By Cary Shuman
Anthony Fucillo is hitting his stride as the head football football coach at the Belmont High School just two years into his tenure.
the NEPSAC Bob Souza Bowl Game championship trophy following his team’s 38-7 victory over Worcester
Academy.
Fucillo’s program made its second consecutive post-season appearance this season and claimed its first victory with a 38-7 triumph over Worcester Academy in the Bob Souza Bowl, which is named after the longtime Saint Sebastian School head football coach.
After spotting Worcester a 7-0 lead, Belmont Hill, who is known as the Sextants, scored 38 unanswered points, making an emphatic statement to win the championship trophy on its home field.
Fucillo, whose father, Hall of Fame coach Tony Fucillo is the team’s wide receivers coach, had his team playing its best football of the season in November. Back the start of the 2024 campaign, Fucillo felt his team would be a bowl game contender and BHS lived up to those high expectations.
“I expected to be in the mix,” said Fucillo. “It was a tough year injury-wise and we lost to some good teams, but we got healthy at the end at the right time.”
Needing a win in the regular season finale to qualify for the bowl game, Belmont Hill routed Governor’s Academy, 35-8, to earn the invitation.
Fucillo, who is also the school’s assistant athletic director, will send ten of his seniors on to play college football, including Tommy Rupley and Sampson Onuoha, who will both be attending Division 1 Duke University. Six seniors will be playing football at NESCAC schools (Anthony himself is a graduate of prestigious Tufts University) while two graduating players will head to other Division 3 schools.
“This is probably the greatest class in Belmont Hill history in terms of college placement,” Fucillo stated proudly.
Fucillo lauded his father Tony’s contribution as the receivers coach. “The group had a great year,” said Anthony. “Three of his guys will be playing college football next year.”
Belmont Hill will return its three-year starting quarterback, Reis Little, and other highly rated players on offense. With the program’s success and Fucillo’s quickly established reputation as a superb head coach, one would expect Belmont Hill to be a much-sought after choice for students considering the prep school route.
Fucillo, who has relocated to Belmont (Mass.) with his wife, Dr. Stephanie Clegg, and their daughter, Madison Fucillo, attended three Winthrop High football games this season, notably the Vikings’ Thankgiving victory over Revere.
“They got banged up at the wrong time this season, but they battled all season and showed a lot of resilience,” said Fucillo. “Coach Jon Cadigan does a great job with that program.”
Anthony said he took a lot of pride in his sister, Jenny Fucillo Golic, being inducted into the Winthrop High School Athletic Hall of Fame in November. After becoming one of the state’s premier hurdlers and receiving the Wallace B. McLean Best Athlete Award at Winthrop High School, Jenny went on to excel academically and athletically at the University of Notre Dame (graduating magna cum laude).
“I have to say Jenny is probably the best athlete in the family,” offered Anthony. “She definitely held the torch and is probably one of the harder workers in our family. She worked so hard through high school to get to where she was. I’m glad that she was honored for her hard work and dedication to her sports.”