RallyNorth.net

Danvers hopes for steady improvement

Tuesday, September, 04 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

DANVERS | You've heard the expression: it's a marathon, not a sprint.

If you're a follower of the Danvers High football team, that's how you can best approach the 2007 season. That is, early season results may not be a true indication of how well the Falcons will coalesce from now until their final game on Thanksgiving morning.

John Sullivan | now in his second stint as the team's head coach after a one-year coaching hiatus | is taking that very same approach as his team prepares for its season opener tomorrow night at home vs. Salem High.

"You have to look at things as how you progress through the season," said Sullivan, who guided the Falcons to back-to-back Northeastern Conference South titles in his final two seasons (2004-05), including the school's first-ever playoff berth in 2004. "We really want to focus as a group on what we have to do to be successful this season, and go about trying to achieve those goals.

"I think a big part of our season will be how we react to adversity. We'll see some of it at different times, because we're young and inexperienced in certain areas. We'll have to grow up fast to compete in this league, especially with the schedule we have early on (five straight games against NEC Large foes).

"If we can hold it together and learn and grow along the way," he added, "we hope to make something happen in the end."

Sullivan, who takes over from Mike Stellato, is familiar with this year's senior class of 14 players, almost all of whom he had as sophomores in 2005. They're familiar with his style of coaching and have responded well to that.

The flip side of that, of course, is that there are 11 juniors and a very large sophomore class (27 in all, several of whom will start on the varsity) who are just learning Sullivan's system. Couple that with the fact that there are some new assistant coaches and a new offensive system for all of the Falcons to learn, and you understand that the learning process will take time.

Coming off of a 3-7 season, the Falcons are probably most inexperienced in the trenches on both sides of the ball. "You'll only go as far as your line will take you," said Sullivan, "so we need to find people to step up and fill those holes."

Captain Kevin Keogh, a 6-foot, 230-pounder, is a given to do that; he returns as the team's center. Another senior captain, Pat Hennessey (6-foot, 185 lbs.), has played with intensity the entire preseason. Bryan Blanchette, a senior who saw time at tight end last year, has displayed a great attitude as well.

Junior John Gikas, a 6-foot, 225-pound lineman who spent his first two years of high school at St. John's Prep, will provide immediate help on both sides of the ball. Senior tackle Shean Hurley (5-11, 225) will also be part of the starting unit.

Sophomore Greg Ladd, who started for the Falcons' varsity baseball team last year as a freshman, will be the starting quarterback. "He's showing good leadership qualities for a young kid, and the other players are responding to him," said Sullivan.

Junior halfback Colin Cooper and senior captain and fullback Chris Martin, along with senior Mike Pursley, will carry the ball out of the backfield. A pleasant surprise in camp, Matt Pasquariello, is the team's top wideout.

On defense, Martin will call the plays from his linebacker spot, flanked by Pursley, Keogh and Blanchette. Sophomore Kell Felite (6-3, 195) has looked strong at defensive end and will play alongside Hennessey, with Gikas and Hurley as the tackles. Seniors T.J. Dever and Manuel Santiago join Pasquariello to form the secondary.

Last year's record: 3-7

Head coach: John Sullivan (8th year overall, 1st year back; 40-32)

Captains: Chris Martin, Kevin Keogh and Pat Hennessey

Style of offense: Multiple

Style of defense: 4-4

Last winning season: 2005 (7-3)

Last league title: 2005 (NEC South champions)

Did you know?: Under head coach John Sullivan, Danvers has not lost a home game since Nov. 15, 2002. When Sullivan took a one-year hiatus from coaching last season, the Falcons went 2-4 at Deering Stadium.