THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 13, 2024 Page 13 Captains corner: Catching up with Saugus football’s leaders By Dom Nicastro T he Saugus High School football team had a bye to start the season and opens things up this Friday night, Sept. 13, on the road against Cambridge Rindge & Latin at 6 p.m. Leading the way this year for the Sachems will be captains Cody Munafo and Koby Jette. The veterans have big visions for the team, which showed tremendous improvement last fall. Munafo had a torn MCL last year and missed some time but is ready to go. The Saugus Advocate caught up with the captains as they get ready for their 2024 opener. Advocate: How many years have you played football? Munafo: I have been playing football for 10 years since I was six. Jette: I have played since the start of high school. Advocate: What positions are you playing this year? Munafo: I play running back and linebacker. Jette: I play guard on offense, defensive end and defensive tackle on defense. Advocate: Last year, Saugus had a great start then was riddled by injuries. What did the team prove last year as far as what type of team it can be? Munafo: Four of the starters last year mid-season got hit with injuries while three of them were captains. So we had to change our play scheme around. It showed that everyone could adapt and change to a different play style. Jette: After all the injuries, we were able to push through and improve without important members of the team. People had to step up and be able to fill the missing spots we had due to injuries. Advocate: What do you believe can be strengths of the team this fall and why? Munafo: I believe that we’re going to have a good run game that’s gonna open up the passing game. Jette: Great team chemistry and people who can work hard no matter how young they are. Advocate: Where are some areas you need to improve and how so? Munafo: We have to improve on our communication on the field. We need to be more vocal so everyone is on the same page. Jette: We need to work on Food for foodinsecure households Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus resumes for the 2024-2025 School year Healthy Saugus-Healthy Students (HS2) is a nonprofit group of volunteers who help food-insecure households. HS2 provides a supply of nutritious food for weekends during the school year. Although some partners are school employees, HS2 is independent of the Saugus Public Schools. How HS2 works: HS2 bags are distributed at the Saugus Public Schools on Fridays to take home for anyone who signs up. Bags include items such as peanut butter, canned meals/soups/tuna/vegetables, pasta, fruit cups, cereal, oatmeal, goldfish, pretzels and granola bars. All food is provided free of charge. To sign up, complete the form at https://forms.gle/ gmMGguycSHBdziuE9 For more information, contact HS2 at HS2Saugus@ gmail.com Jette: Going for more of a defensive role and to be able to make plays for the rest of the team on defense. Advocate: What’s it like playing in the Northeastern Conference with no off nights? Munafo: The games get very competitive and usually every team we play has a unique play style so we usually have to adapt to new play style every week. Jette: I think as long as we stay together as a team, we can overcome any team that gives us good challenge. We just need to get into our playbooks and be on our keys. Advocate: What do you Saugus High School football captains Cody Munafo (left) and Koby Jette our plays and be able to execute our plays in a better fashion. And it’s only small improvements we need to make. Advocate: What was the summer/offseason like as far as getting ready and getting players together? Munafo: As soon as the season ended, we were in the weight room right away, getting ready for the next season. We also had a lot of underclassmen showing up and getting ready to work and contribute to the team benASKS| FROM PAGE 9 four years we have seen in a long time. Q: What do you think makes him the best candidate to be president? A: He is a great leader and can work with parties on both sides. Look at his track record when he was president before COVID-19 hit this nation. Recently, he joined forces with Democrat Robert Kennedy, Jr. and Democrat Tulsi Gabbard. He has also asked Elon Musk to lead the government efficiency commission if elected to audit the government. He is not afraid to surround himself with the best talent no matter what your political affiliation is. Q: What’s going to be the defining issue in this election? A: Economy and border. Q: Do you think it’s going to be close in November? eficially. Jette: During the offseason, we all worked very hard to prepare for the upcoming season. A lot of young guys showed up for these workouts; they proved that they have a lot to give for Saugus High football. Advocate: What are your personal goals for this season? Munafo: Last year, I only scored one touchdown, so I’m looking forward to seeing the end zone a lot more than just one time this season. A: Unfortunately, I do. It has been strategically the plan. Q: Do you think Trump would have an easier time facing President Biden? A: Yes, no doubt. Q: Is former President Trump going to take Saugus this time? A: He should. Saugus is a community of hardworking individuals who, I believe, are starting to realize that they need to keep the money they work for. Q: Let’s talk a little about the race for the U.S. Senate seat that’s on the ballot – now held by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. What do you think about John Deaton’s chances of unseating Sen. Warren? What are Deaton’s strengths and weaknesses in this race? A: Elizabeth Warren is now part of the radical left, which supports a socialist economy. John Deaton is a Marine and lawyer. He just seems like an want to accomplish as a captain? Munafo: As a senior captain, I want to end the season with a healthy and good environment for all the returning players and for the future players to join the Saugus High School football team. Jette: As a captain, I would like to exhibit good qualities of what a captain should be. I am excited to see how I can change the atmosphere in the locker room and on and off the field. I want everyone to know they are welcome to Saugus High football and other teams to be excited to play us. honest guy who will put this state first. I can’t think of one thing she’s done for the state since getting elected to the Senate. The Democratic machine will just swallow him up. I’m not optimistic just because of the way the one-party system works in this state. I hope he gives her a run for the money. That’s the best we can hope for. Q: What about the U.S. House and Senate races? How do you think the Republican Party will do? A: I do believe this state is ready for a change in leadership. Q: Anything else that you would like to share? A: Absentee ballots, now known as mail-in ballots, should be available only to those who have a need. Votes should be counted in one day. Keep our constitutional republic alive.
14 Publizr Home