Danvers Football Eyes Improvement in Year Two Under Rogers

The learning curve was steep for football coach Sean Rogers during a 1-9 rookie 2010 campaign. Those lessons, combined with a core group of a dozen seasoned varsity players, should yield improvement for the Falcons this fall.

“We have a fairly large senior group. Most are two-year starters and all of them have seen significant time since they were sophomores,” said Rogers. “I definitely learned a lot about game management last season, especially learning how to focus on all three phases of the game.”

Rogers, who started his coaching career at Framingham State College went to Danvers High in 2007 to scout for FSC, and met former coach Sullivan. That next season, Sullivan returned to the sideline with Rogers being a new member of his staff. Rogers has been a teacher in Danvers since 2006.

"I am happy here at DHS. We receive outstanding support from the administration, Superintendent Dr. Lisa Dana, Principal/Assistant Superintendent Sue Ambrozavitch, Vice Principals Mark Strout and Scott Kelly, and Athletic Director John Sullivan," he said. "I have an extremely strong booster club, made up of a great group of parents. I couldn't imagine leaving a place that cares so much about their team."

The merger of the Cape Ann League and Northeastern Conference finds the Falcons in Division 2 of the CAL/NEC along with 2010 Super Bowl champions Gloucester (Division 1A) and Beverly (Division 3), recent playoff qualifiers Marblehead (2009) and Swampscott (2008), and Salem.

Danvers opens the season tonight at Winthrop (7 p.m.), the first of six consecutive non-league games. They kick off their league schedule at home against Beverly on Friday, Oct. 21 (7 p.m.), one of seven home contests.

“The kids are definitely motivated – they’ve put the work in. We’re heading in with the idea of taking it one week at a time and getting better each week so that we’re on a good run when we get to division play. We have to hit division play at full speed,” Rogers said. "Ultimately, it will come down to who is willing to sacrifice the most this year. In my opinion, the NEC is one of the best football conferences in the state."

Seniors Paul Nicolo (QB/DB), Nick Valles (RB/LB) and Michael Connors (DL/OL) and junior Scott Hovey (TE/LB) are the Falcons’ captains. The interior lines project as a strength with Connors and juniors Joe Manson and Conor Morrison the anchors.

Nicolo takes over from Greg Little at quarterback and Valles (4 TDs, 26 points) is the most productive back returning in the Falcons’ Wing-T attack. Senior Steven St. Pierre shifts from running back to a hybrid wide receiver/tightend role while Hovey returns at tightend.

Defensive improvement is a must and the linebackers Valles, Hovey and St. Pierre figure to be key operatives in the Falcons’ base “44” set. Juniors Jake Palazola and Tyler Dorra, sophomore Alex Valles and junior North Shore Tech transfer Conor Kelly add depth.

“Health is a key for us – we have to keep our core guys healthy all year. Gloucester is obviously the measuring stick and has been for the last dozen years. It doesn’t matter if they graduate twenty players or two. Beverly is coming off a great season and Swampscott, Marblehead and Salem are all well-coached. It’s quite a division but our kids are ready,” Rogers said.