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North Andover football preview

2006 record: 7-4

Returning starters (4): Andrew Bogosian, Sr., OL/DL, 6-1 225; Steve Boudreau, Sr., QB/DB, 6-1, 185; Matt Burckhardt, Sr., FB/LB, 6-0, 190; Nick Faucher, Sr., WR/DB, 6-3, 190

Returning lettermen: Kyle Dolan, Sr., TE/DE, 6-2, 195; Chris Friend, Sr., OL/DL, 5-9, 190; Kenny Kobierski, Sr., RB/DB, 5-10, 180; Adam Lurvey, Sr., TE/DE, 6-2, 210; Alex Marchegiani, Sr., OL/LB, 6-0, 200; Ross Marchegiani, Sr., OL/LB, 6-0/200; Dave Sousa, Sr., WR/DB, 5-9, 180; Joseph Witts, Sr., OL/DL, 5-11, 225; Julien Lacourse, Jr., LB, 5-9, 175; Michael Miller, Jr., OL/DL, 6-0, 235; Tim Ringdahl, Jr., OL/DL, 6-4, 300; Chris Buco, Jr., WR/DB, 5-9, 160; Ricky Williams, Jr., LB/RB, 5-11/180; Ian Hardy, Jr., RB/DB, 5-9, 165; Aaron Brunette, Jr., WR/DB, 6-1, 175; Juan Areces, Jr., WR/DB, 5-8, 180

Newcomers: Zac Iovanella, Soph., RB/DB, 5-9, 150; Alex Blane, Soph., OL/DL, 6-3, 210; Ben Holm, Soph., OL/DL, 6-3, 210; Tommy O’Connell, Soph., QB/DB, 5-10, 155; Connor Walsh, Soph., QB/DB, 6-0, 170; Kyle Kobierski, Soph., OL/LB, 5-11, 187; Matt Hogan, Soph., WR/DB, 5-8, 140

Candidates in all grades: 95

Captains: Steve Boudreau, Matt Burckhardt

Offense: Pro set; Defense: 4-3

Returning leaders: Matt Burckhardt 103-511-5.0 rushing, 3 TDs; Kenny Kobierski 35-148-4.2 rushing

Returning honorees: Matt Burckhardt, CAL All-Star

Assistants: Kevin Slattery, Pat Donahue, Chris Dufresne, Mike Mosto, Chris Long, Andy Van Horn (freshmen), Sean Daley (freshmen assistant)

Opener: Friday, hosts Andover, 7

Odds and ends: The Knights tied for 2006 CAL Large title with a 4-1 league record, but missed out on a playoff berth due to tiebreaker of points allowed. ... Identical senior twins Alex and Ross Marchegiani will play key roles on the offensive line, where Andrew Bogosian is an all-star candidate. “I can’t even tell them apart,” says coach John Rafferty of the 6-foot, 200-pound brothers who both play linebacker as well. … Rafferty feels the team has gotten consistently better in scrimmages against Reading, Tewksbury, Malden, Stoneham and Methuen. ... Rafferty listed replacing his front four and two out of his three starting linebackers as his major concern on defense. ... The Knights' secondary should be strong with proven playmakers Steve Boudreau and Nick Faucher returning.

Coach John Rafferty (7th year, 41-23): “We’re in a situation now where we probably have the most inexperience since we started It’s a hard working group with a great attitude and my two captains are great leaders. We’ve done some things very well (in the preseason), until our inexperience has taken over. But I see those things as being correctable."