Rocky Nelson Team Quotations

Duggan is the ultimate team player. His natural position is receiver. His punting and our punt coverage have been consistent all season long and have been instrumental in our getting good field position.

We saw what teams like Chelmsford and others do by scheduling tough non-league games. Chelmsford got blown out by Gloucester, but still won their league. Non-league games don't hurt you, but they certainly can get you ready for your league season.

We are a better football team with Mike Duggan at wide receiver. He gives us more athleticism at wide out. And Danny at quarterback allows us to pass more. We did have some bugaboos in the Reading game.

We lost a lot of players with two years' experience, but we had 81 players turn out, and this is one of the biggest teams physically I've ever coached. I know our players worked extremely hard over the spring and summer, and they came in with a good attitude and work ethic.

We get on a bus for every game. We miss Connelly Stadium, but we definitely need a new high school and our kids never complain. They walk across Montvale Ave. and over a hill to the elementary school and then walk back after practice. But we're a closer team because of it.

We were sleepwalking for a while, but we got after the team at halftime and challenged them. They responded. We played some great defense.

Playing teams like Acton-Boxborough and Billerica should prepare us better than in the past for our league season. That can only help us. But we also have to stay healthy.

Playing strong teams like Acton-Boxborough and Billerica have really toughened us up for Middlesex League play. A year ago we weren't ready for league play. Now we're in game shape. We'll definitely be a contender for the league title. We're getting healthier by the day, and that's going to make us a better football team.