Published in the September 7, 2017 edition
COACHING TEAM. 2017 North Reading Football Coaches, from left to right: Chuck Campobasso, Eddie Blum, Head Coach Jeff Wall, Eric Archambault, Matt Dorothy and Jim Brown. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
BY ANDREW MOUNTER
NORTH READING — The North Reading football Hornets have achieved some milestones the past two seasons that no North Reading team since the Super Bowl appearances of 1979 and 1980 have accomplished, including going deep in the state playoffs and going all the way to the Division 2A North Final last season. Though they did not win the final to Marblehead, the Hornets did win the Thanksgiving finale against the rival Lynnfield Pioneers in dramatic fashion, 21-20.
The question going into the 2017 season is can they win at least eight games for the third straight season and defend their Cape Ann League Kinney Division title?
The challenge of the season will be that they will have to do it without the exiting seniors that included the all-time leading rusher in Hornet history, Matt McCarthy, who the offense ran through the last two seasons. McCarthy’s brother CJ, whom was another great rusher, only had the school rushing record for two seasons before Matt smashed it last season. For Head Coach Jeff Wall, they are not replaceable, but the underclassman can learn from their example.
“We have been fortunate to have several great running backs in the recent past. Carl Lipani and the McCarthy family had tremendous success for NRHS. They set several records but more importantly they were leaders in the classroom as well,” said Wall. “You don’t replace young men of that caliber. They impacted the program in their own ways. We have a few guys this year that will accept the challenge of carrying the load. We will attempt to have a balanced offense relying on numerous athletes.”
One of the few guys that could carry the load this season is returning starting quarterback, senior Kyle Bythrow, who helped with the rushing game last season.
The Green and Gold will have its offense out of the spread, installed last season by offensive coordinator, Ed Blum. Wall believes that they can be balanced on offense and not be one-dimensional.
“The success of our season will hinge on our ability to have a balanced offense,” said Wall. “We need to have a solid run game coupled with a consistent, short passing game. The athletes have embraced the spread and worked hard in the off season to improve their skills and techniques.”
The defense will be run by defensive coordinator, Jim Brown under the 3-4 formation. Key parts that are back are senior captains, Jackson DeAngelo and senior Ryan Edison.
Some of the tough opponents this season are Hamilton-Wenham, Newburyport, Triton, and Pentucket before the state playoffs begin; all teams the Hornets have won at least once in the last two years.
Maybe the biggest game of them all, no matter what the records going into the game, is the match-up that always happens on Turkey Day every year and that is of course with Lynnfield. This year will be played at Arthur Kenney Field.
It all starts tomorrow night on the road against the non-conference opponent, Brighton. Kickoff is at 6:30 pm.
