The return of Scituate Athletics is undoubtedly one of the most exciting aspects of the back-to-school season. Students and fans enjoy the fall sports season, eager to see how each team fares in their division.
The sport that seems to steal the show each year is football. The team has led Scituate to numerous State Championship wins. Last season, they had a strong playoff run, only falling short with a Super Bowl loss to Duxbury.
At the start of the 2024 season, Scituate was ranked 20th, set to play the 5th seed and the defending Division 5 Champions, Foxborough. With such a difference in seeding, fans and players were uncertain about the outcome of the matchup. Still, the Sailors took their home turf on Friday, September 6th, with an unwavering desire to compete—and they delivered.
Following an extremely close game, with each point scored countered by the Foxborough Warriors, it all came down to the final second. As regulation was nearing expiration, junior quarterback Jonny Donovan heaved a Hail Mary pass into the end zone. The Sailors then rushed the field in celebration as senior captain Lawson Foley came up with the catch, leading the Sailors to victory with a 41-yard walk-off touchdown.
The players and coaching staff that compose Scituate Football have dedicated themselves to the game they love, both in season and out. Senior captain Willy Robinson remarked, “We usually have film and then a walk-through on Mondays. Tuesdays are lifting and then a full-pads practice. Wednesdays are full pads, and Thursdays are, too, plus lift. Then, we have a Friday night game.”
The team has been in the weight room and conditioning on the field since last winter and was involved in two 7v7 passing leagues during the summer. In early August, players came together and suited up for pre-season camp. Together, they have dedicated countless hours to preparing for the season.
The team’s success can also be attributed to the chemistry they’ve developed and the bond they continue to forge–both on and off the field. This year’s team is “senior heavy,” so many players have been together since elementary and middle school. Additionally, the players make sure they’re always showing up for each other, whether getting the team together for dinner the night before a game or cheering on the freshman and JV teams on Saturday mornings. Robinson stated, “We have a lot of talent in this program, but what makes it count is when we all come together.”
With such a rigorous schedule and incredible determination, Scituate players and fans are optimistic about the season’s outcome. Wyllys Ames, a senior captain for the 2024 season, stated that starting the season positively ” fuels the fire.” While warning against developing a sense of overconfidence, Ames remarked, “We know how great we can be,” which instills a sense of hope within all those rooting for Scituate football.