A reflection on high school football

Embarrassment. Disappointment. This is the feeling I had now felt for three straight Thanksgivings. This year we had lost again, this time letting Memorial win their first ever Turkey Bowl. Over my past four years Central Football has overcome adversity, and has lost their share of games. But what I have made is lifelong friends in players such as Nick Tyler, Tom Regan, Ryan Kelley, and Jaqueal Holmes; and coaches Al Lemay, David Bailey, and Doc Murphy.

Football has always been more than throwing, tackling, and catching to me. It has been the X’s and O’s, and the great coaches such as Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick. My favorite player is still and always will be Tom Brady, but not because he can throw touchdowns and win Super Bowl’s; it is because of the time off the field he dedicates to practice and film sessions. At Central I was able to take part in this on a much smaller level, thanks to head coach Ryan Ray. I was given the privilege to be called ‘Coach Nachos.’

Though the team didn't win many games, the same kids always showed up and worked hard, the Alex Michaud’s and Jorge Gomes’. Even though the student body didn't give the football team the respect they deserved, I came to through the many experiences I saw. Coach Al Lemay would always trek down from Merrimack High School everyday to coach the running backs and linebackers, and the only day he ever missed was when his car broke down. I witnessed kids walk to practice everyday in the rain, knowing that they would probably be forced to stand in football pads the next three hours in the pouring rain. And this past season, during our losing streak, the players always found a way to work hard and try to get the first win of the season on friday night.

I also had experiences through my four years that I will never forget: the day my freshman year when I attempted to play 5 different positions (running back, quarterback, tight end, linebacker, and offensive line), the day that I first was given the name ‘specs', and the game my junior year when Central upset Bedford to make the playoffs. Through these trials and highlights, I became to love football here at Central.

One topic that I feel I must touch upon is head coach Ryan Ray. Since day one my freshman year, he always told me that I was good kid, and no matter what I did I would help the program in some way. This will always stick with me, because this was my entrance into Central football. Even though the record doesn’t show it at times, Coach Ray may be the hardest working man I know. He is able to manage raising a daughter, working as a teacher, and coaching one of the most respected and storied footballprograms in New England. Lately it seems that everyone on the face of the earth has some problem with Ray, but from everything I have witnessed Central football is on the rise, due to the work of Ryan Ray.

Over my four year career at Central more people have scrutinized the program, then supported it. Now as football comes to a close for me at Central, I can only wish the program the best of luck. Though this years team had its ups and downs, I believe that within the next few years, Central football will be in a position to win a state championship. So with a heavy heart, I say goodbye and good luck to football at Central, a place that I will always know will be a home for me.