Everett High quarterback Duke Doherty raced through numerous North Shore defenses during his spectacular youth football career.
Friday night, Doherty took a page from his past and showed that he is not only one of the best passers in Massachusetts, but he can get the job done on the ground as well.
Doherty has another contingent of outstanding wide receivers on this year’s team just he had last season with Mike Sainristil and Company. But he is complementing his passing game with a number of long-gainers on scrambles and set plays.
Doherty rushed for 109 yards and had a 37-yard touchdown run in Everett’s 27-21 victory. It appears that his off-season workouts have bolstered his already-strong game.
“It’s exciting to show my running a little bit and I’m just going to keep working and striving for our goals,” said Doherty.
Doherty said the team had a renewed sense of energy this week, continuing the dedication the team showed during spring and summer workouts.
“The team put a lot of effort in during the practices and we were ready to go,” said Doherty. “We just have to make plays.”
Doherty said he saw some openings in the Xaverian defense, which seemed to be focusing downfield on sophomore Ismael Zamor and the other capable receivers.
“I just saw a lot of green grass on that play [touchdown] but I felt good about running the ball before the game,” said Doherty.
Asked about the road ahead, Doherty said, “We’ve always had the confidence. We all have the same goal. We all want to win.”
St. John’s of Shrewsbury presents another tough test for Doherty and Everett Friday. St. John’s has emerged as the No. 1 power in central Massachusetts, having won a Super Bowl in 2017.