Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 13, 2019 Football Tornadoes begin season at home tonight against Melrose By Nick Toscani 2020-21 school year. With all the "newness" T he "new look" Malden High Golden Tornado football squad still has a few holdovers who will add to the shiny model that rolls out tonight at Eddie Melanson Field at Macdonald Stadium. The Blue and Gold football boys are also playing in brandnew league as well this season. Malden opens the 2019 season with a home game this evening, hosting highly-touted, next-door rival Melrose High. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. Aside from starting the new season, the Tornado squad and coaching staff is excited about the transition into a new league, with a familiar name: GBL (Greater Boston League). Malden, Medford, Somerville and Everett withdrew from the Northeastern Conference (NEC) after a brief, three-year stay and have been joined by a fifth NEC defector, Revere, to reconstitute the GBL, mainstay in Eastern Mass. for over 60 years before it dissolved after the 2015-16 school year. Old GBL friend Chelsea joins the Greater Boston League in all sports beginning in the around the team this year, Malden's outlook for success will rely largely on the shoulders of some its talented returnees, starting with tri-captain and All-Conference twoway starter Jerry Mervil. Mervil put up electrifying numbers last season for Malden. How's this for dominating? The 5-9, 190 slot receiver led the team in ALL THREE major offensive categories: Rushing (554 yards), Receiving (589 yards), Scoring (8 TDs, 58 points). On top of that, he led the NEC in interceptions from his safety spot. "Jerry (Mervil) was the best all-around player in the NEC last year and did receive some votes for MVP," Malden High head coach Steve Freker said. "There were some players who had more offensive numbers, but no one did on both sides of the football like Jerry. He did it all." It is also no surprise that Mervil has been the leader of the team since being re-appointed captain of the team this year, after serving as a junior captain last year. "Our three senior captains, Jerry, Peterson Maxis and Ishmael Sylus have been tremendous leaders through the offseason and recent preseason and we could not have asked for any better," Coach Freker said. "They are three solid, twoway players who are a credit to this city, their school, their team and their families." The three captains will be joined on the offensive squad by sophomore quarterback J.J. Costa, who saw quality time at the varsity level last year as a freshman. Costa led the game winning drive in the bone chilling (15 degrees at kickoff) Thanksgiving Day win over Medford last November. Costa's favorite targets in the Tornado spread attack will be Mervil, Sylus, juniors Matt Bessey and Mike Mathes, senior transfer from Ft. Myers, Fla. Jabari Youman and senior Wootchy Pierre-Rene. Maxis and junior Giovanni Mumesu will lead the backfield, along with juniors Jude Alphonse and Dean Testa. Up front will be returning All-Conference center Davenche Sydney, just a sophomore, junior Ralph Deus Jr. and sophomores Eliezer Beato, Sammy Solorzano and Justin DeSimone. Defensively, DeSimone, Memesu and Beato will spearhead the linebacker corps along with Alphonse and Maxis. Juniors Muneer Odally, Bessey, senior Max Mitchie and senior Chris Thelemaque will man the defensive end spots with Sydney, Deus, sophomore Jeremiah Dessources and junior Nick Cardoso holding up the D-line. In the defensive backfield a slew of contributors reside including Mervil, Sylus, PierreRene, Mathes and sophomore Oswaldo Rodriquez. A welcome addition to the team this year is sophomore kicker Ronaldo Juarez. "Ronald's legit. He booms them from 40-50 yards every day in practice. He's really got a future," said Coach Freker the second-year head coach, who in his 20th year overall at Malden and 29th year coaching Division 1 high school football overall. His coaching staff includes defensive coordinator Mike Barbati Jr., offensive coordinator Steve Almquist Jr., line Jerry Mervil Senior Capt. coach Elisee Pompilus, and assistants Romario Berneche, Dave Console, Will Rennie, Ken Runge Jr. and Mike DiCato. On Melrose? "Coach (Tim) Morris is one of the top coaches in the state and he puts put a competitive team every year. We expect nothing less this year," the Malden coach added. "We want to control the ball and keep their offense off the field. If we are successful at that and we get a few bounces our way, it will be a great night for Malden football." Malden Catholic falls to Winchester in season opener M alden Catholic’s 2019 football season got underway on Friday, September 6, when the Lancers traveled to Winchester. Friday’s game introduced a new era of MC football as a new Athletic Director/football coach, Bill Raycraft, made his Malden Catholic football debut. J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. Raycraft was 68-11 as the Head Coach of New Hampshire’s Windham High School Jaguars in over nine years. His accomplishments include winning a S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping state championship and being named the Gatorade Coach of the Year in the state of New Hampshire. Winchester and running back Jimmy Gibbons received the ball first. They didn’t take much time to get things going as they marched down the field to score the first touchdown, 7-0; however, Malden Catholic’s offense was eager to take the field. Malden Catholic running back Zeke Bragg, a junior from Chelsea, broke a few tackles for a solid first down run. That run would then set up for a 25-yard pass from Lancers quarterback Sean Kelley, a senior from Wilmington, to wide receiver Daps Olatunbosun, a junior from Malden. After a first and goal, Kelley ran for the touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. Malden Catholic’s scoring didn’t stop there. On the next possession, Winchester threw a costly interception to Kelley, who took it to the house to give MC a 13-7 lead. Much of the second quarter was a defensive battle; neither team could get much going on offense until late in the second quarter. Winchester managed to score a touchdown as time was expiring to tie the game at 13-13. After stopping MC to start the third quarter, Winchester QB Thomas Degnan ran for a touchdown to reclaim the lead, 19-13. But MC and Kelley were determined to take the lead back. With four minutes to go in the third quarter, Kelley connected with Bragg for a 49-yard pass to set up first and goal. Winchester ultimately stopped MC for a turnover. After Kelley’s pass, the game was all Winchester. Degnan and Gibbons put up 14 unanswered points on the Lancers to give them a 27-13 win. After the game Raycraft said his team had a quick preseason, but “they’ve continued to get better each day, and the coaches expect that the players will learn from any miscues in game one and come out ready to go versus Methuen on Saturday.” Malden Catholic looks to bounce back next game against Methuen on Saturday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m. at Methuen High School.
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