Football Returns 40 Letterwinners As Buccaneers Finalize Preparations For 2009 Chowder Bowl

Growing pains are a part of most every aspect of life, and while the Massachusetts Maritime football team went through some of those pangs last season, the Buccaneers gained great experience and learned valuable lessons they are looking to apply for the 2009 campaign.

Fifth year Head Coach Jeremy Cameron returns 40 letterwinners and 10 starters this fall and is set to welcome nearly 50 newcomers to Buzzards Bay this fall, as Massachusetts Maritime looks to continue to climb the ladder of success in the New England Football Conference's Bogan Division.  And as the pieces come together for Cameron's squad, one constant is the outstanding leadership that has been a staple of the tradition of Buccaneer Football, leadership that will be provided by this season by seniors Jim Erlwein (Livingston Manor, N.Y./Sullivan West), Howard Hayes (Westport, Conn./Staples) and Joseph St. Pierre (Beverly, Mass./North Shore Tech) as well as junior Maxwell Whitney (Middletown, R.I./Middletown), who have all been elected as captains for the 2009 campaign.

"Our captains have shown great character throughout their career, and it is the qualities that they embody that will help shape the direction of our program both this season and in the future," Cameron says of his captain quartet.  "Their experience will be a positive influence on both our veterans and newcomers."

Here's a look at how things are shaping up for the 2009 edition of Massachusetts Maritime Football:

OFFENSE.  Junior Michael Tanner (Andover, Mass./Andover) makes the switch from receiver to quarterback this fall for the Bucs, and he will have some solid veterans at his disposal in both the backfield and receiving corps as he competes for the starting nod along with sophomore Cory Antunes (Brockton, Mass./Brockton).  Sophomore Matt White (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) rushed for 223 yards in eight contests with a pair of touchdowns as a rookie in 2008, while junior Douglas Dyke (Plainville, Mass./King Philip) lends additional experience in the running back corps in returning to action after an injury limited him to a 110-yard performance in the Chowder Bowl opener at New York Maritime. 

Sophomore Kyle Rowe (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) is the top returning receiver for Cameron this fall after snagging six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown as a rookie, while St. Pierre, junior Darryn Elder-Gotta (East Longmeadow, N.Y./East Longmeadow) and sophomore Russ Metcalfe (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) also provide a veteran presence and combined for eight receptions and 67 yards to go with a touchdown last fall.  The offensive line welcomes back three starters from last year in Whitney, senior William Hafferty (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) and junior Samuel Jackson (Wrentham, Mass./King Philip) and has additional experience from senior Fred Hayes (Scituate, Mass./Scituate), junior Colin Giles (Brentwood, N.H./St. John's Prep) and sophomores Andrew Bourget (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield), Will Beacom (Johnstown, Ohio/Johnstown-Monroe), Chris Dintino (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee), James Tenaglia (Marstons Mills, Mass./Bishop Stang), Chris Wellman (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) and Lenny Simmons (New Bedford, Mass./Bishop Stang).

DEFENSE.  Erlwein, a two-time all-New England Football Conference Bogan Division selection, leads an experienced Buccaneer defensive unit that returns six starters, as he posted a team-best 60 solo tackles (83 total) to go with one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.  Sophomore Walter Butler (Bourne, Mass./Bishop Stang) joins Erlwein on the defensive line after recording 51 total tackles (39 solo) and a sack during his inaugural season of action, while senior Chris Paze (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) lends additional experience after posting 30 total stops (14 solo) while starting in all 10 contests in 2008.  Sophomore Jack Gomes (Acushnet, Mass./Bishop Stang) looks to contribute after recording 27 total tackles (11 solo) as a rookie, while juniors Peter Avitabile (Bourne, Mass./Bourne) and Jonathan Poyau (Brockton, Mass./Brockton), along with sophomores Armand Pimentel (Fairhaven, Mass./Fairhaven) and Joshua Roberts (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) provide additional depth on the defensive line for Massachusetts Maritime, with the quartet combining for 22 tackles last fall.

Howard Hayes returns from an injury that limited him to three games last season to lead the Buccaneer linebacking corps, as he notched eight tackles in that limited action, while fellow senior Ryan Howley (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield), the 2007 NEFC Defensive Rookie of the Year, also returns after a year's hiatus and will have an immediate impact at the linebacker spot.  Senior Alex Butler (Bourne, Mass./Bishop Stang), who was Massachusetts Maritime's leading rusher in 2008, switches sides of the ball as a linebacker for his senior campaign and will be joined by sophomores Mike Bois (Lakeville, Mass./Apponequet), Darryl Foote (Wareham, Mass./Wareham), James Hutchinson (Pembroke, Mass./Pembroke) and Chris Kremler (Fernandina Beach, Fla./Fernandina Beach), who combined for a pair of tackles as rookies.

Senior Mike Dangoia (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) heads the returning group of defensive backs for Cameron, as he recorded 33 total tackles (18 solo) and an interception in 10 starts as a junior, while the tandem of junior Andy Hirko (Uxbridge, Mass./Holy Name) and sophomore Richard Thomson (Yarmouthport, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) return to the starting lineup for the Bucs after combining for 58 total tackles, including 39 solo stops.  Senior Matt Wiszowaty (Clearwater, Fla./Countryside) and sophomore Charles Sykes (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) lend additional experience as a line last of defense for Massachusetts Maritime, as the duo combined for 30 total tackles (21 solo) in 15 appearances.

SPECIAL TEAMS.  Junior Jake Bickley (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional), who earned all-New England Football Conference Bogan Division honors last season, is set to handle the placekicking and punting duties for the Buccaneers, as he posted an 80 percent conversion rate on five field goal attempts (with a long of 39 yards) and averaged 38.1 yards per punt, including a long of 70 yards against Framingham State in October.  Junior Jarad Horey (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard), an NEFC All-Academic selection in each of his first two seasons, will compete with Bickley for both kicking spots.

A favorable schedule awaits Cameron's crew in 2009, as Massachusetts Maritime will play six home contests, including four of its first five in the friendly confines of Clean Harbors Stadium.  After the season opener with New York Maritime, the Buccaneers will host cross-divisional foe MIT before tangling with Bogan Division rivals Worcester State and Coast Guard before the first Saturday in October is complete.  Massachusetts Maritime will host two of its storied traditional rivalry games as well at Clean Harbors Stadium this fall, as Maine Maritime comes to Buzzards Bay for the Admiral's Cup on October 17^th before Bridgewater State heads to the Cape for the 31^st Annual Cranberry Bowl on November 7^th.

 A season of excitement, anticipation and experience awaits Buccaneer Football followers in 2009, and that campaign kicks off with the Third Annual Chowder Bowl contest with New York Maritime on Tuesday, September 3^rd at Clean Harbors Stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT.