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Shea boasts talented football team |
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Friday, 21 August 2009 |
By ERIC BENEVIDES
Sports writer
PAWTUCKET --- In his 13 years as Shea High’s head football coach, Dino Campopiano has experienced just three losing campaigns, and while his first two (1997 and 2004) saw Campopiano mentor young, inexperienced teams, last season saw a lot of heartbreak and disappointment.
“We averaged a dozen penalties and four or five turnovers a game,” added Campopiano, whose crew went 2-5 in Division II-B play, “and we were still able to beat Toll Gate and Coventry and only lose to Pilgrim and Lincoln by a point. We definitely had the talent to do well, but we just had a bad year.”
To add to the woes, Campopiano was forced to bench his quarterback in late October before a game with postseason implications against Cumberland High, and he also lost the services of one of his top two-way standouts early in the season due to personal reasons.
But that was then and this is now, and Campopiano and his team has turned the page on last season and are looking ahead to what could be a successful season that lands them back in the playoffs.
“I think we have the potential to do well,” noted Campopiano. “Offensively, we have a lot of guys back. We have a slew of running backs and receivers, which is the same old story, a few guys battling for the quarterback position, and six or seven guys on the line, so that’s good for us.
“I think defensively, we should be strong. Out of our 11 starters last season, eight are returning and a few others saw a lot of playing time last year.”
The Raiders are going to need to be strong this year because the competition in the division promises to be very tough.
“The division should be very strong,” added Campopiano. “I know Cranston East has 22 seniors coming back, Cumberland has its new coach and almost everyone back, and Lincoln’s going to be very good because they have their quarterback and some other guys back. It’s going to be interesting.”
The Raiders’ preseason camp has also been quite interesting, especially with its three-way duel for the starting quarterback job among last year’s backup, senior Josh Burgo, and two sophomores, Drew Wertz and Adilson DaSilva, a transfer student from Cumberland.
“Josh may have a little bit of an edge because he knows the system and he’s been around, but the other two sophomores are also doing really well,” said Campopiano. “We’ll see what happens there.”
Campopiano has also been pleased in the early going with the efforts of his linemen, which features a four-year starter in two-way standout Max Perry.
“Over the years, our line has been our weakest point -- not because the kids aren’t good, but just that they’re not big and sometimes overmatched,” said Campopiano. “But they worked hard over the summer, and I think they’ll do a nice job and just get better and better.”
Speed and Shea have gone hand-in-hand over the past several seasons, and this season’s squad should be no different, especially with seniors Malcolm Moniz, Dean Wertz, and Manny Baptista back in the fold.
“We should be fine there again,” added Campopiano. “We have those guys and a few others who are showing some promise, and Alex Lloyd came over halfway through the school year from Hope and he’s doing a good job.”
Pawtucket fans will be able to see the Raiders in action next Friday at Max Read Field when Shea entertains Central Falls High in the 8 p.m. nightcap of an Injury Fund doubleheader. Tolman High will face Cumberland in the 7 p.m. opener.
After that exhibition with the Warriors, the Raiders will be spending a lot of time on the road, for they will be boarding their bus for five of their first six games of the season, including their season opener on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. against traditional non-league opponent La Salle Academy.
The Raiders will also head to Lincoln High the following Friday at 7 p.m. to take on the Lions in the first-ever night game on Lincoln’s campus, and the Raiders’ home opener will be on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. against Toll Gate High.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )
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Best wishes to the Tigers tonight in the SuperBowl! - Celeste Swaim-Black
Good Luck to the Woodlawn basketball teams in their CYO
games this weekend!! - From all the coach's I wish the best to the Warriors on Saturday game keep up the
great work team. George Carle auntie Ne-Ne is proud Happy hoildays from The Carle &
Pettaway Family........
Good Luck Girls Basketball Tolman Tigers lets kick some
courts... YEA JENNA !!!!!Keep it going!! - Carols Ayala go sentinells THE CHAMPIONS ON ICE DIVISON 2 VINNIE (TEDDY
BEAR) TUDINO.LOVE POPA - Anthony Paolino
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