Mepham Football Seeks to Better Breakout Season

With fall and the start of the school year near, so too comes the return of hard-hitting high school football. One team to be on the lookout for this season is the Mepham Pirates, who are coming off of the best year of football the school has seen in years.

"Last season we finished with a 5-3 record and a trip to the playoffs," said Coach Anthony Cracco. "It was a breakout year for our program."

To say that the returning team members are hungry for a championship would be stating the obvious. Eager to begin honing their skills for the new season, the Mepham Pirates have already begun practice for the upcoming season.

"In our first scrimmage this Sunday we played extremely well," Cracco said.

Of course, a football team is only as strong as the leadership gluing it together. Cracco took a moment to go over some team leaders making a return to the gridiron this season for Mepham.

"The team is lead by senior quarterback Nick White," he said. "Nick is a three-year starter for the Pirates and is looking to have another good season. Nick is a threat to both run with the ball or throw it down the field. He also excels at his position at defensive back. Last year Nick shut down several team's best wide receivers."

Cracco pointed out that returning starters Dimitri Hilas and Chris Shevins have also had a solid pre-season.

"Chris has moved from his tight end position to the offensive guard spot," he said. "He gives us another big physical blocker to help with the running game on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively Chris is the captain of the defense. He lines us up from his strong side linebacker spot, and he makes plays all over the field."

"Dimitri is both an offensive and defensive tackle," Cracco added. "He has been our most consistent lineman this year. He is very physical and plays aggressively on both sides of the ball."

Some newcomers to the varsity that have also looked impressive are Kevin Tauriello, Devin Aybar, Kyle Berlin and Miguel Shaw.

Coach Cracco expressed a great deal of admiration for the perseverance and determination of young men under his tutelage, and is confident that this season will be the Mepham Pirates' best yet.

"The hard work and long hours that these young men have put into off-season training is going to pay huge dividends this fall," he said. "I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to work with such outstanding players."