24 Quotes by Rocky Nelson

We needed to change. Everything we do is to try and get ready for Middlesex League competition.

We get on a bus for every game. We miss Connelly Stadium, but we definitely need a new high school and our kids never complain. They walk across Montvale Ave. and over a hill to the elementary school and then walk back after practice. But we're a closer team because of it.

We are a better football team with Mike Duggan at wide receiver. He gives us more athleticism at wide out. And Danny at quarterback allows us to pass more. We did have some bugaboos in the Reading game.

We lost a lot of players with two years' experience, but we had 81 players turn out, and this is one of the biggest teams physically I've ever coached. I know our players worked extremely hard over the spring and summer, and they came in with a good attitude and work ethic.

We have to eliminate big plays on defense, and we have to eliminate the mistakes on offense that we made the first two weeks which stopped ourselves. We certainly can't do that on Friday night.

We saw what teams like Chelmsford and others do by scheduling tough non-league games. Chelmsford got blown out by Gloucester, but still won their league. Non-league games don't hurt you, but they certainly can get you ready for your league season.

Duggan is the ultimate team player. His natural position is receiver. His punting and our punt coverage have been consistent all season long and have been instrumental in our getting good field position.

The schedule says we have to play Burlington first, and there's nothing you can do about that. They are the defending Middlesex League champs, with a great program and great players and coaches, and I think this game will have great implications on how the Middlesex League turns out.

I've watched (Dan) Walsh play several times, and I saw him in camp this past summer, and I know he's an outstanding athlete. He throws the ball well to his receivers, and he can also run the ball as well.