CAPE COD - Barry Reopell first played football for the Wixon Middle School team in South Dennis.

After his last game of that season, his parents approached his coach to thank him for giving Barry a chance to play.

A bit confused the coach told his parents that Barry played because he deserved to play.

“But usually seventh-graders don’t play for the middle school team,” his mother told the coach.

“Well, he worked hard and became a good player, and he deserved to play,” the coach responded.

Nine years later, Reopell will play his last football game when Massachusetts Maritime Academy hosts Bridgewater State Saturday in the Cranberry Bowl and still shows he deserves to play.

Reopell, who will graduate this spring with a degree in Maritime Engineering, is closing out a fine career with a terrific senior season and has been instrumental in changing the direction of the Mass Maritime football program.

“The way he prepares for games and practices, watching film and in the drills, he has created the culture we want here,” says Mass Maritime coach Jeremy Cameron. “When we look at what Barry as a junior and senior, we say, ‘This is what we want.’ Barry understands what we want the program to be and he was pivotal in that effort.”

A two-time captain, Reopell has proven to be a leader on the field, in the classroom and at work.

“He is an example for the underclassmen. In films we’re always saying, ‘Look what Reopell did here. Look how Barry holds the ball,’” says Cameron. “He is not very vocal; he leads by example, but when he needs to step up and talk to the guys, he fills that role.”

Reopell has helped lead the Mass Maritime program to 18 victories in his career, including 15 in his last 25 games. In last week’s 35-13 win over Westfield State, Reopell rushed for 110 yards, clinching a third straight winning season for the Buccaneers, something that hasn’t happened since the 1998-2000 seasons.

Making up for his lack of size and speed with hard work, Reopell always impressed his coaches at Dennis-Yarmouth High School.

But it was not until his senior year that he broke into the starting lineup.

In the off-season he worked hard in the weight room and got bigger and stronger, and by running track he became faster.

“I did very well as a senior. I started all the games. I was an Eastern Massachusetts All-Star and a Division 1A All-Star at running back,” Reopell says. He also played outside linebacker, safety and cornerback on defense. 

D-Y coach Paul Funk knew Reopell wanted to continue to play in college and study engineering, so he directed him toward Mass Maritime.

“He [Funk] really pushed that on me, so I learned more about it and it seemed a perfect fit,” says Reopell.

Cameron and coach Mike Rainnie visited D-Y to talk to Reopell and thought the same thing.

“Coach Funk told us he had a real hard-working kid and we went to see him play. He had really good speed, and we thought he was a good fit for what we were looking for,” says Cameron.

Reopell fit in right away.

“When I came into camp, I didn’t know much about the team. But I worked real hard and I beat out the guy ahead of me, so I was in the rotation, and I started by the third week,” says Reopell. But in the fourth week he broke his hand.

MMA finished the season with a 3-7 record, but Reopell was already making his mark.

As a part-time slot receiver and running back, he ran for 321 yards in 10 games with two touchdowns as the Buccaneers went 5-5.

He was elected captain his junior year and was moved primarily to running back, splitting time with senior Matt White. He rushed for 394 yards and led the team in rushing touchdowns with six as Mass Maritime finished 5-4.

This year Reopell has had his best season, rushing for 654 yards and five touchdowns, and leading the Bucs to its best season since he has been there.

It has been a solid career — 1,435 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns and 32 receptions for another 199 yards in 35 games. A win over Bridgewater State next week would give the Buccaneers a 6-3 record and a chance to play in an ECAC bowl game.

Bridgewater State is 8-1 and has a solid defensive team, but Cameron feels his Buccaneers match up well.

“We played them tough last year [a 38-35 loss]; this year should be no different,” says Cameron.

For Reopell the chance to play another game is all that he wants.

“I just want to play as many games as possible,” said Reopell. “It kind of stinks, not playing any more. Really I’m just trying to get the most out of it — try hard every play up to the last. I’ll play like I have all year, but the last game, here it is coming up, and it’s a funny feeling.”

Cameron also has a funny feeling about it.

“I’m glad and happy that he is graduating this spring, but I wish he was playing another year."