Lynn English High School football coach Peter Holey will lead a young and inexperienced team into the 2011 season.
English is scrimmaging Everett, Marblehead, St. John’s Prep, and St. Mary’s (Labor Day at 1 p.m. at Manning Field) in the preseason.
“That’s a good solid set of scrimmages for a young, inexperienced team that’s going to need a lot of work for the beginning of the year,” said Holey, whose team opens Sept. 9 versus Gloucester at Manning Field.
Gloucester is no longer a conference game for the Bulldogs. English is grouped with Classical, Revere, Peabody, North Andover, and Masconomet in the new realignment of Northeastern Conference and Cape Ann League schools.
Holey’s program graduated most of its offensive firepower as quarterback Tyllor McDonald and running back Melvin Tavares are now playing at Ventura Junior College in California. Wide receiver Travonne Berry-Rogers is playing football at Merrimack. Outstanding placekicker Cory Burt is another loss to the Bulldogs’ attack.
“As our coaches like to say, we lost a lot of touchdowns,” said Holey.
Jermaine Kelly, a transfer from Swampscott High, will likely start at quarterback. “He’s 6-foot-3, athletic and was third in the state in the hurdles last year,” said Holey. “He’s originally an East Lynn Pop Warner kid whose family has moved back to Lynn.”
English has also welcomed two transfers from Pope John High School, Malcolm Brown-Simpson and Jevon Brown-Simpson, who both began their careers at English.
Malcolm Brown-Simpson will likely start at wide receiver although he could see action at quarterback. Jevon Brown-Simpson will start at nose guard. Chris Lessard, a sophomore who started one game versus Peabody last season, is also in the mix at quarterback. “We think that Chris is the quarterback of the future,” said Holey.
PJ Dorsey, a returning NEC All-Star at outside linebacker, will be a go-to guy out of the Bulldogs’ offensive backfield. “PJ is the steadiest player and probably the best athlete and football player we have,” said Holey.
Dorsey will serve as one of the team captains. The other captains are Brendan Holey, Erik Holey, Jeremy Lessard, Mike Dwyer, Corey Moreau, and Jemerson Flores.
Brendan Holey will start at tight end while Erik will start at wide receiver. The twin brothers, who both stand 6 feet, 6 inches tall, will also play defensive end.
Jeremy Lessard and Mike Dwyer will anchor the defense at the linebacker positions. Josh Bautista will join Dorsey at the cornerback positions. Chris Lessard and Skyler Hogan are contending for the free safety position.
Chris Tinkham, a 6-feet-2, 270-pound sophomore, has impressed in pre-season workouts and could be a two-way starting lineman. Sophomore linebacker Zach Lozzi and junior cornerback Josh Mischel are making strong bids for starting roles.
One game that the Bulldogs are circling on their schedules is a non-conference showdown with Swampscott.
“After Classical, Swampscott’s our biggest rivalry,” said Holey.
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