Fresh off a pre-season scrimmage against Hingham High, Norwood High School football coach John Doherty is expressing renewed optimism about his backfield depth as the Mustangs prepare to bounce back from recent struggles in the Bay State League.
“It looks like we do have some good backs,” Doherty said. “We haven’t had that for a couple of years.”
The optimism comes despite a wave of pre-season injuries. With returning starting quarterback Jeff Nolan sidelined following knee ligament surgery and the removal of a leg cast, junior Larry Brown has stepped into the role and is “getting better every day.” In the backfield, Brown is joined by co-captain John Oldham, alongside promising newcomers discovered during the Hingham scrimmage: sophomore Mike Gulla, junior Bill Breen, and sophomore Brian Collins.
Roster Turnover and Inexperience
The Mustangs enter the campaign with just nine returning lettermen. In addition to Nolan, running back John Coughlin has been sidelined by illness, sophomore end Dave Steele is recovering from a broken foot, and tackle-defensive end Jim O’Neil has battled a foot fungus.
Doherty noted that offensive development has moved slowly as new linemen learn complex assignments like trap blocks, whereas the defense has come together more naturally. Standout linemen and players include guard Brian McDonough, junior Greg Donahue, tackles Mark Conroy and Nick Sanandakis (the team’s biggest player), and tight end Mike Brennan, who made a successful position switch from guard.
Coming off a 2-6-1 record last season, Doherty views the Bay State League as wide open, highlighting perennial contenders Natick and Walpole alongside Framingham North and Wellesley ahead of Norwood’s season opener against Framingham South on September 22. “I think we’ve got more to offer now,” Doherty said.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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