It’s all about the ‘B’ this season.
That is the motto that the Beverly High football team has glommed onto for 2026. How outsiders may or may not perceive them doesn’t matter to these Panthers; their focus is being the best version of themselves.
“We talked about it (recently) in a culture meeting with Coach (Jeff) Hutton, that we just want to focus on us,” said senior captain Charlie Frost.
The coaching staff loved that 40-to-45 players regularly showed up for summer weightlifting sessions, showing their dedication.
“We only have to prove things to ourselves,” added fellow captain Teddy Fisher, an offensive lineman and hard-hitting linebacker. “We don’t care about outside noise. We’re only worried about winning that first game (at Haverhill Sept. 11) and going from there.”
Many key pieces graduated from the Orange-and-Black’s 6-5 squad from a year ago, which gave the program its first winning season since 2018.
But with depth in the line, some new skill players ready to showcase their talents, and a commitment to building a team-wide culture of positivity, the Panthers are feeling good about themselves.
“We’re as big as we’ve been since 2010 (a Super Bowl winning campaign for BHS), lean and mean,” said head coach Jeff Hutton. “We are a lunch pail, blue collar, punch-you-in-the-mouth type team. That’s how you win football games at this level.”
“If anything, we want to raise the bar,” added 6-foot-3, 230-pound two-way lineman Isaiah Zohn, another of Beverly’s five captains.
Zohn feels particularly good about he and his fellow linemen, which includes another captain, three-year starter Joao Reis (who has lost 40 pounds and is now a lean 6 feet and 220 pounds); Fisher, fellow senior Tyler Limongello, and two players battling for the starting center’s job: senior Mateo Ibanez and junior Jason Reyes.
“We bring a lot of physicality,” said Reis, also an excellent wrestler for Beverly High who Hutton said “won’t come off the field for us this season.”
New quarterback Tommy Collins, the team’s fifth senior captain, led Beverly’s JV team to a 7-1-1 mark last season. Hutton said that he’s adept with pre-and post-snap RPOs that protect the Panther run game, and got more votes as captain from his teammates than anyone else.
Collins likes not only the weapons he has around him in Beverly’s Wing-T attack, but also the classmates who’ll be protecting him in the trenches.
“It boosts our confidence knowing we have those guys up front,” said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound signal caller. “Those are the guys who do the dirty work and make us look good, and it means so much to us. We’re all best friends.”
Sean Okhuozagbon, another senior, was Beverly’s top running back last season with 616 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Hutton said he’s running with more confidence and squatted 400-plus pounds for five reps this summer; he should be able to run defenders over.
Wingback Charlie Frost and senior Brody Lehmann, plus junior Jayden Hernandez, will also get their opportunities to carry the rock.
Explosive junior Stephan Sullivan will get a lot of touches at wide receiver, while fellow explosive 11th grade receiver Jordan Downey will get the ball a lot. Will Johnson is the team’s pass-catching tight end; George Frost (Charlie’s twin brother) and junior Logan Fialho will also see passes come their way.
Fisher (“all I want to do is win”), a mobile 6-foot, 210-pounder, and Limongello are back as inside linebackers; Hunter Roccio (weak side) and Johnson (strong side) will be the OLB’s along with Downey. Charlie Frost is the lone returnee in the Panther secondary, with his twin brother George ascending to a starting role of his own. Sullivan, Okhuozagbon and junior Fialho are additionally in the mix to start.
“I am so amped to get going,” said Frost. “This is my last ride with the boys, so I want to value every moment.”