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LeBlanc looking to return from ankle injury this week

Wednesday, September, 26 By Tim Seely
Correspondent

Sharing time with great local athletes isn’t new to Newburyport High sophomore Kyle LeBlanc.

The two-year starter at tailback and linebacker in football also lettered in indoor track and baseball as a freshman after winning battles for playing time in the fall and spring.

As a running back, LeBlanc had to share time with two senior captains last year in Garrett Boyd, who is now playing linebacker at Merrimack College, and Pat Sheehan, who also starred in track.

But despite the experienced backfield, Clippers coach Ed Gaudiano had one reason to pull a freshman to the varsity rank, speed.

"It was unexpected," LeBlanc confessed while reflecting on the varsity call-up. "I was nervous at first."

One year later, LeBlanc is getting reacquainted with the view from the sideline. Newburyport's projected starting tailback sprained his ankle in a Week 2 loss to Wilmington and has yet to return to the field.

LeBlanc status is in question for Saturday's matchup with Pentucket in what will be a battle of 2-1 teams. As a starter for last year's 3-8 Clippers, LeBlanc showed flashes of talent through great timing and his knack for hitting the hole hard.

The experience inspired LeBlanc to come in with an aggressive approach this season.

"No matter what, you’ve got to let go of any nerves and play like you've been around for a couple of years,”LeBlanc said. LeBlanc also earned a starting position at second base for the baseball team last spring before playing on the gold-medal winning Northeast squad at last summer's Bay State Games. Now a seasoned veteran of varsity athletics, LeBlanc is expected to carry the rushing load for this year's football team.

“He knows how important he is to us," Gaudiano said. "But although he’s (only) a sophomore, he leads with intensity and learns fast.”

LeBlanc appeared to have the starting tailback position locked up in a Week 1 victory over Saugus Sept. 7 when his 10 carries for 45 yards led the team. But the sprained ankle came before he could get untracked in Week 2.

"I was really disappointed," LeBlanc said. "It was a horrible feeling."

With LeBlanc's status in question for this week's game (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.), Gaudiano is met with the prospect of preparing as if he will be without his jack-of-all-trades. “Without LeBlanc we need to fill two spots, not to mention he kicked for us,” Gaudiano said.

With the Sachems waiting in the wings in what will be a battle of 2-1 rivals, one would imagine Clippers fans are hoping for a speedy recovery.