Sports

Looking a little deeper into Gloucester's dominance

On Football
Matt Langone
Published: November 5, 2009

Let's get the obvious out of the way first: the Gloucester High School football team is really, really good.

Since the present Northeastern Conference Large was formed with the addition of Peabody in 2007, Gloucester has not lost a conference game. The Fishermen are 13-0 in the league and 34-2 overall. This year, the unbeaten Fishermen (8-0) are outscoring opponents by a margin of 35-6. In three league wins against Salem, Peabody and Lynn English, the Fishermen have won by an average margin of 38-2.

Dominance is something that is not easily sustained. After winning the Division 2A Super Bowl in 2007 and earning another trip back to Gillette Stadium last year, it wouldn't have been out of the question for Gloucester to take a step back. But so far the Fishermen haven't, with another league matchup tonight against Revere at Newell Stadium (7 p.m.).

"It's a little shocking how good we've been," said Gloucester head coach Paul Ingram. "I thought we'd be good, but this is a unique group of kids and there's not a lot of them. But it's quality not quantity and we have a lot of football players."

In a conversation this week, reflecting on what is now an almost three-year run of greatness, it was difficult for Ingram to pin-point just one reason that his program has been so dominant. However, Ingram weighed in on some factors that have contributed. Here are a few:

1. The decline of Peabody and Salem

Both schools have plenty of past success in football, but they have struggled mightily as of late.

Since Peabody joined the NEC Large in 2007, the Tanners are just 8-22. Things are worse for Salem, which is having the worst decade in the program's history with a 29-75 record since 2000 with no winning seasons.

Just 10 years ago, Salem defeated Gloucester, 24-21, in front of 7,000 fans at Newell Stadium in an instant classic that determined the conference. That game demonstrated the caliber of football that is possible when both of these schools, and Peabody, are at their best.

"Peabody is an enigma," said Ingram. "We used to scrimmage them when Coach (Ed) Nizwantowski was there (until 2004). They had a real physical mentality and came at you, but they have kind of lost that a little over the years. But coach (Scott) Wlasuk is trying to bring that back and he's doing a good job."

With Peabody and Salem struggling, and Revere struggling to compete year in and year out, it detracts from the depth and strength of the overall league. All that is left to challenge Gloucester is Lynn English and Lynn Classical. Just last week, Gloucester crushed the Bulldogs, 48-7, in a game that was supposed to be a showdown for first place.

"We've had some great, great games with Classical in the last 10 years," said Ingram, whose team will face Classical next week in a game that actually will determine this year's league champ. "They're a team that can really push you downfield."

2. The growing popularity of the spread

Gloucester has stayed true to its roots for nearly the last 20 years, by running the run-heavy wing-t. Meanwhile, many schools all around the North Shore are experimenting with the spread and dealing with new coaches and new systems every couple of years.

"We've had a lot of consistency with what we do," said Ingram. "Football is still about blocking and tackling and it's what you do consistently from week to week.

"We see so many spread teams, and there is only so much you can do in that offense."

NEC team such as Lynn English, Swampscott, Beverly and Marblehead run the spread.

There is no doubt that throwing the ball effectively week in and week out at the high school level is a difficult task. Gloucester gains an edge with its detail-oriented blocking schemes and potent running attack in a system that hasn't changed a bit in what feels like an eternity.

3. Talent, coaching and confidence

Let's not forget about the main factors, as Gloucester has had the most talent and most stable coaching in the league for quite some time. There is a direct correlation between winning and confidence and the Fishermen are at a point where they don't back down against anyone.

"The kids are not intimidated by anyone," Ingram said. "We're good at what we do. We try to attack on offense and defense. It's easier to call plays when it's second-and-three or third-and-two.

"It's difficult to put together an entire staff that knows a lot about the game of football."

Gloucester's schedule is also not a cakewalk, despite the struggles of the other NEC Large teams. The Fishermen played mighty Masconomet also this fall and won 21-14. They also knocked off Division 1 Andover out of the Merrimack Valley by a lopsided score of 40-21.