WHS Football Star Robert Noonan Injured; Will Likely Miss MIAA State Playoffs

The Winthrop High Vikings will be without the services of their star quarterback Robert Noonan for their first-round playoff game against Cardinal Spellman Friday night at Miller Field.

Noonan sustained a serious knee injury during a 20-yard keeper in the second quarter of the Vikings’ 35-18 victory over Saugus on Senior Night at Miller Field.

Winthrop head coach Jon Cadigan spoke on Tuesday after receiving an update on Noonan’s condition.

“We got some pretty unfortunate news today,” said Cadigan. “It looks like Robert tore his ACL, but we don’t know the severity, whether it’s a full tear or a partial tear.”

Cadigan added, “Number 1, my heart actually breaks for that kid. He’s done everything you asked of a football player and a student-athlete at Winthrop High School. And Number 2, and this is what we’re focusing on now is – if there is one kid in our program that will get out there and try and play with this, Robert’s the guy. I know he’s going to do everything he can not to have that Saugus game be his last game.”

A senior captain, Noonan was having an All-Star-caliber season for the Vikings at quarterback and middle linebacker. Noonan’s emergence as a passing and running quarterback this season has kept opposing defenses from focusing on the Winthrop backfield. Noonan’s 38-yard TD run in a 22-13 win over Danvers, in which he displayed his tenacity by diving at the pylon and into the end zone, was one of the most exciting plays of the regular season.

Running backs Welvis Acosta, Nick Cappuccio, Demetri Koutsouflakis, and George Galuris have benefited from Noonan’s exceptional leadership of the offense and his status as a true dual threat. In fact, Acosta could reach the 1,000-yard rushing milestone in the playoffs.

“Robert is like having another coach on the field and that comes with his experience as a two-year starter,” lauded Cadigan.

Cadigan has named sophomore Matthew Noonan, Robert’s younger brother, as the starting quarterback for the Vikings’ first-round playoff game versus Spellman Friday night.