Everett High cheerleader Alexa Aurite roots on the Crimson Tide.
Independent Staff Report
The game wasn’t going to be pretty anyway, with rain pelting down on the grass at Everett Memorial Stadium Friday night for the season opener.
But the 1-0 record certainly looks great on paper for the Everett High football team, who repelled a serious challenge from Leominster to take away a 14-6 victory in the traditional non-league match-up.
Jean Bourdeau rushed for 115 yards to highlight a strong showing by the Everett backfield. Manny Asprilla contributed 79 yards on the ground.
Everett starting quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso made a solid debut at the helm of the offense. DiBiaso was at his best on an early 17-play scoring drive, completing 5-of-6 passes and connecting with receiver Matt Costello for a 40-yard touchdown..
Everett High football coach John DiBiaso and his son, Jonathan, the starting quarterback look on from the Crimson Tide sidelines during the season opener Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.
Leominster closed the gap to 7-6 late in the first half on a 65-yard drive. The Blue Devils had an opportunity to take the lead in the third quarter but misfired on a 33-yard field goal attempt.
Vondell Langston gave Everett some breathing room with a 14-yard touchdown run. Freshman Gilly DeSouza booted the second of his two PATs to produce a 14-6 advantage that was well protected by the Everett defense.
Mike LaRochelle, a four-year starter and senior linebacker who has been rated among the best defensive players in pre-season previews, turned in an excellent effort on defense.
Everett quarterback Jonathan DiBiaso has his sights on a receiver during a pass play in the Crimson Tide’s 14-6 win over Leominster in the season opener Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium. Everett travels to Dracut Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff .
Tide Notebook
The slippery conditions seemed to slow down the game a bit, but the Leominster defense deserves some credit for limiting Everett to two scores.
Meanwhile, LaRochelle and Company kept Leominster’s speedy quarterback in check, holding the Blue Devils’ offense to six points. We expect Leominster will average at least 3-4 touchdowns a game for the rest of the season.
Freshman Gilly DeSouza has some of the biggest shoes to fill on the team, those of four-year placekicker Igor Garcia. DeSouza was a perfect 2-for-2 on extra points.
Everett running back Jean Bourdeau follows his blocking in Friday’s game against Leominster. Bourdeau rushed for 115 yards in the Tide’s 14-6 win.
The DiBiaso-Costello combination will certainly provide plenty of excitement for Everett High fans. Costello had five receptions for 78 yards and seemed to find the openings in the Leominster secondary. DiBiaso, who shared the quarterbacking duties with senior Joe Conti last year, knows the position well after a sensational Pop Warner career and one varsity season in his father coach John DiBiaso’s program.
The Eastern Bank commercial featuring the Everett High football team has debuted on television and it’s an outstanding effort by all parties. The football program, band, and cheerleaders are portrayed in an excellent light and the commercial is well scripted. The charismatic coach, John DiBiaso, comes across particularly well in the commercial, especially when he states, “I am order.”