Fitchburg State Concentrating On Getting Better Everyday In 2012

The Fitchburg State football team enters the 2012 campaign working hard and looking to get back to the top of the conference where it belongs. After being picked eighth overall in the New England Football Conference’s (NEFC) Pre-Season Coaches Poll, the Falcons have nowhere to go but up!

This year’s offseason has been very busy for the Fitchburg State football program as nearly two-thirds of the players are new to the University. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Pat Haverty, the Falcons have focused on becoming fundamentally sound throughout camp and are driving home the importance of team chemistry with their newly acquired players.

 “Our goal is to get better every day,” said Haverty. “If we strive to get better everyday, then we will strive to get better every game and eventually get better in the win column too.”

Preseason camp has been strong for the Falcons, who are looking climb back up to the top of the Poll. After two weeks of grueling practices, the Falcons traveled to Husson College to scrimmage, bringing home a win and a boatload of momentum.

“Fitchburg State has become stagnant in building its program over the last several years,” said Haverty. “This year, our team is committed to working hard, day-in an day-out, in order to achieve our goal of getting better.”

With its new additions to both the offense and defense, Fitchburg State looks to pick up the slack from a year ago with more production on both sides of the ball. The strength of the Falcons offense lies in its running backs with sophomore Steph’fon Teague (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) leading the charge. Last season, Teague emerged as the Falcons top back, posting 485 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Freshman Cody Titus (Peterborough, N.H./Saint Bernards) has also shown glimpses of being a top back during camp, while newcomers Luis Feliz (Clinton, Mass./Clinton) and Malik Daniel (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) will see time in their rookie campaign.

Fitchburg State will also possess a fullback package this season with a three-headed monster in Anthony Pasternoster (Oxford, Conn./Oxford), Junior Louissaint (Queens Village, N.Y./Flushing) and Jermaine Patterson (Lynn, Mass./Lynn) all filling in nicely. On the outside, junior Brian Wallace (Ayer, Mass./Ayer) and Ty Spencer (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) will be joined by Anthony Brooks (Hubbardston, Mass./Quabbin Regional) and Steven Vasquez (Wethersfield, Conn./Wethersfield), at receiver, while Christian Lopez (Bronx, N.Y./Adelia Stephenson) and Brian MacDonald (Westwood, Mass./Hebron Academy) battle it out for the starting quarterback role.

On the line, veterans Brendan Coan (Westbrook, Conn./Westbrook), Pat Johnson (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) and Dan Della Giustina (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) have locked down their starting positions, while newcomers Jamison DiGeronimo (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg), Jeffrey Balbi (Lawrence, Mass./Greater Lawrence Tech) and Vincent Antonucci (Flushing, N.Y./Bayside) are all pushing for a starting role.

On the defensive side of the ball, Fitchburg State will rely on its line to create some havoc as captains Bob Booth (Johnston, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) and Jesus Moore (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence) look to anchor the squad. Moore will find his home at defensive end after posting 37 tackles a year ago, while Booth will reside at the defensive tackle, transitioning once again to the defensive side of the ball. Sophomore James Mullin (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) and senior Andrew Lizotte (Harrisville, R.I./Burrillville) will join the veteran pair on the line.

In the line backing corps, junior Joseph Sasso (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) returns from a stellar sophomore season after ranking second on the squad with 54 stops in 2011. Junior Talib Barksdale (Hudson, N.Y./Hudson), transfer from Dean College, joins Sasso in the middle, while Alex Alcala (Leominster, Mass./Leominster), Patrick Doherty (Manchester, N.H./Manchester), Jim Caporale (Watertown, Conn./Sacred Heart) and Matt Belanger (Malden, Mass./Northeast Metro) all vie for the third starting role.

The Falcon secondary shows all new faces this season. Sophomore Taron Seaforth (Lynn, Mass./Lynn English) and Tevin Bineamie (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case) are penciled in as the Falcons starting cornerbacks, while Elizear Torres (Bronx, N.H./South Bronx) and Tyrie Osby (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) hold down the safety spots. Sophomore Farren Davis (Readsboro, Vt./Drury) will also add to the mix after finding a home as a running back a year ago.

 As usual, Fitchburg State faces a very competitive schedule throughout the 2012 season, including a tough three game stretch over its first four games. Fitchburg State is set to kick off the 2012 year on Friday August 31st as it visits Becker College at 6 p.m. The Falcons then return home for a three game stretch, hosting NEFC Boyd Division favorite, Salve Regina, perennial powerhouse Curry, and former Bogan Division Champion Maine Maritime.

“Every year the NEFC continues to get better,” said Haverty. “Last year, Framingham State and Bridgewater State proved to be very competitive, but this year, every team is on our radar. Overall, we are just looking to get better everyday.”