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The Winchester High football team is cruising into the Division 2 Super Bowl playoffs after easily dispatching host Belmont last Friday night, 35-0. Since then, they have been preparing for North Quincy, a familiar opponent that they defeated in the Round of 16 last year at home, 42-6.
The team was the fourth seed with an 8-0 undefeated record, while North Quincy (4-4) was ranked 13th. This year, both teams have identical 6-2 records, but despite all of that they are pretty much reversing roles in the power rankings.
North Quincy is fifth, while the Winchester boys are 12th overall, and as a result, this year’s game is at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Hancock Street in Quincy tonight, Nov. 6, beginning at 7 p.m.
Coach Wally Dembowski says his club is playing well with a few caveats mixed in to keep them better focused on the game.
“We're playing well, but still need to communicate with each other better, while also playing a little more physical on both sides of the ball,” the coach said. “Simply put, we’ll have to play well at all times to move along in the tournament.”
During the Belmont game, the Red & Black certainly did all of that. Senior captain Dominic Vozzella led the way with two scores. His first touchdown was a short burst from the one, was a bit longer from the 10. He also had an impressive 35-yard catch and run.
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Senior Stephen McCabe, Jr. also found the endzone on the ground after powering his way through the line for the one.
Senior captain Peter Alexopoulos kept the Belmont defense on its heels. He found fellow captain Will Bolognese for a 35-yard scoring strike. Later in the game, Alexopoulos hooked up with Andrew Haigis in the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown. Kicker Zayne Osman was nails once again kicking extra points, going five for five.
Bolognese also played a solid defensive game, intercepting a pass to help preserve the shutout, along with Christaki Kolias. Linebacker Pierre Bodo and lineman Jack Lennon turned in strong performances up front.
Both have been improving in every game, according to Dembowski, who added, “the older players are doing a good job, while the younger, inexperienced players have grown up into varsity players.”
But it’s all about the playoffs now, and once again it starts up tonight, Nov. 6, against North Quincy at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, beginning at 7 p.m.
Jackson Lewis is a junior journalism student at Boston University. This story is part of a partnership between the Winchester News and the Boston University Department of Journalism’s Newsroom program.
