This column originally ran in The Standard-Times on Nov. 26, 2002.

By Nick Tavares
Standard-Times correspondent

Both teams have fallen on the short end of close games.

Both teams have had injuries on and off this season.

Both teams have had every reason to throw in the towel at one point or another.

But on Thanksgiving afternoon at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech both the Bears (3-7) and the Bishop Stang Spartans (0-9) are going to line up as if they were 10-0 with a Super Bowl on the line.

The Bears have been the victim of three losses by six points or less but will go into the game tomorrow healthy and brimming with the sense of something to prove.

"Our main thing is going to be to work on our execution" said GNB Voc-Tech head coach Steve Walker "because right now Bishop Stang is sky high and we can't afford to make any mistakes against them."

Voc-Tech is led by a strong senior corps which is fronted by tackle Jeff Isidoro tackle Kevin Viveros linebacker Raymond Amarante guard Nate Silva quarterback Tom Richard and wing back Jordan Britto who will see time on both offense and defense.

Fullbacks John Morin and Dan Flynn will shore up the running game as well as hit key blocks.

"They've both gotten better and better as the season has gone on" said Walker. "They're both very smart runners and they both run very well."

The Bears and their coaching staff are optimistic that they can go out and perform well but coach Walker added an air of caution as well.

"Bishop Stang has great coaches" said Walker "and we have to have no mistakes. They're too well coached for that.

"It's been a fun season for us. The attitude has been great and with the way these kids play every day you'd think that they were undefeated. I take my hat off to them."

Bishop Stang's co-head coach Tim McCarthy will be looking to go in and play a solid game to go along with the solid effort that the Spartans have put forth all year.

"We want to go in with a balanced offense" said McCarthy. "We want to be able to limit our mistakes and execute against a good team."

Senior running back Jordan Souza looks to get the majority of the workload along with sophomore Ryan Bergeron. Quarterback Casey Cwyner will run the offense and will likely look for senior wideout Matthew Dumont who has been the team's leading receiver and has seen more passes his way as the season has gone on.

"Dumont does a great job" said McCarthy. "All year he's been the guy for us in the air."

Bishop Stang has also been on the short end of some tight games this season the most agonizing of which came at home against Coyle-Cassidy which beat them 21-20.

All in all coach McCarthy and the Spartans will be excited for tomorrow and realize the tough game that they'll have ahead of them.

"Voc-Tech has a great coaching staff," said McCarthy, "but you'll see different things during the game and I'm looking forward to it."

This story appeared on Page C4 of The Standard-Times on November 27 2002.