By Kyle Auger
Co-Editor-in-Chief

If there  is one word to describe Westford Academy football, it is prepared. Twice a week since February the team has been lifting weights and running before school.  The preparation was necessary, with the team’s personnel being completely shifted around by graduating starters, with a new head coach, defensive coordinator, quarterback, and new players all over the field.

“[Nate] Tashjy, [Justin] Mount, and [Andrew] Dunne were definitely the big three [losses from last year],” said senior linebacker Alex Antes.

Another notable loss was quarterback Troy Faretra, who will be replaced by senior Luke Moran, who has no prior varsity experience running the offense. The graduation of Faretra paired with Mount leave the offense almost weaponless, provoking the coaching staff to change their game plan that had relied heavily on using an athletic quarterback.

“Our terminology is a little different, and we will be using a tight end again. It’s different because Moran isn’t a running quarterback, he is more of a pocket passer,” said Antes.

Although Moran is not experienced, he feels up to it and is excited.

“It is amazing, I am not nervous; we have been preparing since February. We are ready,” said Moran.

The offense is the side of the ball the fans love, but this year may not be the fireworks show it was in prior years and defense may have to carry the team.  However, the defense may have been just as marred by departures as the offense.

Losing Tashjy and Mount hurts the defense significantly, causing younger players to have to step up.

“Tommy Jacobson is stepping up at corner, and Ryan Pocock and Jake Martin will be filling in for Tashjy and Matt Baker. They both have prior varsity experience,” said senior Ryan Semeter, a defensive starter.

The new leader of the defense is coach Molesso, a teacher at Haverhill, who was a 4 year All-American football player at Bentley University while playing with new head coach Adam Gagne.

Gagne is just another new face in his position. He was promoted to head coach after former coach Richard McKenna left for Billerica. His coaching style is far different than McKenna; he is more popular among the players and is less of an intimidator.

“Coach Gagne is more of ‘players coach’, and I think he will have a bright future at the coaching job,” said Antes.