Old Colony football “plays with enthusiasm” on way to second straight win
ROCHESTER — The Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School football team found themselves in an unfamiliar place after opening the season with two losses to out of conference foes.
In 2022 and 2023, the Cougars finished the regular season with just one loss each year.
Before Old Colony played Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School on Friday, Oct. 4, head coach Brandon Mendez said to his team, “Maybe tonight is the night you become who you are.”
If the Cougars did become who they are, there is no reason to believe that the team has taken a step down from the level of recent Old Colony teams, which have added some hardware to the school’s trophy case.
Mendez’s bunch came out of the locker room with purpose, storming out to a 28-3 halftime lead on their way to a 40-15 victory. The win propels Old Colony’s record to 2-2.
“We executed on both offense and defense,” said Mendez after the victory. “We have improved on both sides of the football. All 40 guys were locked in, and that is what I am happiest about.”
Old Colony wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, taking an early lead via a 27-yard touchdown run by senior Wyatt Smiley on the team’s first possession.
After an interception gave Old Colony the ball back, the Cougar crowd, clad in pink clothing for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, witnessed a wrinkle to the team’s typically run-heavy offense.
Senior quarterback Chase LaFountain went deep, finding Nick Fringuelli for a 54-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars had a 14-0 lead, and they never looked back.
“We have a reputation of being that run, run, run, run offense,” said Mendez. “[The passing game] really opens up the offense for us. It just gives us a little more versatility.”
Senior running backs Nathan Marden and Colin Monahan and Junior running back Carmine Cambra added touchdowns of their own and LaFountain and Fringuelli linked up again for a second score.
“We played tough, and we played with enthusiasm,” said Mendez. “I think we are progressing toward being a very good football team that plays hard.’
Old Colony will look to improve their record with another win on Friday, Oct. 11 when they travel to Canton for a matchup with Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical high School.
