Mass. Maritime Bucs' Jonathan Emond more than making up for late start

October 28, 2010

By Marvin Pave, Globe Correspondent

Jonathan Emond ran a roundabout route before landing at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and developing into the leading receiver for the Buccaneers' football program.

"It was my dream to play Division 1 football, but I never got a scholarship there and I left after one year, worked for six months as an electrician, and then decided I wanted to go back to school,'' said Emond, who as a freshman last season led the Bucs with 38 receptions for 656 yards and a team-best seven touchdowns. He was named New England Football Conference's Offensive Rookie of the Year in the Bogan Division.

This season, despite a gut-wrenching 28-27 loss last weekend at division leader Maine Maritime, the Buccaneers (4-4, 3-2 Bogan) have registered their best win total in 10 years. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Emond has been a key contributor with a team-high 22 catches, 380 receiving yards, and four touchdowns.

"He's our big play receiver, extremely fast and he's getting better the longer he's here,'' said sixth-year head coach Jeremy Cameron. "I remember seeing him play at Marshfield and we wanted to recruit him back then. So when he called and asked about our program a couple of years later, I was surprised, but I had a feeling he'd step in and be a top-flight player.''

Mass. Maritime continues its quest for a winning season Saturday at noon against visiting division rival Westfield State.

"I thought the time off from football might have left me a little rusty, but it seemed everything was cooking right from the start here,'' said Emond, a Facilities Environmental Engineering major who wants to work in a power plant after graduation.

Emond ran track and cross-country at Marshfield before deciding to give the gridiron a shot.

"I had a lot of close friends who played football and they felt I had the size and speed to give it a try and, to be honest, I was fascinated by the thought and looked forward to the challenge and I was always a bit jealous of the guys who played football,'' he said.

In his one season on the varsity, Emond earned a starting spot at receiver after his best friend, Nick Asta, was moved to tight end by coach Lou Silva. "We wound up winning our [Old Colony] league championship and made the playoffs, where we lost a nail-biter to Brockton,'' said Emond.

A junior academically because of his time at UMass, Emond is contemplating an extra semester so he can play two more years of football.

"Looking back, I never would have expected this,'' he said. "It's been a long journey, but it's been worth it every step of the way.''

Other area starters for the Buccaneers include captain Mike Bois, a junior linebacker from of Lakeville (Apponequet) who is the team's best defensive player according to Cameron; freshman Stefan Gustafson, (Plymouth South) a defensive back and kick returner; junior running back Matt White (Westwood High), who has a team-leading nine touchdowns; junior defensive lineman James Hutchinson (Pembroke High); freshman quarterback Mike Stanton (North Quincy High), who has thrown seven TD passes; freshman wide receiver Keith Caruso (Hingham High); junior wide receiver Kyle Rowe (Plymouth South); freshman Brandon Rodrigues (Brockton High), who is the kickoff and field goal specialist; and sophomore center Bryan Norberg (Walpole High).