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As recently as a few months ago, Scott Wlasuk had never imagined he'd be the head football coach at Peabody High.

Whether it was during his four years as a player under the legendary Arthur Adamopoulos, during nearly 20 years as an assistant under Ed Nizwantowski or as an assistant last season with Dick Woodbury, sitting in the big chair was something that Wlasuk simply never considered.

The long wait | about five months | is over.

Peabody is expected to name veteran assistant Scott Wlasuk to head its 2008 football program, it was learned yesterday.

Wlasuk, who will become the Tanners' fourth head coach in the last five seasons, succeeds Dick Woodbury, who resigned for health reasons after one year on the job and a 1-10 season last fall.

The rumors and rumblings about who remains in the hunt to become the newest Peabody High School football coach may be gaining steam, but all the talk will have no influence on how quickly the vacancy is filled, according to Peabody athletic director Phil Sheridan.

Time is of the essence in naming the next Peabody High football coach. But it's not not as important as conducting a thorough and complete search to find the right person.

"That really is the emphasis: let's do it right and take the time to make sure that we dot our I's and cross our T's," Peabody High Athletic Director Phil Sheridan said. "I don't want to do this all over again."

The search for a new Peabody High football coach will begin | again | today when Dick Woodbury will tell his team he is stepping down after one season on the job for health reasons.

Woodbury, who had a nightmarish 1-10 record in his first and only season as head coach last fall, tendered his resignation at a meeting that included Peabody High principal Ed Sapienza and athletic director Phil Sheridan.

MALDEN | The Peabody High football team came into last night's first-ever "Thanksgiving Eve" showdown with Malden Catholic looking to erase a season of heartache.

It was clear after the opening drive | a 14-play, 65-yard Lancers' scoring march | that it wasn't meant to be.

Where: Brother Gilbert Stadium

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 21

Time: 6 p.m.

Coaches: Dick Woodbury, Peabody; Joe Gaff, Malden Catholic.

Captains: Peabody: Luke Moran, Sr. RB/LB; Joe Maroney, OG/LB; Scott Diefenbach, Sr. FB/FS; Malden Catholic: Greg Richardson, Sr. FB/LB, Ryan Curtis, Sr. RB/DB, Patrick Souza, Sr. OT/DT, Mike Timmons, Sr. OT/DT, Robert Machado, Sr. TB/LB.

Looking to deliver his head coach, Gary Molea, his 100th career victory last night, Lynn English's Charlie Rucker turned in the game of his life.

The junior receiver single-handedly outgained host Peabody High and hauled in touchdown passes of 67, 55 and 77 yards as the Bulldogs raced past the Tanners, 29-12, at chilly Coley Lee Field.

REVERE | The Peabody High football team's 16 years of dominance over Revere ended emphatically last night.

The Tanners, who had not lost to the Patriots since 1991, were handed a 18-6 loss at Della Russo Stadium, falling to 1-8 on the season.

Sometimes good players on losing teams don't get the credit they deserve. Peabody's Kevin Bettencourt is trying to change that.

Bettencourt, a junior linebacker for the Tanners, has more than 80 tackles over the past four games.