawmut Award for outstanding thespian in the 20-0 win over Melrose on Thanksgiving Day.

That was 1970.

"Information technology's been such a long time," said Rafferty with a smile. "A real long time. I detest to say how long. That being the instance, in that location isn't anybody here who was hither before. The landscape has inverse, it'southward all the same Wakefield but the people have changed. Equally a consequence I literally feel equally if I'yard going to a new schoolhouse, new feel."

As such, the 2018 Warriors have had to gear up for the season while getting used to this "new" double-decker and arrangement during Coach "Raff'south" first year at the helm.

CAPTAIN Mike Lucey is back at quarterback to lead the Warrior offense in 2018. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

The Warriors were always going to be young this twelvemonth as they need to replace 24 graduated seniors, and all but just two returning starters on offense and defence. Add to that a new system and mostly new coaching staff and what you lot go is non just an adjustment for returning players, just a unique opportunity.

Wakefield's players have had three scrimmages confronting Saugus, Methuen and North Reading to not only go on to learn the lingo and arrangement and build on preseason practices, but earn the respect and trust of a staff who is looking for candidates who have the passion to help build something great.

The coaches aren't looking for anybody to vacuum the rugs or paint the walls. They need builders. Information technology's time to mix the concrete and level the ground for a foundation.

"Some houses are in moving condition. Others need a picayune touchup and some need major renovations. Some are tear downs," said Rafferty, finally arriving at Wakefield's current edifice progress. "We accept to break information technology all the way down and commencement back up."

The mindset of the 2018 Warriors will determine not only the team'due south success this season just the fate of the future of the programme. The seniors accept the responsibility to cover the changes and lay the background for upcoming classes.

For that, Wakefield will turn to returning senior captains Mike Lucey and Danny Marinaccio.

Lucey is back for his tertiary season as the starting quarterback while Marinaccio will become the bulk of the carries in what will be a run-heavy assault while besides leading the defense from his linebacker spot.

"They're skillful guys, good football players and good captains who are experienced and talented," said Rafferty of Lucey and Marinaccio. "We're going to be leaning on them that's for sure."

The two make up the only retuning starters on the offensive side, as the unabridged offensive line needs to be replaced. The simply other returning starter on defence is junior rubber Michael O'Keefe. His older brother Billy O'Keefe will render as a tight terminate and defensive terminate. Senior Derek Dimascio will return as a key running back and linebacker. Junior Robbie Fossett got plenty of reps as a linebacker concluding year and junior Taaj Andrews will be a fundamental lineman on both sides of the ball, only the vast majority of starters will be brand new to their roles at the acme of the depth chart.

To aid them with those specific roles volition a coaching staff that is a mix of Rafferty'south assistants at North Andover and local guys.

Mike Mosto will control the law-breaking every bit the offensive coordinator. Kevin Slattery will coach the offensive line and defensive line. Drew Crawford will coach the tight ends, defensive ends and special teams. Jim DeMartino will coach the wide receivers and defensive backs while former Warrior QB Brian Millea (WHS '08) will motorcoach up Lucey and the quarterbacks as well as Marinaccio and the linebackers. The group will help each unit quickly adapt to Rafferty's preferred style of play, which should be no surprise to those who call back his prowess as a running back in the Middlesex League.

"Offensively nosotros want to run the football," said Rafferty. "That's something we are going to work hard towards and something we want to reach hither. Defensively it all starts in that location besides insofar every bit stopping the run."

Smashmouth, for lack of a better term, might exist the best way to describe Rafferty'south teams at Northward Andover during his fourth dimension every bit head coach from 2001 to 2014. It worked to the tune of a 95-58 record.

But, like his days as a student athlete at Wakefield High, that was in the past.

"Every now and then I'll run into somebody from the past and that will take me back a little bit, but by and large I'k just really living in the hither and at present," said Rafferty.

The Warriors shell Reading 34-6 during Rafferty's senior year in 1970. The Rockets come up to town on Friday nighttime at seven p.m. as ane of the best programs in the expanse for a long time. It volition kick off the 2018 season for Wakefield just it will besides brainstorm a new era.

Right here, right now, is a make new situation with plenty of brand new varsity football players. It volition certainly take some time to build something cracking and build it right, but commit to the procedure and coach Rafferty promises that a bright future is in shop.

andersonknect1979.blogspot.com

Source: https://localheadlinenews.com/wakefield-warriors-football-gridmen-working-hard-to-rebuild-wakefield-footballs-foundation/