Leominster loves a challenge

Blue Devils open with No. 1 Everett

By Chris Forsberg, Globe Correspondent, 9/12/2003

LEOMINSTER -- Leominster may be "King of the Bowls" with its state best 10 Super Bowl victories, but its quest for No. 11 is loaded with challenges.

In addition to a rigorous Central Mass. Division 1 schedule, the Blue Devils will travel to play Everett, Brockton, and BC High in nonleague contests. If you're scoring at home, that's three top 10 Eastern Mass. schools in addition to league matchups with five of the top 10 Central Mass. schools.

"The way we looked at it, we wanted to play the best competition possible," said coach John Dubzinski. "We gained a lot of confidence by hanging with Everett last year. We may have lost, but it made us a better team when we got to league play."

Making the task of repeating all that more difficult was the graduation of nine starters -- six on defense. Leominster has holes to fill and there's not much time as the team opens the 2003 campaign tonight against Everett, which debuts today as No. 1 in the Globe's preseason Top 20. Everett beat Leominster, 14-13, last September.

While it's easy to focus on all the things going against the Blue Devils, there are bright spots. The starting backfield will consist of four-year starter Anthony Bizzotto and Adam Cordio, who shined with a long touchdown run in Leominster's Super Bowl victory over Minnechaug. Seniors John Ciccone and Ryan Bailey anchor a talented offensive line. At quarterback, Dubzinski is chosing between Ny Saengkheune, Chris Swart, and Derek Craig.

The defense has holes, but Dubzinski is hoping to strengthen the unit by moving Bizzotto and Ciccone to linebacker.

"Our biggest concern was defense, but I've been pleased with what I've seen in the preseason," said Dubzinski. "It's going to be a battle, but I think we'll be in the mix this year."

Leominster's biggest roadblock this season should be Fitchburg. The Red Raiders were Super Bowl bound last season if not for a loss to St. Peter-Marian. Junior running back William Earley rushed for more than 1,600 yards last season and scored 134 points.

Division 1A is wide open. Westboro won the league last season, but, like the rest of the conference, was hit hard by graduation. Defense should be its strength with senior nose tackles Jose Cortez and Bill McGill leading the charge. Keep an eye on Gardner, which looks to rebound from a dismal 2002 behind backfield tandem Kevin Flanagan and Jordan Rankine.

Uxbridge has some unfinished business with Division 2 champion Northbridge. The Spartans are led by senior running back Chris Dwight, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. The team also boasts senior tight end Steve Saulen, who scored 12 touchdowns a year ago. Northbridge brings back a mere three starters and will have to find a replacement for quarterback Dan Brown in a quest for its third straight league title. Brown finished his career with 72 TD passes, good enough for fifth on the all-time list.

Division 2A champion Auburn came back to the pack a little bit this year after graduation losses. The Rockets hope Tim Deso can shoulder the load at running back. Millbury brings back 11 starters, including the majority of its skill positions in quarterback Nick Hebert, running back Eric Conlon, and wide receiver Paul Tetzel. Leicester should be in the mix behind quarterback Mason Poce.

Let last year's four-way tie atop Division 3 atest to how competitive the league is. Clinton earned the Super Bowl berth but will be inexperienced this season with only four starters back. Narragansett appears to have the inside track with 18 starters back, including quarterback Ryan Lafalam and running back Ryan Gagnon.

Worcester schools appear to have the beat in Division 3A again this year as North and Voke are early front-runners. North was 12-0 last season and returns a solid backfield duo in Alex Orton and Athony Ustinovich. Voke brings back 13 starters. . . .

In EMass, opening weekend has a number of top games on tap. No. 2 Brockton goes without Armond Colombo tonight against No. 10 BC High. Colombo, who had surgery Wednesday to repair a heart valve, is still hospitalized. His son, Peter, will lead the Boxers into Dorchester . . . No. 4 Acton-Boxboro puts its 24-game win streak on the line against host and No. 12-ranked Marshfield tomorrow . . . Two Westwood schools will hit the road with field issues. Xaverian and Westwood were supposed to play a doubleheader tomorrow at Xaverian but the Hawks' new field isn't ready. Therefore, Xaverian will play Fitchburg at Catholic Memorial while Westwood will play at Wayland at 7. Both games are tomorrow.