North High Football “Miles Ahead” of Last Year

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The North High football team finished 2011 strong, winning two of its last three games, and hopes to carry that positive momentum into this year.

The Polar Bears finished 2-9 on the year, with a 1-2 mark in Inter-High, but played their best football at the end of the season. Their 24-21 victory over rival South High helped them end the season on a high note, but senior defensive end Chris Senecal believes the Polar Bears have taken another step as a team just a week into training camp.

"We're miles ahead of where we were last year, even at the end of the season," Senecal said. "Last year we kind of relied on three or four key people, and now we actually have a full team to stand on."

The Polar Bears will run a ground-based offense with plenty of backfield combinations and players getting a chance to run the ball. Under center, North is looking to senior Thomas Edwards to lead in 2012.

Edwards, who has started at linebacker for the Polar Bears, is just one of many players that will be asked to play both sides of the ball for North. Now ready to assume even more of a leadership role, Edwards has big plans for the Polar Bears this season.

"Making the playoffs," Edwards said. "We definitely want to make the playoffs and put North back on the map, and let all the inner city high kids know that North is here."

Defensively, the Polar Bears are led by senior linebacker Sergio Soltau. Also starting at fullback, Soltau racks up the majority of North's tackles. But, he says, that is a credit to the physical play of the Polar Bear defensive line.

"We've got big and tough guys up front," Soltau said. "The (defensive) tackles take up all the blocks, and us linebackers can run around and make plays.

The Polar Bears begin their season Friday September 7th against reigning Division 5 Central Mass champion Leicester. Despite facing a difficult opponent, North's goals have not changed for the opener.

"Just to win that first game," senior senior lineman Tyler Rainwater said. "Then we can move on from there."