RallyNorth.net

The talk surrounding the Peabody High football team throughout the offseason has been unusually positive for a team that suffered one of its most disappointing seasons in program history last fall.

The hiring of Peabody High teacher Dick Woodbury | after the resignation of two-year coach Paul Uva last winter | was met with immediate excitement, mainly because the 62-year-old math teacher had the backing of the players. Woodbury's decision to assemble a coaching staff built entirely with former Peabody coaches and players only solidified the sentiment of joy.

St. John's Prep football star Derek Coppola of North Reading has often babysat his three brothers, Tyler, Jared and Brandon.

Now he's chauffeuring them to conditioning drills at the school in preparation for the official start of preseason practice, Monday, Aug. 20. The youngsters are still yawning when Coppola reaches the Danvers parochial school at 6:20 a.m., 10 minutes before his reporting time for conditioning drills.

DANVERS | In this, the 100th season of football at St. John's Prep, it will be the team's skill players who will be asked to carry the squad while a slew of newcomers get used to life at the varsity level.

Last year's record: 21-0-2 (Div. 1 state champion)

Coach: Dave Crowell (7th season)

Returning players: Sean Bishop, Sr., Def/Mid; Brett McLarney, Sr., Def/Mid; Nick Marinakis, Sr., Mid; Justin Colella, Sr., Mid; Evan Ersing, Sr., F/Mid; Sam Gamer, Sr., Mid; Alex Farr, Sr., Mid/F; Dan Campbell, Sr., Mid/F; Tom Lockwood, Sr., Def; Tucker Garfield, Sr., Def; Owen Fox, Jr., Def/F.

DANVERS | The difference between a win or a loss is not the number of yards or first downs a team racks up, but how many points are on the board.

Visiting Central Catholic marched up and down the field in the first half, but never had a lead against St. John's Prep at Cronin Stadium. The Eagles relied on their defense for some big stops in the red zone to take the battle of Groveland, where both Prep's Jim O'Leary and Raider coach Chuck Adamopoulos reside, 27-17. It marked the third straight win for St. John's and overall the series is now 20-10-1 in its favor.