How do you go about replacing some 44 total rushing touchdowns lost to graduation and one of the deepest and most decorated senior classes in your program’s history?
Masconomet head coach Pat Sheehan sees it as simple math.
“We’re starting from zero,” the Chieftains’ third-year boss said after a recent football practice, “and by being competitive every day, the goal is to become one.”
Defending a Northeastern Conference Dunn title for the first time ever will fall to a slew of new Chieftains. Senior captain Aithan King, a beastly offensive and defensive lineman, is the only full-time returning starter from last season’s 9-2 outfit. He’s confident that his 10 fellow seniors and the rest of the the squad can rise to the challenge.
“We’ve been working hard and since we put the full pads on, we’ve been working even harder,” said King. “We want to be ready to face anything that anybody wants to throw at us.”
The leading candidate to take over at quarterback is senior Cruz Zizza, who Sheehan says has “supreme arm talent.” Sophomore Dom Susi also has great poise in the pocket and will be ready if called upon.
No one running back could replace Jack Fabiano (now at Williams College after going off for 2,038 yards and 38 TDs in 2025), so Masconomet may rely on a stable of ballcarriers with unique skills. Senior Jack Engel brings bullish power to the rushing attack while sophomore Jett Fabiano (Jack’s younger brother) is elusive in space and can always change the pace.
“We lost some names, but we have to bring the same energy,” said Engel, also a solid run-stuffing linebacker. “We need to have intensity, be gritty and be willing to put ourselves on the line to make plays.”
Junior Trip Weidman may be Masconomet’s most dangerous player with the ball in his hands. He’s capable of catching deep passes, making defenders miss on short routes or sweeps, and can also do damage in the return game. At wide receiver, he’s surrounded by a capable group that made some noise in summer 7-on-7 tournaments and includes sophomore twins Drew and Van Bowler, Ayden Schmidt and Owen Hannigan.
Surrounding King on the offensive line are Gabe Bilodeau, Caden McCarthy, Mike Kenny (also a stout defensive lineman) and Ryan Maczynski.
“We’re a group that loves playing football,” King said. “Every since fourth grade, it’s been my favorite time of the year. I love getting the pads on and hitting.”
Senior Ben Richardson is one of the leaders of the defensive group and excels at outside linebacker. He, too, is excited about the way his class is embracing the challenge of carrying on Masconomet’s gridiron tradition.
“It’s been a grind. We’re all trying our best and working through it every day,” said Richardson. “We’re a group who will do whatever it takes, and we have a great bond.
“This is a really hard sport, but knowing that everyone else is going through what you are and is there for you makes it the best.”
It’s also something of a new-look schedule for the Chieftains, who will venture out to St. John’s of Shrewsbury for an early October contest and plan to face a to-be-named opponent from New Hampshire on Thanksgiving Day, since Northeast Regional discontinued the schools’ brief two-year holiday series.
Overall, Sheehan likes what he’s seen from his hungry up-and-comers during the preseason.
“Our guys have a lot of belief and that’s a good thing,” Sheehan said. “The systems and standards are both in place, and for the most part these guys practice at a pretty high level. Now, we get to go see how that translates to the real thing.”