South Shore Tech football ready to defend vocational school crown
HANOVER – The South Shore Tech football team took the practice field Wednesday just two days before opening the season against Hull, the 2022 Division 8 reigning champs.
Like the Pirates, the Vikings are defending champs too. They won the Small School Vocational Championship over Nashoba Valley Tech, 16-2, to cap the 2022 season.
After graduating nine seniors, there’s a new group of 12 seniors on this year's roster. One of those names might ring a bell.
“I had 1,100 (yards) on my feet, 13 touchdowns, and I threw one for a touchdown,” said senior Todd Egan recapping his stats last year.
That one passing touchdown must have impressed head coach Matt Doyle, as Egan will move from running back to quarterback this fall. Egan's helmet is filled with stickers, each representing a touchdown or interception.
The goal for the Egan-led Vikings is familiar.
“Small school state vocational (champs),” said Egan. “Win that, make state playoffs – that’s always a goal – and have a winning record. Beat some good teams, because we scheduled some teams that are in a higher division than us. Just competing.”
The Vikings finished 9-4 last season, but that's in the past now.
“Biggest thing I preach is that we’re a whole new team,” said Doyle. “Last year's team is over. So it’s a whole new team, whole new makeover, whole new start.”
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Several upperclassmen (seniors Cliff Munroe, Lucas Salvucci and Tyler Kline to name a few) will surround Eagan as receiving options. Doyle expressed that he’s confident in the skill position players he has.
South Shore Tech has some work to do in the trenches. Graduations hit the Vikings hard there, but Munroe, a senior captain, has been pleasantly surprised by the new group of linemen.
“The linemen are better than I expected,” said Munroe. “We lost basically our entire offensive and defensive linemen. These kids that are coming are really good.”
The Vikings missed winning a league title last fall. With a three-sport athlete like Egan (basketball and lacrosse) taking snaps, he knows that sometimes it’s the mindset going into games.
“Mental toughness,” said Eagan on what he’s learned from last year. “You have to want it more than every other team. I think with these guys we do.”
No huddle
The Vikings have the potential to put points on the board on a weekly basis with a talented group of weapons. Alongside Egan at quarterback there’s seniors Salvucci, Kline, and Jason Comeau for whom Egan can throw the ball. Munroe will be another target at tight end.
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At running back, SST has a core of junior Brady Hofeman and sophomores Cooper Hartley and Mike Johnson. Seniors Chris White and Eric Anzivino are the returning offensive linemen.
Three players to lookout for
Tyler Kline, WR/DB: “He’s been held back a lot. We had some good seniors that graduated and he’s been in the weight room and he’s a beast,” said Egan on Kline.
Darren Varroso, OL/MLB: “He didn’t start last year last year, but he’s our starting middle linebacker and he’s looking really great,” said Munroe. “He’s filling holes, he’s learning quick.
Todd Egan, QB/DB: A true running back at heart and just a natural athlete. Expect him to put up big numbers.
They said it
Doyle on the importance of senior leadership: “My biggest preach to these guys this year was that we got some returning guys, and we got some new guys, we lost a lot of senior leaders. And I’m really (leaning) on returning guys this year who (are) returning to take on a leadership role.”
Munroe on how surprised he is by the underclassmen: “We’re looking pretty good. We’re looking better than I thought we were going to be. We lost a lot of seniors last year, but we look a lot better than expected.”
South Shore Tech’s 2023 schedule
Friday, Sept. 8: vs Hull, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15: at Bourne, 6:30
Friday, Sept. 22: at Norwell, 6:30
Friday, Sept. 29: vs Bristol Plymouth Regional Tech, 7
Friday, Oct. 6: Cape Cod Regional Tech, 7
Saturday, Oct. 14: at Upper Cape Cod Tech, Noon
Friday, Oct. 20: at Wareham, 7
Friday, Oct. 27: vs Old Colony, 7
Wednesday, Nov. 22: at Holbrook/Avon, 5
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore Tech football 2023 season preview
