11 September, 2014
FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Keefe Technical School and Marian High School cooperative football team kicked off their first season together with a win against Matignon High School at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville on Saturday, September 6.
The Mustangs, who received approval in April from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to merge and become a cooperative football program, beat Matignon 28-6.
“Keefe Tech and Marian High had both enjoyed a long history of successful football programs until last season when the numbers on both teams’ rosters dwindled, said Chris Kane, Keefe Tech Athletic Director. “We decided to propose a merger of the two teams and received approval last spring. With a new head coach on-board, a great pre-season and a group of very committed athletes, we see a great opportunity for success.”
First year head coach, Rich Gunnell, former Boston College star wide receiver and Kansas City Chiefs player, is joined by assistant coaches Harry LaSage, former football coach at Ayer High School, Don Marini, former Keefe Tech head football coach and Josef Vargas, a former youth football coach in Wellesley.
According to Coach Gunnell, “We currently have 45 kids on the roster, which is great considering both schools’ numbers were well below that last season. It’s usually the better teams that win games, not the better individuals. The kids have really grasped the concept, ‘two schools, one team’ and our players are working hard to build off of that motto. It doesn’t matter which school you attend. Whether it’s Marian or Keefe Tech, when we get on the field we play together as one team. It’s a great thing to see two schools who were once rivals now playing together to achieve one goal.”
Keefe Tech senior Brandon In has played football all four years of high school. “I had my doubts at the beginning about forming a team with Marian, but the work ethic is much improved from previous years due to the fact that everyone wants to prove themselves on this team. As the season started, we all started to bond as a team and a family. Out of all the years I’ve played football, this season is definitely the best,” In said.
Marian High senior Gregory Estes added, “This first year co-op has made a tremendous impact on the players as well as both schools. Players from both schools have grown together to become a single family. We work hard and push each other to not only make us better individually but as a whole team. Our team motto, ‘two schools, one team’ really sums it up.”
The Keefe-Marian team is a member of the Massachusetts Catholic Central-Small League. Practices are held at Keefe Tech and home games are played on Friday nights at Framingham State University.
