If there was ever a team that could be best described as one that “made strides” over the course of a season, it would be the 2009 edition of Massachusetts Maritime Football.  The Buccaneers overcame a disappointing previous campaign by notching three overall victories last fall, including record-setting offensive outputs in triumphs over MIT and Fitchburg State, and were involved in four other contests that were decided by a touchdown, including a seven-point decision to eventual NCAA participant Maine Maritime.

With 36 letterwinners and 14 starters back in the fold in 2010, Head Coach Jeremy Cameron is ready to transition from making strides to making noise in the New England Football Conference, as the 2009 NEFC Bogan Division Coach of the Year has plenty of experience as well as a talented crop of newcomers on board heading into his sixth campaign.

Here’s a look at how things are shaping up for the 2010 edition of Buccaneer Football:

OFFENSE.  Massachusetts Maritime established itself as one of the top rushing teams in the country in the early going last season, thanks in large part of the efforts of junior Nathan Sherr (Lynnfield, Mass./Austin Prep), who led all Division III rushers for the first four weeks with 524 yards (174.7 per game) and four touchdowns in what amounted to be two full games and two plays, as he suffered a season-ending injury in the third week at Endicott.  Sherr is back at full strength and will team up with fellow junior Matt White (Westwood, Mass./Westwood), who gained 286 yards with a pair of scores, and sophomore Barry Reopell (South Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) in the Buccaneer backfield.

Junior Cory Antunes (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) will lead a youthful group at the quarterback position for the Buccaneers, as the two-year letterwinner has been given the starting nod by Cameron.  Freshmen Patrick Viencek (Bernardston, Mass./Pioneer Valley) and Mike Stanton (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) will serve as the back-ups during their rookie campaigns.

Cameron’s receiving corps is both deep and talented, led by 2009 NEFC Bogan Division Offensive Rookie of the Year Jonathan Emond (Green Harbor, Mass./Marshfield), who hauled in 38 receptions for 656 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman.  Junior Kyle Rowe (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth South) snared eight catches for 126 yards and two scores as well for the Bucs, who also received 10 receptions from senior Michael Tanner (Andover, Mass./Andover).  Junior Walter Butler (Bourne, Mass./Bishop Stang) and sophomore Jacob Pollock (Midway, Ga./McIntosh County) have moved over from the defensive corps to the receiving corps this fall and lend additional depth at tight end and the flanker’s spot, while seniors Nate Clergy (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) and sophomore Aaron Mann (Woodbine, Ga./Camden County) also looks to contribute as wide-outs.

Massachusetts Maritime welcomes back five starters on the offensive line, led by senior tri-captain Max Whitney (Middletown, R.I./Middletown), as the Buccaneers averaged 244 yards rushing last fall and overall averaged 361.4 yards of total offense in 10 outings.  Seniors Samuel Jackson (Wrentham, Mass./King Philip) and Colin Giles (Brentwood, N.H./St. John’s Prep), along with juniors Chris Dintino (Mashpee, Mass./Mashpee) and Lenny Simmons (New Bedford, Mass./Bishop Stang), lend additional experience for Cameron up front.  Senior Tim Curran (Stoughton, Mass./Tri-County), along with the sophomore trio of Bryan Norberg (Walpole, Mass./Walpole), Christopher Lane (Canton, Mass./Canton) and Christopher Flynn (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional), will also be vying for spots up front for the Bucs.

DEFENSE.  Graduation took its toll on the defensive side of the ball for the Buccaneers, but Cameron has a pair of top performers back in senior Andy Hirko (Uxbridge, Mass./Holy Name) and junior Mike Bois (Lakeville, Mass./Apponequet), who will serve along with Whitney as Massachusetts Maritime’s tri-captains in 2010.  Bois was second on the squad in total tackles with a combined 75 stops (47 solo) to go with a sack, interception and forced fumble, while Hirko earned all-NEFC Bogan Division honors as a versatile defensive back with 42 total tackles (31 solo) and a team-best four interceptions.

Junior Charles Sykes (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) added 53 total tackles (36 solo) in 10 outings last season for the Bucs, who also received 24 stops (14 solo) from sophomore Kevin Griffin (Worcester, Mass./St. John’s), as both individuals saw their playing time grow as the year went along in 2009.  Senior Peter Avitabile (Bourne, Mass./Bourne) returns after posting 16 solo tackles in just four games due to injury, while juniors Jack Gomes (Acushnet, Mass./Bishop Stang), James Hutchinson (Pembroke, Mass./Pembroke) and Joshua Roberts (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) lend an additional veteran presence on a defensive line that also includes sophomores Sean Carver (Summerfield, Fla./The Villages) and Nick Mazurkiewicz (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro), who notched 10 tackles as a freshman.

Sophomores Eddy Ramos (Sunny Isles, Fla./Michael Krop) and Evan Sheridan (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) gained valuable experience in Massachusetts Maritime’s defensive backfield as rookies and proved to be versatile on special teams as the year progressed.  Additionally, junior Devin Lynch (Milton, Mass./Milton) and sophomores Danny Valdez (Fernandina, Fla.) and George Soha (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) will be looking to make an impact on the Bucs’ linebacking corps in 2010.

SPECIAL TEAMS.  Freshman Brandon Rodrigues (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) will take over the placekicking duties during his inaugural season for the Bucs, while senior Jarad Horey (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard) will handle the punting chores while serving as a back-up placekicker.  Rowe and one of his fellow Plymouth South High alums, freshman Stefan Gustafson (Plymouth, Mass.), will serve as Massachusetts Maritime’s return men on punt and kickoff returns.

The 2010 Massachusetts Maritime football season has challenges ahead like any other squad set to lace things up for the year, as the Buccaneers have over 40 newcomers dotting the roster.  Another challenge will be the schedule, as Cameron’s crew opens with its first three outings away from Clean Harbors Stadium and five of the first six contests overall on the road.

Now that strides have been made, the next big steps of success for Massachusetts Maritime lie ahead, and the first step of the new season awaits on Thursday, September 2^nd when the Buccaneers tangle with New York Maritime in the Fourth Annual Chowder Bowl clash to open the year in Throggs Neck, New York.  After visits to both Western New England and MIT, Cameron’s squad opens both its home and NEFC Bogan Division slate on Saturday, September 25^th with a Homecoming date against rival Coast Guard.