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‘More like family’: Zamagni an inspirational presence on girls’ soccer sideline

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Tom Zamagni has coached at Whitman-Hanson for 24 years.

In Tom Zamagni’s office, there’s little space left empty, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.

Every banner hanging signifies pride, every scrapbook sitting on the table causes a chuckle, every picture adorning the wall recalls a memory. But they all signify relationships.

It’s a collection — that’s inching into his sitting room — Zamagni has been piecing together for the past 24 years he’s been prowling the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ soccer team’s sideline. It’s journey that began from an inside tip.

“My oldest daughter came home as I believe a sophomore and said, ‘Dad, there’s no JV coach right now up at the high school,’” Zamagni recalled. “I thought, ‘Well, I think I know enough to go up and do that.’”

One of his favorite photos lies in a scrapbook. It’s of him and David Floeck walking down to Dennis M. O’Brien Field for practice. It’s a friendship that formed nearly 22 years ago after Zamagni was ready to quit coaching after two seasons due to a heavy workload off the field in the finance industry.

“I told him, ‘You need to join me at the varsity level and when you can’t make it, it’s not a big deal,’” Floeck said. “And I don’t think he’s ever missed a day in all these years.”

Floeck found Zamagni’s multi-sport knowledge appealing. This stemmed from his time playing shortstop and coaching St. Joseph’s The Worker Catholic Church’s softball team, as well as playing baseball.

“He brings a different perspective or a way of looking at something from his athletic background,” Floeck said of Zamagni. “From my perspective, it makes me kind of think about the decisions or some of the things we look at, and I really find that to be awesome because it challenges me as a coach and it helps me to see things from many different angles.”

Messages conveyed

Under Floeck, Zamagni initially served as the goalkeeper coach. Kerry Flood, a 2010 W-H alum, spent four seasons being coached by Zamagni in net.

“He had a significant impact on my development as a goalkeeper, since I had never been committed to the position prior to high school,” Flood said.

Flood, who can be seen in numerous pictures around her former coach’s office, said Zamagni provided a wealth of knowledge and source of inspiration on the sideline during her playing career. However, his most impactful moment to her came in 2009 prior to a state semifinals game against Acton-Boxboro.

“To say I was nervous was an understatement, as we had been preparing for this moment all season,” Flood recalled. “I remember my conversation with coach Z before that game. He told me, ‘Do not let the moment be bigger than you. This is a quality team and you are a very talented keeper. Stay focused and give it everything you have.’”

It’s simple messages like that Zamagni hopes resonate with his players.

“The most important thing for me is trying to teach the kids life lessons through soccer and then they come back years later and tell us what a wonderful experience they had,” he said. “Sports is like life situations, so if bad things happen to us, that’s life. We fall behind, I say, ‘Now what? So what? What are we going to do about it?’”

Flood rejoined the program in 2015 and eventually took over training the goalkeepers, while Zamagni shifted to drawing up game plans for the defense, but he still keeps his eyes on the whole field.

“He sees things from a different perspective and sometimes I come back and say, ‘No way, that won’t work,’” Floeck said. “Then a few minutes later I’m like, ‘Well, what I’m doing isn’t working so maybe it will.’”

Sometimes it’s minor – like a defensive adjustment.

“He’ll say, ‘Listen, we really need to put this player on this side, it’s a better matchup for us,’ and I’ll say, ‘Jeez, no,’ and he’ll say, ‘Listen, will you just give it to me please and let me do it?’” Floeck said. “And I’ll capitulate and we’ll do it and a lot of those times he’s spot on.”

Relationships through coaching

Over Zamagni’s 22 years as Floeck’s assistant, the Panthers haven’t had a losing season since 1999, have won numerous Patriot League titles and made a trip to the state finals. The success is gratifying, but the bonds he has created along the way are even more rewarding. He’ll even miss work to watch a W-H girls’ soccer alum, such as this past season when Marina Kelly, class of 2014, returned to Dennis M. O’Brien Field in a different uniform – as Scituate’s JV soccer coach.

“I had to cancel a meeting so I could get up there and see it,” Zamagni said.

In his spare time, Zamagni, if not at the youth soccer field in Hanson watching his grandchildren play, is keeping tabs with alumni — whether it’s a trip to Rhode Island to watch them play, a simple text or over breakfast.

Flood said it’s that type of dedication to the program’s alumni that makes Zamagni an irreplaceable presence on the sideline.

“Coach Z keeps all of the alumni informed as to which games to go to and how the current team is doing,” Flood said. “It is great to see former teammates coming to our games and cheering on the program. Coach Z keeps in touch with many of his former players and continues to have an impact on their lives.”

Past team captain and freshman at Manhattan College Eve Montgomery said Zamagni’s selflessness stood out to her.

“He would be standing there from the sidelines supporting me no matter what,” Montgomery said. “He does everything and anything he can to help better other players. That’s what makes him so special. I believe he’s a vital part of the Whitman-Hanson soccer team [and] without him there’s a piece of the team missing.”

Former All-American Lauren Bonavita, currently playing at UMass Amherst, said Zamagni was more than just a coach to her.

“He calmed me down when I need it and challenged me when he needed more from me,” Bonavita said. “He’s more like family to me and I know I’m not the only one who thinks of him this way. I’m grateful for his coaching and friendship.”

Reason to return

Zamagni said his main motivation to come back every autumn is because of the bonds he creates.

“There’s five or six seniors that I don’t really want to leave,” he said. “That continues every year, so I don’t know how I’m going to retire because there’s always those seniors that are there that you have that special relationship with. It’s hard to think about walking away.”

And walking past countless memories from the past two-plus decades in office on a daily basis plays a major role in that mindset.

“It keeps me going,” Zamagni said. “You can’t put a price tag on that.”

Sweeney, Trongone anchors and leaders in the trenches

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From left, seniors Ryan Trongone and Quinn Sweeney. / Photos by: Sue Moss

Seniors Quinn Sweeney and Ryan Trongone have been playing on the line together their whole lives.

For Whitman-Hanson Regional High foot ball seniors and starting two-way linemen Quinn Sweeney and Ryan Trongone, most weeks their toughest competition doesn’t come on Friday nights. It doesn’t even come from the other team.

Every Wednesday during practice, the Panthers hold their pass rush championship. Each drill calls for one quarterback, one offensive lineman and one defensive lineman. After cycling through the rest of the team’s linemen, Trongone and Sweeney are almost a sure bet to be the last ones standing.

“Our practices are very competitive, especially on Wednesday,” head coach Mike Driscoll said. “They compete like crazy, those kids.”

Some weeks, Sweeney, who starts at right tackle and defensive end, gets the edge on Trongone. Other weeks, Trongone, who starts at left guard and defensive end, swoops under Sweeney .

“We’re pretty even with wins for that,” Trongone said. “It’s always fun to go against him.”

Said Sweeney: “We always make each other better. He works hard and gives 100 percent on every play.”

On game day, the two, who have been starting on both sides of the ball for the past two seasons, compete on the stat sheet as well.

“We’re all racing for first in sacks,” Trongone said. “The lead for sacks is a big race be tween us.”

Their work on W-H’s defense, which is surrendering under two touchdowns a game, has been eye-popping. Sweeney leads the team with 21 tackles for loss and Trongone is second with 14. In a 9-6 nail-biting win over New Bedford earlier in the season, the two brought down the opposing ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage five times.

“They’re the heart and soul of the line,” Driscoll said of Sweeney and Trongone. “Quinn has just blossomed into an incredible football player over the last two years. Ryan is just a steady kid. He has the best technique of any lineman I’ve ever coached. They’re dependable guys and come to play every day, every game. They start every game and they finish every game, and they’re just great players to have on the team.”

They’re not just reliable up front. They’re leaders there as well, always trying to find a way to bring their unit closer.

“We have a group chat with the linemen where we all go out and do fun things with each other,” Sweeney said. “We’ll go to Buffalo Wild Wings or fishing, just so we can bond with each other more and then when game time comes we know that we have each other’s back, and we know that we have this bond with each other.”

The two have been building chemistry on the offensive line since playing in Hanson Youth Football, where they won the Super Bowl as eighth graders. Sweeney was an offensive guard and nose guard and Trongone played defensive end and center.

“It’s almost instant where we can say, ‘Go get this guy,’ and the next thing you know we get a run for 10 yards,” Trongone said.

And Thanksgiving Day marks the final time these two linemen will step onto the gridiron as teammates.

“That’s gonna be rough because all the Hanson kids that played in eighth grade and a majority of them that played in high school,” Sweeney said. “I’ll never be able to play football with a group of kids like these every again.”

Said Trongone: “I’m sure by the time it comes there will be a lot of mixed emotions. Obviously the fact that we’re leaving football isn’t the greatest thing I want to leave behind but we’re doing it with the best team we’ve had.”

Champions again: Whitman-Hanson cheerleaders win state title 14

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They did it again.

For the fourth straight season, the ninth time in four years and the 14th time overall, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders are MSAA Division 2 champions.

The Panthers scored a 198.7 to claim the victory today while competing at Worcester State.

“I am so proud of this team,” second-year head coach Alyssa Hayes said. “Their motivation, determination and drive has been unmatched these last few weeks. I am even more impressed with the way they handle themselves – they’ve managed to stay humble regardless of their state championship record. They don’t stop working hard after a win. Today they learned yet again that teamwork and believing in themselves gets the job done.”

The Panthers claimed the South Regional title last week and the Patriot League crown the week before.

Season Review: For boys’ soccer team, an ‘unlucky, learning’ season

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The Panthers huddle up. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers had a four-win season due to a variety of reasons.

Head coach Dave Leahy described this past season as an unlucky, learning experience for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ soccer team, which went 4-14-1.

The Panthers were down three key pieces before the season even began with the transfers of sophomores Peyton Collins to BC High and Joel Arsenault to Brockton and broken ankle of junior midfielder Adam Milewski, sustained in the preseason.

However, the Panthers hung tough at the outset — rallying around the losses rather than using them as excuses — as evident by their 2-0 start.

But once they got into their first half of league play, the Panthers dropped six of their next seven, and finding the net was becoming an issue. W-H pumped in just 10 goals over those seven games. Four of them came in a 4-1 victory over Plymouth South.

“The biggest difference between this year and last year (11-8-1) was the group of seniors,” the second-year head coach said. “Last year we had more seniors who had played together for many years. This year our group of seniors was smaller in numbers and had played together a lot less.”

As the fall wore on, W-H lost sophomore starter Brendan Nehiley for two weeks and junior starting goalie Andrew Sullivan for the last fourth of the season.

With the rash of injuries came opportunities, and sophomore Dalton Desrocher took advantage.

“Dalton Desrocher stepped up and had a consistent season in the center midfield positions, playing consistent defense, passing the ball well and adding a few goals,” Leahy said.

The boys did finish the year on a high note with a 2-1 triumph over Rockland.

“It was like our only playoff game,” Leahy said. “It was important for seniors to go away with a positive and for returning players to have something to build on in the preseason.”

The Panthers were led on offense by nine goals and three assists from junior captain Jason Broduer and seven goals and four assists from senior Nolan Clack.

The defense was buoyed by senior Ben Rogers and junior captain Stevie Kelly, the team’s lone Patriot League All-Star.

Leahy said as disappointing as the campaign was, he’s optimistic the team can use it to its advantage.

“We worked very hard as a group heading into the 2018 season, but bad luck got in our way,” Leahy said. “I hope the disappointments felt by returning players in the program will feel motivated to improve as much as they possibly can to get us back on the more successful side in 2019.”

Season Review: Girls’ volleyball doubles win total

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The Panthers huddle up. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers were two wins away from making the tournament, and they certainly had their chances.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team second-year head coach Ashley Balbian strongly believes her team had what it takes to make the postseason, despite falling short.

The Panthers finished the fall with an 8-11 record, which doubled their win total from the previous season, and put them two victories away from the playoffs. 

Of those 11 losses, three times the Panthers jumped out to advantages and twice took a 2-1 lead into fourth the set, only to have their opposition to battle back and claim the victory.

“I feel like that was our biggest challenge once we got halfway through the season, we could be successful in many one or two sets and we just couldn’t sustain it,” Balbian said. “It’s a long stretch of time, but just keeping our energy up and positivity was hard for us sometimes.”

Balbian said the biggest difference between this season’s team and last fall’s club was experience. The Panthers returned nine players, all of whom received playing time at the top level.

“I had so many girls returning on varsity,” Balbian said. “They had been playing together obviously last year but throughout the summer. A lot of them played on club teams together, which was helpful. I expected that this team would do well.”

But what Balbian didn’t expect was the starting lineup she’d be penning in at the end of the season. All five of the Panthers’ seniors ended the fall as starters, which was not foreseen going into the season. Kayla Crawford worked her way up to starting defensive specialist, Kylie Gervasio became a starting setter and Erin Leahy started at middle hitter. Seniors Allison Hanlon starred at outside hitter and Nicole Scott at libero, and both were league all-stars.

“I’m proud of them for [starting] because I wasn’t expecting all of the seniors to necessarily be starting,” Balbain said. “I’m proud they were able to earn those spots in the end and play together really well. That was huge for us.”

Hanlon registered her 200th career kill in the final game of the season, a 3-2 win over Bridgewater-Raynham.

“That’s a huge deal,” Balbian said.

Balbian did have some players set to return sprinkled in her lineup as well with junior captains Olivia Martin at right side hitter, Lexi Connolly at outside hitter, classmate Ella Sweeney at middle hitter and sophomore Caileen Hurley at setter.

“I want to see them be more confident on the court,” Balbian said. “I want to see them play together as much as possible.”

Season Review: Field hockey ‘D’d up

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The Panthers gather together during a home game. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Defense was the strength of the Panthers field hockey team this fall.

Defense.

It was the obvious strength of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team, which finished the season with a 2-10-6 record.

“The defense had to stop amazing offenses, and they themselves were truly amazing,” fifth-year head coach Todd Humphrey said.

The Panthers surrendered just 32 goals on the season, five of which came in their second meeting with Keenan Division champ Plymouth North. Against the Keenan’s second best team, Duxbury, which qualified for the tournament, W-H held the Dragons to three goals in two games, as opposed to 13 goals in two games last season.

Even Fisher Division champion Scituate had a difficult time finding the back of the net against the Panthers, scoring two goals in two games. As a result of the stout defensive effort night in and night out, seniors Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan, who is a captain, were tabbed as Patriot League All-Stars.

“They were phenomenal on defense all season,” Humphrey said.

W-H’s backline also featured some youth in first-year varsity sophomores Skylar Leonard and Noelle Cornetta. The duo switched off playing on the right side.

“They are excellent defenders with a bright future,” Humphrey said. “They will be starting next season as right defender and center defender. Look for Victoria Ryan to take over for Olivia at left defender, that spot is crucial to secure and she has the skills to be effective.”

In net, sophomore Madi Savicke put forth a breakout campaign, posting a 1.67 goals against average.

“Madi is good at reading opposing offenses and getting in the right position to make a save,” Humphrey said. “She is also really good and communicates with the defense in front of her as well.”

As good as the Panthers were at stopping opposing offenses, their offense was unable to generate much of anything itself, poking home just 14 goals on the season. Losing senior captain and forward Annika Putur just seven games in, which they were 2-2-3 in, to a torn ACL threw a wrench into the Panthers’ plans. They didn’t win a game in her absence.

“It truly was a turning point in the season,” Humphrey said. “Annika is an incredible ball handler and was a massive contributor to our offense when she was on the field. When she left our line up, we had to reinvent ourselves up front.”

Sophomore Delanie MacDonald provided a silver lining during the team’s offensive woes, scoring a team-high five goals on the fall. Her classmate Lauren Clark had three.

“Delanie was great at positioning herself inside the arc to make a play,” Humphrey said. “Delanie was able to get quick and close shots away from goalies.

“Lauren worked great with Annika and had two goals with her support. She was able to get her other goal hustling on the grass field of Silver Lake.”

Humphrey said despite the impending loss of nine seniors, he firmly believes his club will be competitive next season.

“For the most part, the vacancies will be in the midfielder and forward positions,” he explained. “We do have talented players in the system to fill those spots. Look for the front seven to create more scoring opportunities next season. Defense should be solid. How we transition the ball will determine how well we do overall in the Patriot League.”

Season Review: Girls’ cross country coach aims to restore program dominance

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The girls’ cross country team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Head coach Steve George is hoping the girls’ cross country team’s record starts to improve.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ cross country head coach Steve George is hopeful the program can be restored to what it once was. A force.

“When I speak with middle school kids and some of the high school kids who have chosen other sports, I’m disappointed only for the fact that I know there are incredibly gifted runners who won’t be joining us and are missing out on opportunities they can’t comprehend as children,” George said.

Over George’s five years at the helm, runners have gone on to compete at the likes of Bentley, John Hopkins, Lehigh, Tufts and West Point, among others.

While winning consecutive Div. 3 EMass titles again (2011 and 2012) is a long shot, being competitive in league play and finishing above .500 isn’t. It was just three years ago the Panthers went 6-2.

“Until we start attracting young women to this sport it will be difficult to compete with rivals Hingham and Duxbury,” George said.

Two years ago the Panthers concluded the fall at 2-6. Last year they were 3-4. This season they went 3-5.

“[It isn’t] for lack of trying on the part of the coaches or the kids that choose to be part of what I believe to be a truly wonderful experience,” George said.

The Panthers’ three wins came over Plymouth North (26-31 on Sept. 26), Silver Lake (20-43 on Oct. 10) and Scituate (18-44 on Oct. 16).

Junior Tori Boss was a standout for the Panthers and their top runner with a top average time of 21:26. Against Scituate she won, and versus Silver Lake she covered the course in 22:08 for a second-place finish.

“This year she trained hard, followed the plan and, not surprisingly, had great results,” George said. “Her athleticism and work ethic have made her our top runner. Tori runs consistently at the front of the pack in every practice and that has carried over into competition.”

Senior captain Maeve McDonough also put fourth her best season yet with an average time of 21:40 to be W-H’s No. 2 runner.

“Maeve showed enormous dedication,” George said. “Maeve loves distance running and consistently runs double-digit long runs which have helped her become a major contributor to the success of the team.”

Junior Niki Kamperides posted a 21:44 average time, a personal best and good for the Panthers’ No. 3 runner.

“Niki made a big jump this year following a freshman year with a knee injury that also slowed her down in her sophomore year but couldn’t keep her out,” George said. “That experience paid off and she has lowered her 5K time by more than five minutes. A strong and athletic runner.”

George said there were no surprises in terms of his top performers.

“On Day 1 we created training groups with what we thought would be our top 10 in group one,” George said. “That group has remained intact the entire season and in the weekly results as well.”

George said the season offered its fair share of excitement.

“We went into the season knowing Hingham, Duxbury, Plymouth North and Plymouth South had some phenomenal runners, so our expectations were not high,” George said. “But our kids’ effort and commitment were rewarded with a good record and some incredible times and finishes.”

Season Review: Boys’ cross country running toward bright future

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The boys during a Sept. 5 race. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The boys’ cross country team will return many of its key runners next season.

If this season was any indication, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ cross country is heading in the right direction.

For the Panthers, despite their 3-5 record, nearly all of their production came from runners who will be back in the fold next fall. The team’s top seven was made up of three juniors, three sophomores and a freshman, with other underclassmen seconds behind.

Sophomore Theo Kamperides was W-H’s top finisher in every race en route to league all-star status. Kamperides, who owned one first-place finish, three second-place finishes and four third-place finishes, posted a personal-best average time of 17:29. 

“Theo is a tireless worker, always wanting to do more,” fifth-year head coach Steve George said. “He doesn’t enjoy days off and always wants to extend his weekly long run which we capped off at 15 miles this fall.”

Kamperides’ first-place finish at 17:44 sparked the Panthers past Scituate, 21-40, Oct. 16. Junior Brandon Hager (17:48) was right behind Kamperides in that race, like he was all season. Hager was W-H’s No. 2 runner with a career-best average time of 17:48.

“[He] has worked diligently to improve his running efficiency and form and it has paid off,” George said. “A quiet leader who leads by example and is very enthusiastic about working to bring back a championship to W-H.”

Rounding out the top three was freshman Evan Jewett, who posted an average time of 17:58.

“[He] arrived with virtually no experience but imitates his more experienced teammates in attitude and effort and has become a valued contributor early on,” George said. “His ability is exceeded only by his desire to improve, and he will.”

W-H’s other two wins came over Pembroke, 24-36, in its season opener and against Silver Lake, 24-37, Oct. 11.

“If one were to look at our race results [they’d] undoubtedly notice that with each successive week nearly all of our runners improved from his previous race,” George said.

While no runners caught George by surprise statistically, he said he’s always surprised when people he hopes will be good leaders become just that.

“Junior Adam Solari and senior Shane Schraut have been terrific captains,” George said. “Each has improved dramatically while mentoring our young runners. They actually do the little things like cleaning up our course following a meet, rather than delegate it to their teammates. As a result, nearly everybody pitches in.”

Schraut will be the Panthers’ only loss from inside their top 10 runners.

“Eight out of our second group (10-20) are either sophomores or freshmen, all of whom are talented runners who will return next year with more experience,” George said. “I am extremely optimistic for our future.”

Season Review: Golf team makes strides

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The golf team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The golf team finished the season with a 6-11 record.

Although the Whitman-Hanson Regional High golf team failed to meet head coach Brian Dempsey’s goal of qualifying for the tournament, it made strides elsewhere.

For starters, senior captain Owen Manning put forth a career. Along with being named team MVP again and Patriot League All-Star, he qualified for the Div. 2 state finals, where he carded a 7-over par 79 to advance to the Mass Golf Junior Amateur Championship.

“This was definitely Owen’s best season,” the seventh-year head coach said. “He was much more consistent this year, always placing in the top two or three scorers for each match. He’s worked really hard to get here and having missed the cut last year by only one stroke, I know he was hungry to get back and prove himself.”

It was Manning 2-over par 36 that pushed the Panthers, who finished the year 6-11, over Duxbury, 238- 245, and a 3-0 start.“Beating them was a huge morale boost,” Dempsey said. “This gave everyone confidence that they can compete with other teams, even without the experience from year’s prior.”

The morale boost didn’t come from Manning’s showing, but rather came from junior Matt Korzec (2-over), senior Pat Dever (6-over) and junior Ian Brown (7-over) turning in key performances.

Brown continued to shoot well the following match, a 232-239 victory over Plymouth North, with a 3-over. From playing in one match the previous season, Brown took a significant step forward.

“From his change in his swing, to his willingness to step up to lead the team and younger players, Ian was a huge factor for us,” Dempsey said. “I’m really looking forward to see how his game improves even more for next year.”

Korzec shot a 4-over and sophomore Aidan Miller carded a 5-over in the win. Both battled it out all fall for the team’s No. 2 golfer.

“Statistically they didn’t have their best years, but their love for the sport and friendly competition will help them for next year,” Dempsey said.

After the Plymouth North triumph, the Panthers endured a rough patch. It began with a 250-252 loss to Silver Lake and spiraled into dropping 10 of their next 12.

“I think everyone started to realize that the pressure was building to maintain that type of play,” Dempsey said. “Couple that with the frequent bad weather, cancelations, and the fact that we then went on the road to some really difficult courses and teams, and reality kind of hit us hard. They finished strong and played really well against Hingham at South Shore Country Club despite the loss.”

Dempsey said he’s eager to see who steps up for the team next fall.

“I’m looking forward to next year [with] so many unknowns,” Dempsey said. “It will again be a blank canvas for us to figure out who we are and what we need to do. Anyone on the team can be the standout next year.”

Playoff-bound Panthers: W-H football preps for North Attleboro on Friday

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The offensive line against Silver Lake. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The fifth-seeded W-H football team (5-2) will visit fourth-seeded North Attleboro (5-2) Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Div. 3 South playoffs.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High football team will attempt to do something Friday it hasn’t done in 17 years. That’s win a playoff game.

It’s been since the 2001 Super Bowl that W-H has found itself on the winning end of a postseason tilt.

It there ever was an opportunity for the Panthers to halt that trend, it would appear this is the one. The senior-laden Panthers (5-2) earned the No. 5 seed in Div. 3 South, drawing No. 4 North Attleboro (5-2) in the process. The two will square off at 7 p.m. at North Attleboro on Friday.

The last meeting between the two teams was two years ago when the Red Rocketeers knocked the Panthers out in the first round, 33-8. Then-sophomores Mike Connors, Jacob Nixon, Ethan Phelps, Rian Schwede and Quinn Sweeney played pivotal roles on that 2016 Panthers team.

That unit then brought the Panthers back to the playoffs last season, where they were ousted in the first round by Stoughton, 30-21.

W-H head coach Mike Driscoll believes it’s time where all that experience pays off.

“I don’t think they’re going to be overwhelmed by the situation,” Driscoll said. “We’ve already played a game at North Attleboro, so that field doesn’t intimidate our kids. They know what to expect. We know when we play the Hockomock we’re going to have to strap it up, and we’re going to have to play a physical game so these kids know what it’s like.”

Driscoll said if he’s learned anything over the past three seasons, all of which featured first-round playoff exits, it’s to not blow the postseason out of proportion.

“We are going to treat it like any other game and prepare the same way we normally prepare as opposed to making a big deal about it,” the eight-year head coach said. “It’s a regular game for us right now. It’s our eighth game on the schedule. That’s the way we’ve approached every week and we’re going to continue the same approach.”

The Red Rocketeers are no stranger to the spotlight, having advanced all the way to the Div. 3 Super Bowl last season, falling just short to St. John’s (Shrewsbury), 35-33. North Attleboro, allowing just a tick under 14 points a game, owns signature victories over King Philip (14-7), Foxboro (34-0) and Canton (14-10); Bishop Feehan (23-19) and Stoughton (21-10) account for its two losses. Senior quarterback Nick Raneri (seven passing and four rushing TDs), senior running back Brendan McHugh (10 rushing TDs) and senior WR Ryan Gaumond (six receiving TDs) power North Attleboro on offense.

“They’re very similar to us,” Driscoll said. “They got a great kicker, they play great ‘D’ and they grind it out on offense.”

The Panthers, allowing just over 10 points a game, have held opponents to 13 points or less in all five of their wins. They’ve posted shutouts twice, including last week against Plymouth North in a 21-0 victory. The Eagles mustered up just 18 yards against the Panthers.

“It was a game where we had the same records (4-2) and we knew that they were physical and we wanted to be physical and we certainty dominated the line of scrimmage and dominated on defense,” Driscoll said.

With a victory Friday, W-H would face the winner of No. 8 Stoughton (3-4) at No. 1 Duxbury (7-0) in the semis.

“We feel like we got a pretty good team and we told the kids after the game the other day we feel like we can beat anybody right now, so whoever’s in our way, we’re going to give it our all,” Driscoll said.