Bourne High School football looks to start season off on the right foot in 2023
When it comes to sports, there is a popular saying: it’s not about how you start, but how you finish. The Bourne High School football team knows that more than anybody.
Over the last two seasons, the Canalmen finished their last three games of each season for a combined record of 5-1. On the flip side, they started the first three games of each season for a combined 1-5.
Despite both seasons ending on a high note, they finished last season 5-6, and 3-8 the season before that.
Bourne head coach John McIntyre said that the goal this year is to get off to a better start.
“I think having consistency on the offense and defense is going to help us,” McIntyre said.
The Canalmen are looking to get back into the postseason for the first time since 2018.
One thing that may help them get there is something that Coach McIntyre started two seasons ago, the double wing offense.
This is an offensive formation that features two tight ends, two wingbacks, and a fullback with an emphasis on running plays and strong blocking.
“Now, the kids know what they’re doing. We are a lot ahead of where we were last year as far as knowledge of how the games goes,” McIntyre said.
One of those linemen that will make that double wing offense click is senior Aiden Crowley. He said that they have a lot of “young bloods” on the team with potential. Crowley believes the team will be better with more upperclassmen training up the younger players.
Caden Doherty is a sophomore on the offensive and defensive line, and feels that the offensive line has been getting strong over the past few years and can build off of that.
“Our run game is going to be great this year,” Doherty said. “We have good chemistry because we are a small team and we all know each other. If we work together, we’re going to have a good season.”
That double wing offense had the Canalmen average 23 ppg last season. Things started to click at the end of the season as they won their last three games and averaged 36 ppg over that span, which included 50 points in their last game of the season.
“Those last couple of teams underestimated us,” Crowley said. “They thought we weren’t worth playing, but we showed them what’s up.”
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Senior tight end Cooper Gobeil said that the chemistry started to click and that they started to understand the double wing offense and run it together as a team.
Coach McIntyre said they have a young line of mostly freshmen and sophomores, and have to have good line play and run the ball to be successful.
The offense will take a hit as running back Craig Hill graduated and took his 650 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns from last season with him.
When one player leaves, that means another has to step up, and that could be starting quarterback Ty Kelley. Coach McIntyre said although they are a run-based offense, they have been working on the passing game.
Kelley thinks if the Canalmen work hard, stay conditioned and aren't afraid of the ball, they will have a good year of football. He also knows they have to limit mistakes during the game.
“Penalties killed us last year in every single game,” Kelley said. “If we can stay disciplined, we will do much better than last year.”
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Although the offense is what puts points on the scoreboard, the defense is what keeps points off it. Coach McIntyre said that they have to play better defense this season. They gave up just under 29 ppg last year.
“We have to be a better tackling team, and get off to a better start,” McIntyre said.
One of those leaders on defense will be junior linebacker Isaiah Roderick, who said that this team has to have determination and a grit to play.
“I feel at the end of the (last) season, people started building a passion for football and grinding, and learned what it meant when you put in hard work,” Roderick said.
The Canalmen will kick the season off against an Upper Cape team they beat 29-22 on opening night last year.
Head coach: John McIntyre
Last season record: 5-6
Bourne Canalmen 2023 football schedule
Week 1: Saturday, Sept. 9 at Upper Cape, 12 p.m.
Week 2: Friday, Sept. 15 vs South Shore Voke, 6:30 p.m.
Week 3: Friday, Sept. 22 vs Cape Tech, 6:30 p.m.
Week 4: Friday, Sept. 29 vs Fairhaevn, 6:30 p.m.
Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 5 at Monomoy, 6 p.m.
Week 6: Friday, Oct. 13 vs Seekonk, 6:30 p.m.
Week 7: Friday, Oct. 20 vs Case, 6:30 p.m.
Week 8: Friday, Oct. 27 at Atlantic Charter, 6:30 p.m.
Key matchups
The Canalmen haven’t had a win over Case since 2014, and have lost to Seekonk seven straight times. Bourne will look to end one of these streaks as they play these teams back-to-back in weeks six and seven.
Top returning players
Ty Kelley, QB/S, senior
Isaiah Roderick, LB, junior
Cooper Gobeil, TE, senior
Aiden Crowley, OL, senior
Caden Doherty, OL/DL, sophomore
Contact Courtney Jacobs at cjacobs@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CJ_Journalist.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne football: Schedule, key games, top players for 2023 season
