by Adam Colbert
After a 6-0 start to the seven game regular season, the Hawks were looking to finish the season strong against North Middlsesex on October 25.
Coach Dan McAnespie said the team would approach the game “just like we always do, preparation, preparation, preparation.” Senior right guard and D-tackle Alex Sleeper added, “Our 6-0 record doesn’t matter. We need to play the same way. We need to play like we’re 0-6, and we need to win a game.”
McAnespie believed the key to winning this game was to control the amount of time they had the ball, but it was going to be a good defensive game. Compared to other teams, North Middlesex was a “little stronger than teams in league like Algonquin and Westboro,”, but he felt the team was prepared.
The team faced a challenge this week because of major injuries. Starting quarterback Dan Mendes was out with shoulder injuries, and starting running back Dan Bothwell is out for season with a broken foot suffered in practice. Senior Andrew Weinen replaced Mendes at quarterback, and sophomore Jesse Nemerowicz replaced Bothwell at running back.
Nemerowicz is a good replacement for Bothwell according to Sleeper. They both “run through people and scare people away. They’re like trains; they don’t stop.”
Hudson won the game 42-19, pushing their record to 7-0. Senior Evan Cain had two punt returns in the game to help the team win.
After this game, the team will prepare for the playoffs. They are playing Groton-Dunstable on November 1 at the Morgan Bowl. McAnespie says the team will prepare for playoffs “same way as all year, give players as much information as possible. We’re just taking it one week at a time.”
“Every day at practice we need to be on point; we can’t mess around. We need to be serious,” says Sleeper. “In playoffs we are going to play harder teams. We have to step our game up.”
Hudson had defeated Groton-Dunstable 41-7 on September 20, and they are ready for a rematch this Friday.
