Archbishop Williams football hopes veteran quarterback/tight end connection pays dividends
BRAINTREE − The Archbishop Williams High football team would like to break with one lingering tradition.
The Bishops have won exactly five games each of the past four seasons. In the abbreviated, rescheduled Fall II campaign in the spring of 2021, that was good enough for a winning record (5-2). But in the regular fall seasons of 2019, 2021 and 2022, Archies came up just short, finishing 5-6 each time.
The Bishops were very good in close games a year ago, going 4-1 in one-score contests, including victories vs. Norwell (6-0 in double-overtime in Week 2) and Bishop Stang (15-14 in Week 7). They'll have to be equally adept in crunch time this season if they want to get over the hump, especially since they are bumping up from Division 6 to Div. 5.
"I think we're right on the cusp," said senior quarterback Joe Schwartz. "Working harder, getting better in practices (will help). And teaching the (younger) guys as much as we can. Hopefully we can turn it around and make it into a winning season."
"It's going to take a whole team effort," said senior tight end/linebacker Tommy McDonagh. "We need to come together as a team. Every play matters. We have to fight all four quarters and not just three or two. We have to play the whole game together."
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Schwartz and McDonagh loom large in the Bishops' 2023 season.
Schwartz, a 5-10, 155-pounder from Braintree, is entering his second full year as a starter. He was pressed into service midway through his sophomore year when Will LeClair got hurt.
"My first start, I think I knew five minutes before the game started," Schwartz said. "I was prepared, but I was definitely caught off guard because I wasn't expecting it. (In hindsight) it was good to be thrown in because I learned a lot from that year and I took it into my junior year. It made me more experienced."
Schwartz said he "can't wait" to get back under center this season, adding that he feels a "whole lot (more) comfortable" in the offense.
McDonagh figures to be Schwartz' favorite target. The 6-4, 190-pounder from Braintree says "Joe's the guy," when it comes to his quarterback. McDonagh will be central to everything the Bishops do on offense with his route-running and his blocking.
"It's the great thing (about the position) − you can block and you can go out for a pass" depending on the play call, he said. "At tight end you're the guy who's looked to to make the big plays."
The no-huddle
The Bishops need to replace graduated star running back Marcus Thurston, an All-Scholastic who rushed for 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago despite missing half the season with a broken wrist. He had 27 carries for 302 yards and four scores in a Thanksgiving win over Cardinal Spellman.
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Williams will divvy up its carries this year between Braintree seniors Shane Wright (6-foot, 210) and Luke Charlton (5-8, 155). The offensive line has experience with senior guards Stive Augustin (Milton) and Jack Joyce (Marshfield), senior center Nate Murray (Weymouth) and junior left tackle Kevin Esdale (Quincy).
The O-line also will serve as the D-line. Wright, Charlton and McDonagh will patrol at linebacker, and senior Jack Finn and junior Nick Schwartz (Joe's brother) will be keys in the secondary.
2022 recap
The Bishops were slow out of the gates offensively, scoring just 13 points total during a 1-3 start. They hit their stride after that. Williams lost to eventual Div. 6 state champ St. Mary's (Lynn) in the first round of the playoffs but ended with back-to-back wins, including by a 28-20 score against Spellman on Thanksgiving.
Three names to know
Joe Schwartz, QB: The senior will direct what the Bishops hope will be a balanced offense.
Tommy McDonagh, TE/ILB: Schwartz on having a 6-4 target: "If I ever need to throw it up there (on a 50-50 ball) it's great to have that height and size advantage."
Stive Augustin, OL/DL: Senior will be one of the keys in the trenches.
They said it
Coach Matt Reggiannini on having continuity at quarterback: "That's a hard position to play because you have the weight of the team on your shoulders. I think (Joe Schwartz) definitely is a kid who handles pressure well. He's very coachable. Tremendous work ethic. It's reassuring to have him."
QB Joe Schwartz on starting the season with three straight home games: "Everyone's going to come and support us, hopefully. We get to play in front of everyone for our first three games, so it kind of gets us rolling."
Reggiannini on sharing the workload at running back: "It's going to be a little bit more running back by committee this year versus giving one kid the ball 30 times. I would say Shane (Wright) is a little more of a power back, and Luke (Charlton) is a little more of a scatback or speed back. They've both gotten time the last two years but it hasn't been consistent because of injury. If they both stay healthy this year I think they'll be two good backs."
Archbishop Williams football 2023 schedule
Friday, Sept. 8 − vs. Quincy, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 14 − vs. Oliver Ames, 7
Friday, Sept. 22 − vs. Arlington Catholic, 6
Saturday, Sept. 30 − at Bishop Feehan, 1
Friday, Oct. 6 − vs. Cathedral, 6
Friday, Oct. 13 − at Bishop Fenwick, 7
Friday, Oct. 20 − vs. Bishop Stang, 6
Thursday, Oct. 26 − at St. Mary's (Lynn), 6
Wednesday, Nov. 22 − at Cardinal Spellman, 6
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Archbishop Williams football preview: Bishops eye winning season
