2024 Kelley-Rex Division Football Preview

Attleboro

2023 Record: 2-9
2023 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jim Winters

Key/Returning Players: Michael Huntington, Sr., WR/DB; Cam Gray, Sr., OL; Noah Williams, Jr., OL/DL; Shaun Maher, Sr., TE/DL; Kelan Jones, Sr., WR; Hunter Camara, Sr., WR; Will Plizga, Sr., LB; Madden Murray, Soph., WR/DB; Jake Reilly, Sr., RB; Austin Bessette, Sr., RB; Jayshawn Crosby, Jr., RB; Brayden Jones, Soph., QB.

Outlook:
Head coach Jim Winters will be looking to lean on the guidance and leadership of a strong senior class as the Bombardiers look to integrate some inexperienced players into the lineup.

Anchored by captains Michael Huntington, Austin Bessette, Kelan Jones, Hunter Camara, and Shaun Maher, Attleboro is looking to have a bounce-back season after posting a 2-9 record last year.

The offense lost some key players but there are five starters back in the mix which gives the Bombardiers a solid foundation to build on. Senior Cam Gray is back at guard and junior Noah Williams will start at tackle again and that duo will look to set the table for Attleboro. Replacing three-year starter Matt Harvie will be a tough task but sophomore Brayden Jones, who took some snaps as a freshman last year, will step in under center to guide the ship. He will have some strong weapons to work with too with Huntington and Jones returning starters at receiver, and Maher — who is also key in the blocking game — offers a big target at tight end. Attleboro has some candidates to take over at running back after graduating all-league back Adrian Rivera: Bessette, senior Jake Reilly, and junior Jayshawn Crosby are all in competition for carries.

There will be a bit more new faces on the defensive side of the ball with just three starters back from a year ago. Huntington is the lone veteran in the secondary but will get some help from sophomore Madden Murray, who will also complement the Attleboro passing game as a receiver. Maher lines up on the defensive line on the edge and senior Will Plizga is a returner at linebacker.

“What we lack in experience, we will make up for in the seniors’ work ethic and love for the game and each other,” said Jim Winters, who begins his third year at the helm of the Bombardiers.

Franklin

2023 Record: 5-6
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 4 Round of 16
Coach: Todd Kiley

Key/Returning Players: Julian Rampino, Sr., TE/DL; Andrew Fraulo, Sr., RB/DB; Alex Weber, Sr., RB/LB; Jack Murphy, Sr., OL/DL; Will Tirrell, Sr., QB/DB; Keaton Cooper, Jr., OL/DL; Kyle Walsh, Sr., WR/DB; Stephon Reed, Jr., WR/DB; Cole Sidwell, Sr., RB/DB; Justin Bianchetto, Jr., QB; Adrian Rampino, Jr., OL/DL;

Outlook:
This season marks a new chapter in Franklin football program history with the addition of one of the most successful active head coaches in the state.

Todd Kiley will be wearing Panther blue this fall after 21 years on the sideline at Holliston, which included a pair of state championships in 2014 and 2015 and an Eastern Mass Super Bowl in 2010. With a new coach comes a new system and Kiley will be looking to get his style implemented with this year’s team, which boasts a strong mix of returning players and eager newcomers.

Senior quarterback Justin Bianchetto is back with a year of experience under his belt while classmate Will Tirrell is also in competition to get reps under center as the starter. There’s a strong group of workhorses in the backfield ready to take on the carries this year; senior Andrew Fraulo is the most experienced of the group and is a shifty runner out of the backfield while senior Cole Sidwell and junior Alex Weber provide key depth there. Kyle Walsh is one familiar face in the receivers group but there’s some inexperience there with senior John Duffy and junior Stephon Reed looking to contribute.

Up front, it’s a mix of experience and new on the line for the Panthers. Senior Jack Murphy is one of the most experienced linemen in the league while junior Keaton Cooper will look to solidify the line. Seniors Will Pritoni and Mason Yered give Franklin a veteran group in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Panthers have one of the top players in the league in Julian Rampino, who is a monster on the defensive line and will be someone every team has to game plan for. He’ll be joined by junior Adrian Rampino and senior Hunter Michaud on the defensive line while Weber and seniors Ryan Connelly, Chris Ianelli, and Kevin Lawler will help fortify the defense at linebacker.

“We have an eager hardworking coachable team this season,” Kiley said. “I am very pleased with the progress our kids have made with learning a whole new offensive and defensive system. We are a strong, athletic, unselfish, team-first group that is willing to do whatever is asked of them. It is a fun group to coach!”

King Philip

2023 Record: 13-0 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
2023 Finish: Div. 2 Super Bowl Champions
Coach: Brian Lee

Key/Returning Players: Drew Herlin, Sr., OL; Aiden Astorino, Sr., RB/LB; Drew Laplante, Sr., RB; Luke Gunning, Sr., TE; Will Bubluski, Sr., LB; Hayden Schmitz, Sr., WR/DB; Tommy Kilroy, Sr., WR/DB; Brandon Nicastro, Sr., WR/DB; Sean Woods, Sr., K; Tallan King, Jr., RB/LB

Outlook: Coming off a dominant, title-winning season, King Philip enters the season as the favorite to retain its Kelley-Rex division crown and remains one of the top teams in the state. Led as always by the defense and the running game, the Warriors have the returning talent to continue last year’s unbeaten run and make yet another trip down the road to Gillette in December.

KP will need to reload up front and under center but has enviable depth in the backfield to wear down the opposition. Senior Drew Laplante took the bulk of the carries as a junior and he’ll get plenty of help from classmate Aiden Astorino and junior Tallan King. Junior Keigan Canto-Osorio should also get into the running back rotation and classmate Ryan Greenwood will line up at fullback. Junior Zach Gebhard will get the start at quarterback and the Warriors have plenty of athletes for him to find in the passing game, including senior Luke Gunning and junior Brodie McDonald at tight end and senior receivers Hayden Schmitz, Tommy Kilroy, and Brandon Nicastro. Senior Drew Herlin is back to lend experience to the offensive line alongside juniors Aiden Lyons, Nate Crisci, Liam King, and Nick Gallagher. Senior Sean Woods is coming off an impressive debut season as the team’s kicker.

Defense has long been this team’s strength (allowing fewer than seven points per game in 2023) and this year should continue that trend. The linebacking corps is filled with returning players, including senior Will Bubluski, Astorino, and King. The secondary is also stacked with speed and experience. Schmitz, Kilroy, Nicastro, and fellow senior Jack Assini can all step up and make plays. Like on offense, the line will be the least experienced group but King and Gallagher give the Warriors size and physicality up front.

KP coach Brian Lee said, “I think a big factor in our success will be how satiated we are with the accomplishments of last year’s team.”

Milford

2023 Record: 10-2
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 3 State Semifinals
Coach: Dale Olson

Key/Returning Players: Andrew Rivera, Sr., WR/LB; Jack Buckey, Sr., QB; Anthony Maietta, Sr., TE/LB; Danny Carvalho, Sr., RB/LB; Ryan Burns, Sr., OL/DL; Jason Stokes, Jr., WR/DB; Thomas Sousa, Sr., TE/DL; Sam Rosenberg, Sr., OL/DL; Ish Kamara, Sr., WR/DB; Joey McGee, Jr., DB;

Outlook:
Injuries put a damper on Milford’s playoff run last season, which ultimately came to a close in the state semifinal for the third consecutive season.

Health will be key for the Hawks this season with under 40 players combined between the senior, junior, and sophomore classes. But despite having one of the smaller rosters in the league, there is still plenty of talent on the roster. Senior quarterback Jack Buckley is back under center after throwing for over 1,500 yards last year and 17 touchdowns with just four interceptions. His leadership will be key for an offense that did lose some heavy hitters from last year. One of Buckley’s top targets was classmate Andrew Rivera (six touchdown catches) and that duo will be trouble for opposing defenses again this year. Junior Jason Stokes is back after a breakout season, which included over 100 yards and two touchdown catches in the state semifinal. Add in another returner in Ish Kamara at receiver and two big target tight ends in Thomas Sousa and Anthony Maietta, and the Hawks still have one of the top passing games in the league.

Graduation hit the running game hard including HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Nick Araujo and key linemen like Keith Lee and Tony Dew. Milford will turn to Daniel Carvalho in the backfield to lead a bruising running game while junior Ryan Burns and senior Rosenberg are familiar faces playing in the trenches. Defensively, Milford will try to replicate the success from last year, which allowed under 14 points per game. Rivera is one of the best linebackers in the league and he’ll be helped along by Maietta and Carvalho, while Sousa will be a force on the defensive line. Junior Joey McGee can do a bit of everything and will factor in in the secondary this year.

“Staying healthy with only 32 kids sophomore through senior will be key,” said Milford head coach Dale Olson. “If the offensive line with some new faces develops quickly, we will be competitive again.”

Sharon

2023 Record: 4-7
2023 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Ben Shuffain

Key/Returning Players: Sam Letendre, Sr. TE/OLB; Brian O’Neill, Sr., WR/OLB, Rony Saab, Sr., OL/DL; Max Mevs, Sr., OL/DL; Tommy Farkas, Sr., RB/CB; Casey Stengel, Sr., OL/LB; Matt Khrakovsky, Jr., ATH/DB; Michael Konovalov, Jr., WR/DB; Ian Ford, Jr., RB/DB; Brady Shuffain, So., QB; Brayden Salkin, So., FB/LB

Outlook: There is a changing of the guard for Sharon this fall, as Dave Morse, who led the program to the 2012 Div. 3 Super Bowl title, stepped down after more than a decade in charge. Ben Shuffain, fresh off a Div. 8 Super Bowl title with Carver, returns to his alma mater to lead the Eagles into their maiden campaign in the Kelley-Rex division.

During its Super Bowl run, Carver was known for its offensive firepower and Sharon will be hoping for a boost on that side of the ball after being held to seven or fewer points four times last season. Carver transfer Brady Shuffain (sophomore) and OA transfer Luke Fernald (junior) battled in the preseason for the starting quarterback role, with Shuffain earning the nod for week one. The Eagles have size and athleticism at the skill positions. Senior tight end Sam Letendre (6-foot-3) gives Shuffain a big weapon on the outside. Senior Tommy Farkas returns after a year off and will line up at running back, while the offensive line has decent size, led by seniors Casey Stengel (also returning after a year away from the program), Rony Saab, and Max Mevs.

The defense impressed at times last season, allowing fewer than 18 points per game and holding three opponents to seven points or fewer. Saab and Mevs will be crucial at the point of attack. Stengel, Letendre, fellow senior Brian O’Neill, and sophomore Brayden Salkin bring athleticism to the linebacker position. Sharon’s secondary is deep with Farkas joined by juniors Matt Khrakovsky, Michael Konovalov, and Ian Ford.

“The guys had a good camp as they are still learning the new schemes that I have brought over from Carver this year,” Shuffain said. “I have simplified the offense to have it run more effectively and they are catching on quickly. I am excited to see how they produce in the coming weeks and it is great to be leading the team that I played for 25 years ago.”

Taunton

2023 Record: 6-5
2023 Finish: Reaching Div. 1 Round of 16
Coach: Brad Sidwell
Key/Returning Players: Trinley Dudley, Sr., P/K; Elijah Prophete, Sr., RB/LB; Brandon Adorno, Sr., WR/DB; Dylan Keenan, Jr., QB; Johnny Escobalez, Sr., WR/DB; Jake Nadeau, Sr., WR/DB; Carlos Ramos, Sr., OL/DL; Jeremy Knief, Jr., WR/DB; Austin Faria, Sr., OL/DL; Jake Cellucci, Sr., OL/DL; Carlos Cruz, Sr., RB; Will Buffington, Sr., TE/LB; Jose Melendez, Jr., OL/DL; Corbin Melo, Jr., WR/DB; Travis MacEachern, Jr., TE/LB; Syre Duverna, Soph., TE/DB;

Outlook:
Taunton had one of its best seasons since joining the Hockomock League and will be looking to carry that success into the 2024 campaign.

The Tigers picked up two league wins, including their first-ever win over North, were just seconds away from one at Franklin, and competed close with league heavyweights KP and Milford. The goal will now be to stay at this level and improve from here. One strength the Tigers will look to use to their advantage this fall will be the speed and depth at the skill positions. There are a lot of quick receivers in the mix, including senior returners Brandon Adorno and Johnny Escobalez, that will be good targets for starting quarterback Dylan Keenan, last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. Senior Jake Nadeau and juniors Jeremy Knief and Corbin Melo provide depth at the receiver position while senior William Buffington, junior Travis MacEachern, and sophomore Syre Duverna are options at tight end.

In the backfield, the Tigers will have to replace the production from Ethan Harris but there are some strong candidates to pick up those carries. Senior Elijah Prophete is a bruising back with a lot of power and a lot of speed while classmate Carlos Cruz showed some flashes last year and has some varsity experience. While there isn’t a ton of depth up front, there is experience on the line with senior captain Carlos Ramos anchoring a group that will feature seniors Austin Faria and Jake Cellucci along with junior Jose Melendez.

Defensively, the Tigers will feature a lot of the same faces and a lot of two-way players. Adorno and Escobalez will also play as defensive backs while Prophete, who could be poised for a breakout year on this side of the ball, will anchor a strong linebackers group that already features Buffington and Duverna. Taunton also has an edge in special teams with kicker Trinley Dudley back in the mix as one of the best punters and placekickers in the league.

“Excited to begin the season with this group,” said Taunton head coach Brad Sidwell, who starts his ninth year with the Tigers. “We have another solid group of seniors eager to continue improving our program. They are joined by many talented younger players who have been waiting their turn to compete. Need to gain experience and get off to a good start through the non-league start of the season as the toughness and difficulty of the Hockomock Kelley-Rex is always a challenge.”