Plymouth natives team up at Mass. Maritime Academy

November 11, 2012

By David Wolcott, Old Colony Memorial

“I’ve missed the last couple games with a high ankle sprain,” Gustafson said before the game with Bridgewater State. “I got caught in a pile going one way and then getting pushed back in the other direction. It was just one of those things, but sitting and watching those last two games and not being able to play is the hardest thing I have ever done.”

As for the switch to offense, the junior said he couldn’t be happier.

“I started off the season playing both ways, at tailback and cornerback, but after the second game of the year we decided to go strictly with running back,” Gustafson said. “I’m only on the offense now, and I’m loving every second of it. It’s just like high school again. I’ve wanted to play offense all along, but I was needed more on the defensive side of the football, so I did what was best for the team.

“We run a spread offense, so there is a lot of passing and no-huddle. We look to the sideline, get the call and go ahead with the play. I like being in a fast-paced offense where we get to the line quick and try to confuse the defense.”

Head Coach Jeremy Cameron praised Gustafson’s willingness to do whatever was needed to help the team.

“Stefan’s a great talent and a great teammate,” Cameron said. “When we needed him on defense, that’s where he went. Now we are stronger at that position, and it’s running back where we could use him, so he went over to that side of the football. Wherever he plays, Stefan’s an explosive football player.”

Like Gustafson, the other sons of Plymouth also started on both sides of the football and probably played on most of the special team units while in high school. They all love playing football, but they do enjoy sticking with one position.

“There is a big difference in playing on one side of the football as opposed to starting both ways,” Andrew Bochman said. “In college you can really focus in on playing that one position and learning the techniques that will make you a better football player.”

“I don’t get anywhere near as gassed as I used to get when I had to play both ways,” Dee said. “I love just playing on the defensive side of the football. Defense is what I’m all about.”

“I played offense, defense and special teams in high school, but it’s nice to be able to focus just on the offense right now,” added John Bochman. “The college game is so much quicker than high school, and it’s really a different level of commitment. You put in four hours of practice each day, work out on the weekends, and it seems like you train just as hard in the off-season as you do during the regular season.”

Besides sticking with one position, the players said some of the biggest differences between high school and college football were the speed of the game, the commitment you make to being a part of the team as well as the size of people you are competing against.

“The competition in college is much greater that what I saw in high school,” Andrew Bochman said. “In college, you are generally playing against the kids who were among the best players on their high school teams.”

“The biggest difference from high school to college is the size of the kids I’m playing against,” said Roark, who’s listed in the program at 6-foot,4-inches and 250 pounds. “I can’t expect that I’m just going to overpower the kid I’m going against each week like I did in high school. Now the people on the other side of the line are just as big, if not bigger, than I am.”

“The jump was tough going from high school to college, but you work through everything and get over whatever hurdle is in front of you,” Dee said. “I remember in high school that there were some kids I would just crush, but college is different. It’s all about technique now because everyone is at least as big and strong as you are.”