Beavers look to build on strong finish last year 

The Blackstone Valley Tech (BVT) football team turned its season around last year after a slow start, winning five of its final seven games. But head coach Anthony Landini is not looking back, or forward, as the new season kicks off.

“It sounds cliché, but I am trying to figure out what we have to work on in practice today,” Landini said, running through how fast-paced the preseason is ahead of the season opener. “I am trying not to look past today.”

BVT has spent the preseason evaluating its talent, but many of the key cogs this year are players who saw significant time last season. 

Senior offensive lineman and middle linebacker John Patricks returns, as does fellow lineman and captain Jacob Vaidya. Fellow seniors Nathan Harris and Xavier Salois are two skill players who will be all over the field this fall.

“Nate is like a Swiss Army knife,” Landini said. “He punts, he’s an edge on defense, and he’s a tight end.”

Salois is similarly versatile, and will see reps and slot receiver, defensive back, and as a kick returner.

Ace Cupid, another wideout and defensive back, and Quinn Gomez, a running back and middle linebacker, are also captains this fall and bring experience and leadership to the field.

Although not a captain, junior quarterback Dylan Dean figures to be one of the team’s most important players this year, and is someone Landini is happy to have running the offense. A former quarterback himself, Landini recalled feeling the nerves when he was out on the field. Dean, he said, appears impervious. 

“He doesn’t have nerves, he is calm and collected and he is even a little better when stuff breaks down,” Landini said. “He has some backyard football in him, which you don’t see a lot nowadays.” The coach added, “We just call him a gamer.”

Valley Tech is slated to open the season with home games against Auburn and Nantucket before heading out on the road. Although the Beavers hope to be in the postseason ahead of their final game on the schedule, they will wrap things up against Nipmuc in the annual Thanksgiving Day showdown.

But Landini has not let his thoughts drift that far ahead.

“There’s not much time to think ahead because there is so much to do,” he said.

BVT's Nathan Harris is like a "Swiss Army knife" due to his versatility. Courtesy photo