HS football: Catholic Memorial tries to maintain familiar routines

The calendar reads “February” and there is snow on the ground — but John DiBiaso still holds the same high expectations for his talented Catholic Memorial squad.

On Monday afternoon Catholic Memorial joined dozens of programs across Massachusetts who kicked off the long-awaited start to the MIAA football season after seeing their usual fall slate postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defending Catholic Conference champions did not skip a beat despite the strange winter start to the season with lineman, defensive backs, wide receivers, and special teams working outside while the Knights quarterbacks and tailbacks went through individual socially distanced drills inside the school’s athletic indoor “bubble.” Players wore masks throughout the afternoon and inside the bubble the Knights adhered to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) guidelines for indoor football workouts.

“We’re going into this season with the same mindset as any other year,” said DiBiaso, who is in his third year as Knights head coach. “I want to make this as normal as possible for the kids. We’ll do everything the same we do in a normal season so they get the same experience they would have in the fall.”

A season ago, Catholic Memorial won the Catholic Conference title outright for the first time since 1987 before ultimately falling to league rival St. John’s Prep in the Division 1 Super Bowl for the second consecutive season. While the Knights — like much of the state — will play a conference-only schedule followed by a tournament that features the top four teams in the league, they are using last year’s state championship loss as motivation for this season.

“We still have a bad taste in our mouths from last year,” three-year starting linebacker Owen McGowan said. “We want to come out and prove a point that we are one of the best teams in the state.”

McGowan, who will continue his career at Boston College in the fall, is surrounded by plenty of talent. Zach Mitchell, Datrell Jones, Jaeden Skeete, Shiloh White, and Tommy Leonard highlight a talented skill group while Boubacar Traore, Quincy Plumer, and Colby Spencer hold down the line play. The Knights have a hole to fill at quarterback but sophomore JC Petrongolo and senior Conor Fitzgerald appear up for the challenge.

“It’s great to get out here with my friends one last time especially after a tough 2020 for everybody,” Leonard said. “We’re coming out here to win every game one at a time.”

Skeete, Traore, and Jones, all sophomores, verbally committed to Boston College over the summer.

The focus is the same for the Knights and the results on the scoreboard remain at the heart of the Knights’ purpose for taking the field, but DiBiaso and his players are well aware of how fortunate they are to simply have the opportunity to take the field.

“We’re just thankful to get this opportunity” McGowan said. “I’ve been at CM for six years between middle school and high school so it’s special to get this last chance with my best friends.”

The Knights are scheduled to open the season on the road March 13 at St. John’s Shrewsbury.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3uonani