Large roster of athletes return in 2019
Published September 6, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The good news? Melrose football is going to be pretty darn good this year. The bad news? Their first three games are on the road. However, fans shouldn’t break a sweat traveling to Malden for the season opener on Sept. 13 and Wilmington is just about 4 exits up on I-93N on week three. But rest assured, Melrose’s home opener is slated for Oct. 4 at home at Fred Green Field against Stoneham at 7:00 p.m.
Their season officially kicks of next Friday, Sept. 13 at 6:00 at Malden’s MacDonald Stadium.
Melrose coach Tim Morris returns for his 25th year as head coach, with a pretty remarkable win/loss record of 163-97-4, which puts him 20th in the state of all-time winningest Massachusetts high school football coaches. For the last ten years, Melrose has had an incredibly competitive program, earning a Super Bowl title two years ago, eight league titles overall and four sectional titles since 2013.
Last season, Melrose was coming off their most successful season to date (undefeated Super Bowl winners!) so there were large shoes to fill. Melrose finished their campaign 7-4 (4-1 in league) and earned another trip to the playoffs. But expect Melrose to go a step further in 2019 as they return a large portion of players in skilled positions. Over fifty Red Raiders in total make up the roster.
MELROSE LOOKS to deliver a blow to division opponents this fall. They begin their season on the road against Malden on Sept. 13 (file photo)
The toughest game on their eight-game regular season schedule is Lincoln Sudbury, a Div. 1 powerhouse whom Melrose will travel to for their second game of the year on September 20. Last year, Melrose fell to the Warriors, but facing stiff competition only prepares the Red Raiders for their annual playoff runs.
Melrose is in good hands with their quad captains, seniors Chis Cusolito, Billy Pesce, Jared Karelas and Sean Herbert. These seniors were playmakers in 2018 and will be counted on to lead Melrose into another winning campaign.
Cusolito returns after a season-ending injury last year, but a healthy Cusolito is bad news for Middlesex League opponents. He plays both sides of the ball as defensive back and running back and can be counted to serve as receiver too. “If he stays healthy, Chris has the potential to be one of the top players in the league,” says Morris.
Pesce, meanwhile, had perhaps the greatest breakout season of any player last year. The multi-faceted player will be a force for Melrose, thanks to his size and prowess. “He’s a player who knows his role and really embraces it. He looks really solid and we expect a big senior year from him,” says Morris.
Expect Karelas to man the line for Melrose. He’s arguably the most experienced one this season and will be counted on to help develop it. “We rely on Jared a lot and as a captain we expect great leadership.”
Morris also spoke of captain Sean Herbert’s winning mentality. “Sean’s a two time state champ in wrestling. He’s an intense player who expects success so I know he will give it all on the field. He just plays hard out there.”
Quarterback duties could be split between returners Brendan Fennell and Jesse Gardner, with Fennell likely getting the first snap. “These two are good players and we want to keep them on the field when they are not behind the ball,” says the coach.
On special teams, look for Alex Brincheiro to take the lead on kicking and punting. On offensive lines look for brothers Mical Dunti and Micye Duntin to handle the bulk of it.
Last year the team’s underclassmen gave the league notice. That includes the work of Andy Calvert and Matt Dussault on the field. Calvert ran for several touchdowns last season while Dussault was the perfect receiver for Melrose’s Fennell and Gardner. Expect both to pick up exactly where they left off and prove forces to be reckoned with.
A promising spot for Melrose this year is the return of Matt Hickey, a junior who was limited last season due to injury. Expect to see Hickey getting time as fullback. “If he stays healthy, I predict a great season,” says Morris.
It’s still early this fall, so look for other spots to be determined in the coming days. One thing is for sure, coach Morris has the bodies and experience on the field. “We will be competitive. I’d like to stay healthy and focus on our defensive lines and if we can do that, we will be in good shape,” says Morris.
The Middlesex Freedom League has been balanced and competitive in recent years. Expect Burlington and Stoneham to show some muscle. Stoneham, last year’s Div. 6 Super Bowl champs, lost super star Christos Argyropoulos to graduation, but returns with running back Seth Russell, among others. And never count Wakefield out, cautions Morris. “By Thanksgiving, Wakefield will probably have come into their own.”
See the Red Raiders’ first kick off next Friday, Sept. 13, at 6:00 p.m. at MacDonald Stadium in Malden.
