Senior QB Finn Carley ready to take the reins of Duxbury High football juggernaut
DUXBURY – School isn't back in session just yet, but let's have a history quiz anyway.
Who remembers Will Prouty?
Prouty was a talented Duxbury High wide receiver who had to make an on-the-fly conversion to quarterback in the 2019 preseason when projected starter Matt Festa suffered a season-ending injury. Prouty did quite well for the Green Dragons. An All-Scholastic at receiver and cornerback as a junior, he seamlessly moved behind center as a senior, throwing for 15 touchdowns and running for 13 more while leading Duxbury to a Division 3 state final.
We bring up Prouty's name because Festa finally has graduated after a brilliant three-year run in which he generated 99 TDs over his final two seasons and led the Dragons to back-to-back state finals, including last year's 12-0 campaign.
Festa, now playing collegiately at FCS New Hampshire, could run (30 of those 99 TDs were on the ground), but his arm was so strong that Duxbury asked him to pass first and use his legs only when necessary.
His successor, senior Finn Carley, figures to be more of a dual-threat guy. So if you remember what Duxbury's offense looked like under Prouty, that's what the Dragons are aiming for with Carley at the controls.
"That sounds about right," senior running back Alex Barlow said when Prouty's name was brought up.
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"I would say Will Prouty would be a good comparison (for Carley) in terms of running the football," third-year coach Matt Landolfi agreed. "(Carley) knows the game plan is going to be completely different with him at quarterback − a lot of sprint-outs, a lot of bootleg action, a lot of run reads for him. It's going to be a different type of offense, which is totally fine. We've done that in the past."
"We do have a different style of play; I'll probably be running it more than he did," Carley said in comparing himself to Festa. "It definitely plays to my strengths. Playing quarterback growing up and in freshman year (before converting to defense) I was always more of a runner than a thrower. I think a run-heavy offense with our line would be advantageous for us in the (first few) weeks (of the season)."
Carley (6-2, 180 pounds) was a running back on offense and a safety/outside linebacker last season. Even though he didn't attempt a pass the last two years he says he's always worked on keeping his arm loose, just in case.
"It's always been something I've loved to do," he said of throwing. "It wasn't too hard to get back into the swing of it."
More: Find all of our high school football coverage to get you ready for 2023 season right here
The no-huddle
The Dragons have a new QB, but there's a lot of continuity elsewhere, including at running back, where Barlow (6-foot, 220 pounds) returns after a breakout junior season. Seniors Zach Falls (6-4, 185) and Adam Barr (5-6, 170) are the top receivers, while the offensive line boasts three returning senior starters: left tackle Brent Watts, right tackle Spencer Moore and right guard Jack Johnson.
Almost the entire defense returns, led by a deep linebacking corps of Barlow, senior Thomas Sheehan and juniors Jack Rees and Joe Barberia. Cornerbacks Trevor Jones (junior) and Sam Wien (senior) are back, and senior Ryder Thomas leads the D-line.
2022 recap
Duxbury, the No. 1 seed in Division 4, claimed its first state crown since 2016 by blasting No. 2 Grafton, 42-7, in the title game at Gillette Stadium. The Dragons went 12-0, winning every game by at least 13 points and outscoring opponents 498-186 overall.
Duxbury also claimed a 14th straight Patriot League Keenan Division championship and won its second straight Thanksgiving matchup with Marshfield.
Three names to know
No. 17, Finn Carley, QB/S: Senior first-year starter figures to run more than his predecessor, Matt Festa. Right now he's slated for two-way action, doubling as a safety.
No. 1, Alex Barlow, RB/OLB: Senior returns as the No. 1 running back after rushing for 939 yards and 13 TDs last season. Had 13 carries for 125 yards in the Super Bowl. Also will anchor an experienced defense.
No. 13, Zach Falls, WR: His debut season of 2022 was cut short by a broken wrist, but he has intriguing potential and says he's eying a "revenge season," adding, "I feel like I have something to prove."
They said it
Barlow, on Duxbury setting the bar high each year: "Always. We love it. We love trying to live up to expectations, even blow them out of the water. Yeah, we're excited."
Falls, on his contested-catch prowess at 6-foot-4: "I love to high-point the ball. I think that's something that I really bring to the table. If I have that vert, I'm going to go up and bring (the ball) down for a touchdown."
Johnson, on returning three starters at offensive line: "We've all been around the team since sophomore year. We've all had a chance to get some varsity reps. I think we're all going to come out firing on all cylinders from the offensive line."
Duxbury High 2023 football schedule
Thursday, Sept. 7 – vs. Hanover, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 14 – at Mansfield, 7
Friday, Sept. 22 – vs. Franklin, 7
Friday, Sept. 29 – Off week
Friday, Oct. 6 – vs. Plymouth North, 7
Friday, Oct. 13 – at Silver Lake, 7
Friday, Oct. 20 – vs. Whitman-Hanson, 7
Friday, Oct. 27 – at Hingham, 7
Thursday, Nov. 23 – vs. Marshfield, 10 a.m.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Duxbury High football 2023 season preview: Carley gets his shot as QB
