Red Devil Football Team Opens Pre-season

If the calendar (and the weatherman!) are telling us that the proverbial dog days of August are here, then that must mean it’s double-session time for schoolboy football players everywhere. Coach Mike Stellato’s Chelsea High gridders are no exception to that rule this week, as Stellato will be pacing his troops through the grind of double-workout days today (Thursday) and tomorrow in anticipation of Saturday morning’s first pre-season scrimmage against West Roxbury.

“Enthusiasm has been high and everybody has been working hard,” said Stellato, who greeted his candidates for the 2013 campaign on the first day of practice Monday.  “We have a great group of boys and we’re looking forward to the season ahead.”

The Red Devils return a number of key performers from last year’s squad at the skill positions, including senior running back Jose Martinez, junior running back Sammy Rivera, and quarterback Mark Anthony Williams. Sophomore wide receiver Nelson Vega also figures to be a key figure in the CHS offensive attack.

However, it is a football truism that an offense is only as good as its line and Stellato will be counting upon a pair of stalwarts in Francisco Mercedes and Joe DeJesus to anchor his troops up front.

“We haven’t chosen our captains yet,” noted Stellato, “but we expect to be doing so shortly after our first scrimmage.”

Saturday’s scrimmage at Chelsea Stadium with West Roxbury will get underway at 11:00. The Devils will trek next Thursday evening to Framingham for a tri-scrimmage with Marian Academy and Boston English. The regular season opener will be a Friday Night Lights affair on September 13th at the Stadium vs. St Joseph’s Academy. That contest will be highlighted by the dedication of the Stadium press box in the memory of the late Arnie Goodman, the long-time CHS teacher who served as the Voice of the Red Devils for many years.

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