If you’re going to score your first varsity touchdown, you might as well make it a spectacular, momentum-reclaiming one.
And that’s how Winthrop High sophomore Johnny Ferrara will remember his 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Vikings’ 28-18 victory over Essex Tech last Friday night in the 2026 season opener.
“I feel great,” said Ferrara in a post-game interview. “I got a good bounce, I just saw saw a big opening and ran full speed as fast I could straight. I had a lot of good blocks.”
Head coach Jon Cadigan credited sophomore Michael Barron for his contribution to the Ferrara TD. “His job is to come across the field and kick out their No. 3 guy. He did an excellent job, and it timed out perfectly.”
Farrell named Viking
defensive player
of the game
Dom Farrell was the Vikings’ Black Shirt Defensive Player of the Year award recipient.
Farrell had five tackles, an interception, an onside kick recovery, and one PBU (pass breakup). On offense, Farrell had six carries for 68 yards and a touchdown, along with one reception for 22 yards.
It is safe to say that Dom Farrell had a marvelous evening of football in all three phases of the game.
Michael D’Ambrosio had 10 tackles to go along with two receptions for 25 yards.
“You don’t necessarily want your safety having as many tackles as Michael did, but he’s a great player to have on the back end of your defense to clean things up,” said Coach Cadigan.
Michael Ferrara was the second-leading tackler with eight.
Desmond Cassidy made seven tackles. He had 12 rushes for 51 yards and one touchdown.
Jeremy Pena set the defensive tone with a sack in the first quarter to pin the Hawks deep in their own territory. Dom Spinale also recorded a sack in addition to making a key stop on fourth down.
Senior defensive tackle Michael Harrison contributed a big stop on a two-point conversion, splitting a double team and stopping the Tech running back in the backfield.
Charlie Ferrara
shines at QB
It was nice start to the season for starting quarterback Charlie Ferrara who was 4-of-7 for 54 yards. Ferrara fooled the Essex Tech defense on a fourth-down-and three play in Winthrop territory for a 7-yard keeper around right end for a first down.
Starting center Evan DeMayo “played his best game to-date, and I can only see him getting better,” said Cadigan.
Guards Riley Moccio and Eddie Leal did an effective job leading the blocking on the Vikings’ trademark Jet Sweeps.
Next up is Northeast Regional
The Winthrop defense will be tested by the visiting Golden Knights of Northeast Regional [Friday at 6:30 at Miller Field]. Northeast defeated Bishop Fenwick, 64-45, in the highest-scoring game of the week.