After finishing up last year with a 7-2 regular season record, Coach Jim Rudloff’s Marblehead High football team went back to work last week. The returning veterans qualified for the 2025 Division 4 Super Bowl playoffs, where they defeated Shepherd Hill Regional, 42-14 in the Round of 16, only to lose to Canton in a close battle, 27-22. But they bounced back nicely to beat rival Swampscott on Thanksgiving for the 13th straight year, 29-22.
Among this year’s returnees, captains Pete Rhodes, Owen Coyne and Tim Wales have since turned the page to give their initial impressions of the first week’s comings and goings, and by all accounts it was a positive experience.
“So far, the practices have been great,” said Coyne. “We are way (ahead of) schedule on defense, because we have so many returning starters, while the offense is coming together.”
Coyne estimated that around 55 players suited up for the first day of practice on Aug. 24, many of them on the young side in terms of varsity experience. As a result, he admitted that practice has been a grind, “because of the constant reps,” while adding, “The hard work is already showing itself (with the progress that the team is making overall).”
Depending on the coaches’ schedules, practices usually run from 6-11 a.m., or from 5:15-9 p.m. They’d lift weights either prior to or immediately following these workouts.
Coyne, a wide receiver, has also been going through blocking drills with the other skilled position players, along with going over his passing routes. The team had a double session on Saturday with Sunday off to get ready for another week of practice.
But after one week, Coyne had these insightful observations.
I’d say the sophomores as a whole have been working great, but in particular I want to give a shoutout to defensive back Charlie Czapla,” he said.
Owen’s classmate Pete Rhodes also thinks the practices after one week have been “awesome,” while elaborating, “It’s a really good time to teach the younger players the system.”
The first two days of practice started off with morning meetings, followed by practice, according to Rhodes.
“It’s just a lot of technique drills at first to get our plays down, before we started hitting,” he added. “Our starting lineups would go up against the scout teams that are helping us prepare for the upcoming scrimmages and games.”
Rhodes has also been impressed by the sophomores in the early going, while singling out Charlie Annese, Bailey Finkle and his own younger brother Ryan.
“The entire sophomore group is working really hard, and hopefully they will also get time on the field this year,” Rhodes said.
Wales likes the “energy” so far in practice, while adding, “We have a lot to work on, but we’re where we want to be. The daily grind has been intense, even during Saturday’s double sessions.”
Wales specifically mentioned the wide receiver group that has been “working very hard on blocking and (catching).” He also likes what he sees from the underclassmen like Alex Herman, Ryan Rhodes, Finkle and Annese.
“These players have all been stepping up during the first week of practice,” he said.
But these Magicians can’t wait to square off against anybody but themselves. They were scheduled to participate in a jamboree on Sept. 1 at Westwood. It will be followed by a home scrimmage against Billerica Memorial on Friday, Sept. 4, starting at 6 p.m. These exhibitions all lead up to the home opener on Thursday, Sept. 10, against non-league Lynn English, beginning at 7 p.m.
