Watertown Football Preview

WATERBURY — A new era in the history of the Watertown High School football program is at hand.

In the 45 seasons the Indians’ program has been in existence, only three men had patrolled the sideline: Jim Krayeske, Bill Gargano and Roger Ouellette.

The exclusive club will welcome its’ fourth member on Friday, September 17, when Mike Veronneau officially takes command of the Indians, who open what appears to be a promising 2010 season against Kennedy High School at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury.

Veronneau inherits a veteran, upperclassman-heavy team from Ouellette, who last WHS team finished 5-1 in the Brass Division and 6-4 overall in 2009.

“Our team is led by a dedicated group of experienced variety seniors and juniors that had a successful campaign last season,” Veronneau, who comes to WHS from Crosby High School, pointed out.

“I’ve inherited an exceptional group of players and coaches,” Veronneau added. “We will field team with 20 seniors and 22 juniors who are very experienced and will give everything they have.”

To date, Veronneau has liked what he has seen in scrimmages against New Milford, Foran and Sacred Heart.

“We didn’t get as many reps in against New Milford as we wanted to on a broiling day,” Veronneau noted during a recent conversation, “but in the other scrimmages, we got to work on some things and I’m optimistic that we’re ready to go.”

The Indians’ offense will be led by senior quarterback and captain Matt Quatrano, who threw for 1128 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Joining Quatrano as the main weapons will be senior running back and captain Curtis Pomeroy, senior wide receiver and captain Tony Simpson (24 receptions, 396 yards, five touchdowns in 2009) and senior captain and utility man Carlos Arvelo (5.5 yards per carry).

“With an experienced offensive line anchored by senior captains Jeremy Plourde and Joe Cianciolo as well as senior Kyle Cave, I believe that offensively, we’ll look to have a balanced attack, using both the run and pass to score points this year,” said Veronneau, hoping to duplicate the 27.5 points per game the team put up in 2009.

Defensively, the Indians are led by junior linebackers Anthony Avoletta, Ryan Milo and D.J. Ouellette.

In the pre-season, Veronneau pointed out the emergence of senior defensive end Stanton Foote and junior defensive tackle Albion Lumani “only added to an already experienced defensive line which includes senior Adrian Bekiri, Cianciolo and Plourde.”

Other key contributors on defense will include junior Eric Ford and seniors Nick Dizinno and Tyler D’Anthony.

On special teams, the Indians will feature two solid place kickers in Rocco Guerrera and Ryan Milo; handling the punting duties will be handled by senior starting offensive tackle Dan Delgado, while Brett Boll, Brian Carroll, Justin Engelhard, Andrew Kalach and Stephon Walsh will solidify what Veronneau called “a hard-nosed special teams core.”

In addition to Veronneau, the 2010 coaching staff will include: Defensive Coordinator Jerry Valentino, Robert Perriello, Greg Boucher, Bruce Cianciolo, Jesse Pacyna, Shaun Stanco, Eric Rovenetti, Alan McGill, Keith Borkowski and George Palomba.

“I’m ready the challenge ahead,” said Veronneau, who added, “I expect positive results and success, both on and off the field.”