The Chelsea High football team showed a lot of good signs for the coming 2013 campaign in their initial pre-season scrimmage Saturday morning against West Roxbury at Chelsea Memorial Stadium.
“Overall things went well,” said CHS head coach Mike Stellato. “The team came out fired up and ready to play. It was nice to hit someone with a different-color jersey for a change after only intra-squad play for a week.”
The contest was of the controlled-scrimmage variety which the Red Devils won, three touchdowns to two, on the strength of a trifecta of scoring passes by junior quarterback Mark Anthony Williams covering distances of 35, 40, and 35 yards. Junior wide receiver Adrial Rodriguez was on the receiving end of two of the TD strikes and junior running back Kalvin Duran hauled in a third.
“Mark did a nice job directing the first offense and he threw the ball well,” said Stellato. “It was an overall total team effort and a good performance for the first scrimmage of the season.”
The coach noted the strong showing turned in by the offensive line which “did a nice job of blocking.” Stellato in particular cited the fine play of senior lineman Jose Romero.
On the defensive side of the ball, Stellato mentioned the strong efforts of junior outside linebacker Christiam Calix and senior defensive end Jose Martinez. “Both Christian and Jose did a nice job for us,” noted Stellato. “The team was very aggressive on defense, which was good to see, but we still have a lot to work on at this stage of the season.”
The Red Devils’ second and final pre-season contest is set for tomorrow (Friday) evening with a tri-scrimmage at Boston English in which Marian of Framingham will be the third opponent.
Chelsea’s next encounter will be the regular-season opener which is set for Friday, September 13, under the lights at the Stadium against St. Joseph’s of Newton. The stadium press box will be dedicated to the late Arnie Goodman, who for decades was the Voice of the Red Devils. The CHS players will be wearing special “AG” decals on their helmets for the occasion.