From the press box
Opening Night
By:Â Jim Lederman
The football season for the 2018 Winthrop Vikings begins on Friday night (7 p.m.) at Miller Field.
The last opening game in September for the Vikings was a thrilling Saturday victory over Saugus. The Vikings were undefeated (9-0) and captured the NEC title in 2014.
The Vikings played three scrimmages – Beverly, East Boston and Malden. Coach Jon Cadigan is pleased with the improvement in the pre-season.
The Vikings open with senior Jonathan Applebee and sophomore Bobby Hubert competing for the starting quarterback position.
Co-captain Feedle Small, Bobby Hubert, Brian Chalmers, Sophomore Austin Daigneault and Matt Correale, give the Vikings strength and speed in the backfield.
Co-captain Mike McCone anchors the offensive line at center. The guards are junior Rin Gjinouci and junior Victor D’Agama.
Junior Patrick Teixeira and co-captain Chris Castro give the Vikings size and experience at tackle.
The tight ends are senior Brett Sheehan and sophomore Tyler Rockefeller; Senior Andrew Love is the split end – wide receiver. Sophomore Bryan Conceicao returns at linebacker. He was one of the five freshmen who started on Thanksgiving.
Sheehan, Castro, Rockefeller, RJ Dalton and Small will be the keys to a strong defense.
Skimming the Sidelines
The Revere Patriots finished the 2017 season with a (17-14) victory over the Vikings on Thanksgiving.
The Patriots have 30 freshmen on the 2018 frosh team. The varsity has 46 boys. The Patriots finished 2017 with a (3-8) record.
Revere is in Division 4 North; they travel to Gloucester on Friday night to battle the Fishermen. They play Lynn Classical, Marblehead and Peabody on their schedule.
The Vikings are in Division 6 North. Salem is in Division 6 North. The Witches open at home with Austin Prep Friday night.
Saugus is in Division 5 North. The Sachems travel to Landry Stadium in Amesbury on Friday night.
Swampscott is in Division 5 North. The ‘Big Blue†plays Greater Lawrence on Saturday at noon at Blocksidge Field.
Medford is the next home game for the Vikings. The Medford Squad is in Division 2 North. Medford plays Lynn Classical Friday night at Manning Field in Lynn at 5 p.m. The first game for new St. Mary’s of Lynn Coach Sean Driscoll is on Friday night at Manning with Millis High School. The Lynnfield Pioneers visit Miller Field on Sept. 28. Lynnfield is in Division 5 North; they open on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium in Newburyport.
The Vikings have all Friday night games. The Vikings travel to Stackpole Field in Saugus on Oct. 12 (Saturday) for a 1 p.m. game.
Swampscott, Beverly and Saugus are the only three stadiums without lights!
The Big Blue travel to Triton on Oct. 14 to play the Triton Vikings. The next Friday night, Swampscott will play the Winthrop Vikings at Miller Field.
I will announce then new 8 team Northeast Conference Division. The Vikings will compete in 2019.
Revere quarterback sophomore Calvin Boudreau has grown four inches. Calvin was a standout on Thanksgiving as a freshmen.
Badr Haou (How) is back after kicking a 25-yard field goal to defeat the Vikings on the holiday.
Halfback Zach Furlong, who scored two touchdowns on the holiday, returns to lead the Patriots offense.
Go Vikings!
Let the Games Begin!
Extra Points
The Pentucket Sachems are coached by Veteran Steve Hayden. The Sachems and Vikings have played twice when the NEC and Cape Ann leagues were combined in 2011 and 2012.
The Vikings defeated Pentucket in 2011 on a Saturday afternoon (Pentucket does not have lights). Pentucket defeated Winthrop at Miller Field in 2012. The Sachems finished (3-7) in 2017.
This game will be the last game the Vikings will play two Cape Ann League teams. Lynnfield and Pentucket visit Miller Field in 2018.
Pentucket Regional is in West Newbury, Groveland and Merrimack are the three towns in the district.
Congrats to the new athletic trainer for the Winthrop athletic teams, Elizabeth Herron is a Boston University graduate.
Are you ready for some football?
Let’s Go Vikings!
Let the Games Begin!