There are so many factors that have contributed to the remarkable success of the Everett High School football program.
Everything begins with superior leadership and our school system and athletic program have that in Supt. of Schools Frederick Foresteire and head football coach and director of athletics John DiBiaso, who’s already an inductee in the Mass. State Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
Saturday’s Super Bowl bid-deciding game was another great chapter in Everett’s football history that the late Arn Boardman has chronicled so well.
On a crisp fall afternoon, fans from Andover and Everett packed the stands and were treated to a rare matchup of Division 1 college-bound quarterbacks in the Tide’s Jordan McAfee (UConn) and the Golden Eagles’ EJ Perry IV (Boston College).
The Everett football team, led by DiBiaso and his staff of coaches, turned in one of the most powerful displays of offense in recent memory, scoring 62 points in the victory and winning the Division 1 North title. And no, DiBiaso did not “run up the score” – he never does – and that’s one of the reasons that some of his former Everett superstars (including his son, Jonathan DiBiaso and players like Omar Easy, Diamond Ferri, and Matt Costello) are not the all-time statistical leaders in state history.
John DiBiaso and the Everett football team compete with pride and sportsmanship. So many of the Everett players have taken the skills and lessons they learned at Everett High School and gone on to play college football. College coaches nationwide think very highly of the Crimson Tide program and stay in touch with coach DiBiaso and listen to his recommendations.
The EHS cheerleaders and EHS band contribute to the camaraderie and festive atmosphere that one encounters at the stadium on game nights and days, not to mention the splendid Homecoming Game which is in a category all its own.
But perhaps what we’ll remember most about Everett’s impressive victory over Andover is not Everett’s superb play on the field but Supt. Foresteire’s thoughtful gesture of setting up a hospitality tent and chairs for the Andover fans on the visitors’ side of the field. We’re not sure we’ve ever seen that before – anywhere.
When you consider the professional approach that Supt. Foresteire and Coach DiBiaso take in every aspect of the football program – the expert public address announcing by Josh Del Gaizo, the amazing souvenir game program – complete with full color photos of the football and cheerleading teams and the band, the tribute to the seniors – along with the support of the residents in this close-knit community including former Everett players (We saw the great Matt Nuzzo and George Paone Jr. at Saturday’s game) and alumni and the foundation of continuity set by Crimson Tide Pop Warner – there is no disputing that Everett stands at the top of the list of high school football programs in Massachusetts.
And on Saturday, Dec. 3, Everett will once again take the field with the title of “best team in Massachusetts” to be decided.
Congratulations, Everett High football and good luck in the Super Bowl!