DANVERS — This is the drawback to playing in a league with only five teams: you end up scouring the landscape for teams to fill your schedule.
And sometimes, those teams are very, very good.
St. John’s Prep football coach Brian St. Pierre isn’t complaining. He believes his kids are up for it, but that’s his challenge going into the season. His players are kids, starting with quarterback Chris Vargas and going up and down the line.
Vargas started as a freshman on last year’s 10-2 team, and several schools have already shown interest.
“He’s just super talented,” St. Pierre said.
But the coach cautions that even if he is an exceptional talent, he’s also a sophomore – as are many of his front-line players.
“We’re a work in progress,” he said. “We have so many new faces.”
As usual, the Eagles have one of the state’s most challenging schedules.
“Our athletic director (Jameson Pelkey) did us no favors,” St. Pierre joked.
Along with the usual Catholic Conference powers like Xaverian, BC High, Malden Catholic, and Catholic Memorial, the Eagles will face Springfield Central, La Salle Academy of Providence, Marshfield, St. John’s of Shrewsbury, and Central Catholic.
Right off the bat comes Springfield Central Friday at Glatz Field in Danvers (6 p.m.).
“They look like the Miami Hurricanes,” St. Pierre said. “They’re explosive, athletic, and big. They look like one of the top two or three teams in the state.”
It isn’t as if St. Pierre has no one to help out Vargas – but they’re just mainly young. The two-headed running back tandem looks strong.
Jordan Toribio and Maxwell Parent (formerly St. Mary’s – Lynn) are both juniors and have similar skill sets. Toribio is shifty and elusive, the coach says, while Parent is a “stockier version of Jordan.”
One of the Eagles’ receivers is co-captain Pierson Scala, who has already committed to Columbia, while the other is sophomore Riley Selvais, who saw some action last year.
Their only returner on the offensive line is senior co-captain Joe Irzuk, who will go to Bates next year.
On defense, the line will be virtually brand new, except for Alex Turrisi, a 6-1, 215-pound edge rusher. Also returning are cornerback Dayvian Sullivan and senior safety Aaron Radke, a co-captain who will attend Pennsylvania.
So far, St. Pierre likes what he sees out of Bo Minogue, a 5-11, 190-pound senior linebacker; and Connor Quigley, also a linebacker. Will Seaha, 6-1, 190, will double at offensive guard and defensive tackle.
“We have to replace 18 guys who played last year,” St. Pierre said. “We’re looking at these young guys, and this is their time to step up.”
