Leading his alma mater, Jesse Peno ready to see the work pay off for Nauset High football
Winless seasons aren't fun for anyone involved. The trick is finding the positives within it and using it as motivation to change it.
That's the challenge that's facing first-year head coach Jesse Peno and his 2022 Nauset High football team. Peno takes over after time spent as an assistant for the program, and having been a part of the winless season a year ago, is hoping the work, will translate into wins.
"I know just from watching them from the outside, (that) they finished the season strong, and didn't give up," Peno said. "They've got the ability, they've got the desire, now can they win close games?"
The role is special for Peno. In addition to being a teacher at the school, Peno both graduated and played football for the Warriors and now will lead his alma mater out on Fridays.
More high school football: Find all our Cape Cod preseason coverage to get you ready for the year here
"Im excited and I think it was the right timing," Peno said. "It just kind of worked out. "It's a good solid group (of) guys I know. Just a good group to be around."
The Warriors were a young team a year ago. They enter this season with more experience, and more bodies. Leading this year's team is a group of hungry seniors preparing for their last ride.
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One of the seniors, Raven Bennett, said the biggest key to success this season is the work that's already been put in this summer. Fellow senior Nicholas Voll agreed, adding that the bond they've built will carry them this season.
"We've got four years of chemistry on us now," Voll said. "We've been working together for so long, we're basically family now."
Peno hopes that his team has learned from the tough losses from a year ago. With the experience under his player's belts, the Warriors will be looking to make noise in 2022.
Nauset Warriors Fall 2022 football schedule:
Week 1: Friday Sept. 9 at Norwell, 6 p.m.
Week 2: Friday, Sept. 16 vs East Bridgewater, 6 p.m.
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 24 at North Middlesex, 3 p.m.
Week 4: Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Falmouth, 7 p.m.
Week 5: Friday, Oct. 7 at Martha's Vineyard, 6 p.m.
Week 6: Friday, Oct. 14 vs Nantucket, 4:30 p.m.
Week 7: Friday, Oct. 21 at Sandwich, 6 p.m.
Week 8: Friday Oct. 28 vs Carver, 6 p.m.
Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 24 at Dennis-Yarmouth, 10 a.m.
Matchups to Watch
Back-to-back weeks against playoff teams from last season on Oct. 14 and 21, will be a good measuring stick for how far this team has come. The Warriors werre outscored 66-6 combined in the games against Sandwich and Nantucket, and they'll be looking to turn that around in 2022.
Key Returning Players:
Raven Bennett, OL/DL
Alex Leighton, OL/DL
Nicholas Voll, OL/DL,
Corey Vendetti, LB/FB/DE
Dillon White, QB
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Previewing Nauset's 2022 high school football season
