Quick peek at Norton

The South Shore has seen a ton of coaching turnover this past offseason, and plenty of solid program leaders have taken foothold at places where big things can be expected in 2018.

One of those places is at Norton High, where Robb McCoy takes over the Lancers for his second stint after leading them to the 2008 Super Bowl against Arlington Catholic.

McCoy also has been a head coach at Bishop Feehan, Durfee, and acted as an assistant at Plymouth South, Attleboro, Curry College, and his latest stop of Milford High.

And, to say the least, McCoy is excited about being a head coach again.

The reason? Well, for starters, McCoy thinks the Lancers can make some noise in the Tri-Valley League Small Division right away.

Here are a few players that have McCoy feeling optimistic right now:

Jacob Chapman, Sr., OL/DL, 6-2, 265 — There are several unique aspects to Chapman, not the least of which is his off-the-field pursuits. Over the summer, Chapman started his own landscaping business.

"He bought his own equipment and everything," McCoy said.

The enterprising senior is, according to McCoy, emblematic of the type of seniors he has this year.

"They're all yes, coach, no, coach, and just do it-types," McCoy said.

Chapman is one of the centerpieces to what should be a sizable line that will be featured in plenty of double-wing packages.

As far as Chapman's potential at the next level, McCoy said: "I foresee him being a (Division 2) kid, certainly (a Northeast-10 Conference player) — Bentley, Stonehill, one of those."

Lucas Combs, Sr., RB/LB, 5-11, 185 — McCoy calls Combs "a very tough, old-school-type-of-kid."

Not only that, but McCoy notes that Combs holds down a 4.1 grade-point average.

McCoy projects him as someone who could continue his career in the NESCAC. He certainly has the grades for it.

Tyler Elliott, Sr., QB, 5-10, 160 — Elliott is a three-year starter who has 24 games of experience under his belt.

Elliott also wrestles, and if he chooses to stick to football in college, projects as a defensive back, according to McCoy.

Hunter Murphy, Jr., TE/DE, 6-4, 225 — McCoy lights up when he talks about Murphy, who is another good student.

According to McCoy, Assumption "loved him" when Murphy camped there this summer.

"For his size, he's just such an impressive athlete," McCoy said.

Nate Sicard, So., FB/LB, 6-2, 225 — Another star in the classroom, Sicard holds down a 4.0 GPA, according to McCoy.

Sicard started as a freshman.

"He's a kid that just gets it," McCoy said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christian Ferrara provides lift for Western Mass. athletes

Image
When Christian Ferrara first came to Springfield Central in 2014, he could not believe his eyes, and not in a good way. "The whole culture in the city (was bad)," Ferrara said. "How in a city this big with all these special athletes and you're not pumping out Division 1 after Division 1 athletes? We have all these studs here, why aren't we pumping out more Division 1 athletes?" A former 38-game starter at nose tackle for Syracuse in the late 1990s, early 2000s, Ferrara came up to Massachusetts in 2012 to help a friend open up some gyms on the East Coast. But when he began his stint as a strength and conditioning coach at Central along with his work at the alternative school there, Ferrara knew he had to start from the ground up when it came to getting the most out of the talent. "They didn't know how to program their athletes properly in the weight room," said Ferrara, who trains athletes all over Western Mass. now, including East Longme...
Read more

Q&A with Deerfield OL Joe LoChiatto

WESTFIELD — Last Saturday, Excel Sports Academy hosted a showcase for local athletes in front of dozens of college coaches. One of the best performers on the day 6-foot-2, 292-pound interior offensive lineman Joe LoChiatto . The Agawam native is transferring to Deerfield Academy, where he will repeat his sophomore year in 2019. In one-on-one reps against some of the top linemen in Western Mass., Connecticut, and other parts of New England, LoChiatto did not lose one rep. LoChiatto's assets include his strong hands, initial punch, and ability to maintain control once he gets his hands on you. According to ESA strength trainer Christian Ferrara, LoChiatto can dead lift 500 pounds five times without breaking a sweat, and said the lineman could get to 15 if he wanted, but Ferrara did not want to push it. We were initially skeptical of the claim until Ferrara showed us the video of LoChiatto doing just that. Needless to say, LoChiatto is someone to keep an eye on going forward. ...
Read more

Boston College star Lukas Denis, seen with a mother's love, stern eye

Image
By Adam Kurkjian Ketlie Denis was running late Saturday to meet up with a reporter about her son, Lukas, at Somerville's Southern Kin Code House on Assembly Row. Behind the bar, there was an American flag painted on the bricklay behind crossed wood and between the liquor display. It played country music and served items like Louisiana Grandad Gumbo, Chicken and Waffles, and Farmhouse Buttermilk Biscuits. But, like most places in Somerville these days, it was populated by more of a gentrified, hipster-ish crowd. Roughly a half an hour late, Ketlie arrived, profusely apologized and wanted to know immediately about the scrimmage from earlier that day. Then she asked about how Lukas performed earlier that afternoon.  He dropped an interception, but one of his former teammates from Everett High, Jason Maitre, made a diving pass breakup toward the end of the live portion. She beamed ("Jason is like his little brother"). She has never missed a single...
Read more