How New Bedford High football plans to ride a strong offseason into a successful 2022
NEW BEDFORD — There’s a new-found swagger on the football field at New Bedford High this fall.
The Whalers got to experience their first normal offseason since 2019 this summer and it’s showing.
“I’m excited,” said New Bedford High head coach Mark DeBrito. “The last year and a half was a struggle and it’s not even about the wins and losses. It is what it is. To see what our kids had to endure and deal with all that stuff and not be able to be there all the time with them to provide an outlet, alternative and structure. Now we’ve got a chance to be around each other.
“They’ve got a chance to experience what we’ve been doing prior to COVID. I feel bad for the past two classes, but this group got experience.”
On the first day out of school for the summer, the Whalers were up at Boston College taking part in a seven-on-seven competition.
“We played Springfield Central,” DeBrito said. “As you know they were state champs and their quarterback is going to Nebraska. Our guys were eyes wide open and then we started competing.
“We did very well in that tournament. Our kids were gaining confidence playing against some of these teams and beating some of these teams. That opened their eyes to what an offseason really is because we haven’t been able to do any of that.”
It didn’t stop there.
“It grew into the weight room three or four days a week and then on Wednesday nights they’d get with other local teams and do more seven on sevens,” DeBrito said. “The mindset was different.”
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The commitment of New Bedford’s players went up a notch.
“It was great because the years before everything stopped, but this year we got after it,” said senior offensive lineman/linebacker Devin Vieira. “We had a lot more guys in there working out. We’re way ahead because everybody has come together.
“It builds trust because when you see other guys working as hard as you or harder than you it shows that they care.”
Senior receiver/defensive end Kevin Ayala agreed, “Having more guys back we have more confidence. It shows we can trust each other on both sides of the ball.”
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Senior quarterback Amari Harris took a major leadership role throughout the offseason, building up to his first year as the team’s starter.
“I think the biggest jump was with our quarterback,” DeBrito said. “Amari Harris who was our backup last year, he’s made such strides this summer.
“This summer he has been awesome. He’s put on at least 10 pounds of muscle and he’s been at every workout, every seven-on-seven and he’s held captains' practices. That leadership that he’s bringing, I think has helped our receivers.”
Harris didn’t play his sophomore year because of the pandemic so he spent most of last fall playing catch up.
“His mom worked on the front line — bless her — she saw what it was like so he didn’t play,” DeBrito said. “The next year he was still cautious of what it was like going on so he never got a chance to develop.”
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Harris added, “Last year I came in a little slow. I was missing a couple of practices. This year I just came every day to work so we’d get better as a team. I think our potential is high and we can do great things as long as we work hard enough.”
DeBrito said Harris has the knowledge and athleticism to take on the QB duties.
“He’s very knowledgeable of the offense,” he said. “He’s got an understanding of what we’re trying to do. He knows his progression. He knows his reads so he’s going to be able to manage a game.
“He’s athletic. He can do different things. He’s worked a lot on his arm strength this summer and he’s popping the ball a little bit. The guys are putting trust in him now that he’s committed.”
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A big strength of the Whalers this winter is the experience and depth of their skilled players.
“We’ve got seven guys back on offense and eight guys back on defense so I think the experience of playing,” DeBrito said. “We have depth in our skill positions. We’ve got a lot of guys who have gotten snaps at the varsity level. That’s going to help us.”
A trio of wide receivers — seniors Dezmond Brunskill and Jahzed Valls and junior Anthony Diakite — are back with experience.
“That helps a lot because they know what they’re doing and their responsibilities so that makes it easier for me,” Harris said.
Out of the backfield will be a combination of senior Colin Gibbs, junior Zakari Nunes and sophomore Jarren Goodine.
“We have depth and guys that can handle the load,” DeBrito said. “The line is where we’re thin. We have guys who have played at the line, but we need depth.”
After winning just one game in the past two seasons combined, things are looking up for the Whalers.
“As a group we’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, but we want to come back together and work our butts off and we want to succeed together,” said senior lineman Bayron Maldonado.
“The summer was big for us,” DeBrito said. “I think the big thing is we have to learn how to win. Can we learn how to get along with each other? Can we trust each other? Can we work hard together? If they can do that and they figure out how to win, I think we’re going to be good and we’re going to be competitive.
“I think we can bring it to the teams we’re playing on our schedule. We’re not going to be the pushover it was the last couple of years.”
2022 SCHEDULE
Sept 9: Taunton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Middleboro, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: Attleboro, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30: at Lincoln-Sudbury, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: at Barnstable, 6 p.m.
Oct. 15: Bridgewater-Raynham, 1 p.m.
Oct. 22: at Brockton, 1 p.m.
Oct. 28: at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24: Durfee, 10:15 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford High football 2022 season preview
