“I spent too much time in this program to see it suffer in any way. I didn’t want to see the kids go without what they needed,” said Lattof, who delayed his return two years ago for health reasons.
“The idea was to get back to what’s made us successful in the past. We had a strong tradition and the kids are working really hard to bring it back.”
Traditionally a run-heavy Wing-T team, Gloucester surprised St. Mary’s by opening with a play-action pass for 25 yards to tight end Gavin Bren, followed by a 25-yard touchdown run from Joe Allen.
Coming off consecutive shutout wins, the Spartans (2-1) locked down defensively in the second half, but the Fishermen also played elite defense with Kaleb Allen, Nash Marshall, and Thomas Cripps leading the front seven.
Senior quarterback Cam Rodolosi put the game on ice with a 41-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“We knew we’d have to play our best game and we came out hot,” said Cripps. “I don’t think [St. Mary’s] had been punched in the mouth like that before.”
Cripps credited Lattof’s program for getting the team ready after Gloucester went 14-18 the past three seasons. There is a strong lineage of Gloucester alumni on staff, many of whom trained with Lattof before contributing to Super Bowl rosters. Brian Anderson (‘10), Joe Stuart (’05), Jason Quinn (‘08), Zach Smith (’13), and Lattof’s nephew, Kyle Habecker (‘08), have helped head coach Dan O’Connor (’03) turn the program around.
“There’s a great tradition here in terms of guys wanting to give back,” O’Connor said. “The game teaches so much. This community embodies so much of what football brings out of you and when you combine the two it’s obviously a great thing.”
O’Connor called Cripps another coach on the field, and Cripps said Lattof has inspired his class.
“When we’re in meetings and [Lattof] talks, I get chills down my spine,” said the senior captain, whose father, Joey (’89), is in the Gloucester Hall of Fame. “I also have to credit the seniors we had going into my freshman year. They brought back the summer workouts and that really paved the way for us.”
Assistant coach Craig Bren kept the workouts going the past few years without Lattof, who brings a few extra wrinkles to the program. Each summer, the Fishermen start with conditioning workouts at Harbor Beach, then shift to grass and work on strength and agility, with the goal of shortening the rest around high-intensity bursts to about 10 seconds, simulating the break between football plays.
“The program was always built on recovery time,” said Lattof, who started with just a couple of athletes in the early ’90s. “It’s not only about getting in shape, but finding mental toughness. It’s about facing adversity and learning how to beat it. The goal is that when the play is called, they can focus on their assignments, and not worry about catching their breath.”
▪ Wyatt Goyette has done a bit of everything for Middleborough. The senior has played several positions the past three years, and his latest act as a running back opened with 183 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 21-13 win at Apponequet.
Also playing safety and returning kicks, Goyette rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns Friday and added a key interception in a 27-12 win over Dennis-Yarmouth. The star hockey player started at quarterback as a sophomore, then shifted to defense due to injury. He played receiver during the first half of his junior season, then shifted back to quarterback. Now the 5-foot-9, 150-pounder is flashing game-breaking ability as a tailback.
▪ Foxborough coach Jack Martinelli earned his 317th win when the Warriors rolled past Springfield Putnam, 58-0, Friday, moving the 44-year-coach past Brockton’s Armond Colombo into third place on the all-time wins list. Martinelli only trails active coaches John DiBiaso (Catholic Memorial) and Ken LaChapelle (Northbridge).
▪ Senior quarterback Jacoby Casinelli-Tarasuik totaled three touchdowns to lead Essex Tech in a 28-21 win at Newburyport, giving new coach Tim Freiermuth his first win with the Hawks (1-2) . . . Plymouth South amassed 442 rushing yards in a 40-22 win at Whitman-Hanson . . . Harvard-bound senior Kise Flannery completed 9 of 12 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown, plus rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns to lift No. 1 Catholic Memorial in a 56-32 win at St. Francis (N.Y.).
Thursday, No. 11 BC High at Everett, (6 p.m.) — The Eagles emerge from a bye week looking to avoid an 0-3 start, but road teams have a history of struggling at Everett Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Friday, No. 9 Bishop Feehan at St. Mary’s of Lynn, (4:30 p.m.) — This afternoon tilt is for all the marbles in the new CCL Large division that is comprised of just these two teams. St. Mary’s might’ve been caught looking ahead last Friday when the Spartans lost at Gloucester.
Friday, No. 5 Natick at No. 10 Milford, (6 p.m.) — The biggest risers in the Globe’s Top 20 football poll meet with undefeated records in a premier nonleague matchup.
Friday, Springfield Central at No. 2 Xaverian, (6 p.m.) — This is the third road trip in four weeks for the Golden Eagles as they look to test their mettle against some of the best in Eastern Mass.
Friday, No. 4 King Philip at No. 20 Foxborough, (7 p.m.) — Jack Martinelli and the Foxborough staff have turned the page after a disappointing Super Bowl loss. Brian Lee’s King Philip program presents their toughest challenge yet.