Click each of the links below for video, articles and features about the Worcester State University football team, who hopes to vie for this years New England Football Conference Bogan Division crown.
TV Chartercom 3 | Noontime Sports | GoLocalWorcester.com | Telegram & Gazette
Friday Night Football Frenzy
August 24 - Full Interview With Tony Reno (Starts at 7:45)
August 24 - Full Worcester State Football Preview (Starts at 15:38)
August, 21
Tony Reno Interview - Former Worcester State football alum and defensive coordinator, now head coach at Yale University
Worcester State Highlights - Interviews with wide reciever AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA) and defensive back Graham Asum (Marlboro, MA) - Starts at 2:31 Mark
August 16 - Inside Worcester State Training Camp
August 15 - Worcester State Football Camp Pictures
August 10 - Worcester State Football Preview
August 17 - "Worcester State Excited About Young Talent"
By Joe Parello, Sports Editor
Worcester State enjoyed a turnaround season in 2011, going 8-3 and achieving its first winning season since 2004.
The Lancers were a veteran group last year, led offensively by senior quarterback Tony Tokarz and senior running back Marcus Price. On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Ray St. Laurent led the New England Football Conference with 10.5 sacks.
Still, longtime coach Brien Cullen feels good about his younger players that have been waiting for their chance.
"We lose a lot of experience but, on the offensive side of the ball, we have guys like (senior quarterback) Corey Spencer and (sophomore running back) Kemani Jones who played a bunch last year when the starters were injured," Cullen said. "We have great confidence in them, and we have a lot of confidence in the guys behind them."
Spencer seems prepared to step in at quarterback after appearing in five games last season, throwing for 175 yards and a touchdown. Cullen also likes what he's seen from junior Kyle Moon and recent Assumption transfer sophomore Kevin Bumpus, who started for the Greyhounds last year. Whichever quarterback earns the job will get the chance to throw to an experienced receiving corps, led by last year's receptions leader junior AJ Scerra.
Defensively, St. Laurent leaves a huge void in the pass rushing department, but sophomore Tyler Asam may be able to fill his shoes. The Milford native earned NEFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors last season after recording 12 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
"He's a guy with a great motor, he just never stops," Cullen said. "We're hoping he can keep improving, and we could see him grabbing some regional awards this year. By the time he's a junior or senior, he's a guy I could see being up for some national recognition."
Cullen is also high on sophomore defensive end Zack Skerry, who played with Asam at Milford High. The coach believes the two will be solid on the edge, while junior Bryan Narcisse returns as one of the conference's better interior linemen.
At linebacker, look for junior Matthew Begley to fill in on the inside after a solid spring. One huge question mark for the Lancers, though, will be in the defensive backfield.
Now graduated is All D3football.com All-East cornerback Cliff Oratokhai, and Cullen says finding the former South High star's successor is still a work in progress.
"We're still looking," Cullen said. "We have an athletic freshman, Y-Kim Sheppard, that has looked really good. He's young, but that seems to be the way we're going."
The Lancers open their season at home Friday August 31st against local rival Anna Maria. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
August 26 - "Young Talented Lancers Will Be Tested Early" - By Bill Doyle - Preview Article
August 22 - "Snap Decisions For Asum, Scerra" - By Bill Doyle - Feature Article