Home Care In West Boylston, MA

WEST BOYLSTON — West Boylston capped an incredible 2022 season by capturing the Division 7 Super Bowl championship with an impressive performance against St. Bernard’s at Gillette Stadium. The Lions were the only Central Mass. team to win a state football title, and Mike Ross became just the second coach in state history to win a Super Bowl with three schools.

“It was a great feeling and a great accomplishment,” Lions senior running back Jonathan Ruas said after Tuesday’s practice, “but that was last year. We’re on to a new goal right now, and that’s to beat the next team up.”

West Boylston, the top-ranked team in the T&G Fab 15 poll, opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday at home against No. 8 Northbridge in the Hometeam Game of the Week.

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“We’ve been working hard,” Lions junior two-way lineman Jack Smith said. “We’re definitely excited for the season to get started.”

The Rams are looking to bounce back from an atypical 3-8 season. Northbridge has never finished with a losing record in back-to-back seasons under coach Ken LaChapelle, who has led the Rams for 47 years.

“I think we’re looking really solid,” Northbridge senior center Matt Cannon said. “A lot of the younger kids are stepping up, and I think we’re looking a lot better than last year.

“Everyone is excited,” Cannon said, “and we’re the first team that gets to play the team that won the championship in our division last year.”

Under a new, two-year realignment, West Boylston will play in Division 8 this season.

The Lions, who finished 11-2 last year, return a number of standouts, including quarterback Luke Foley and running backs Jamie McNamara and Connor Muldoon, who are all seniors, and the senior trio of Brian Smith, Jackson Caramanica and Jake Arcand, who were among the leaders of the ’22 defense.

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“Mike has things going pretty good over there,” LaChapelle said, “and those kids respond. It’s a tough opener for us, but we’ll see what we can do.”

Northbridge’s excellent 2021 team, which advanced to the Division 7 state semifinals, beat West Boylston twice that year, in the regular season and the playoffs.

The Lions got their revenge with a 37-0 victory over the Rams in the 2022 opener.

“We remember what they did to us last year,” Northbridge senior wide receiver Brady Nicholson said. “They came out and shut us out, and it was a horrible game. That’s been our mindset going into this — ‘Remember what they did to us. Remember how it felt.’ They are a great team. We have to look to come out strong and ready to go.”

Nicholson, Northbridge’s leading returning receiver, underwent offseason surgery. He expects to be back by Week 3.

Sophomore Joel LaChapelle, Ken’s grandson, will take over the starting quarterback duties, and junior David Scichilone, Ken LaChapelle said, has stood out among an array of receivers.

“This year’s team, like last year’s team,” LaChapelle said, “there are a lot of positions we’re still deciding. We have a lot of inexperience. The one good thing, and it has always been a positive for us, is we have good numbers in the program. Right now, it’s at a very competitive state.

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“Last year,” LaChapelle said, “we weren’t capable of making a play when we had to. We would play teams in the past, and it would be a tight game in the first half, and in the second half, we’d kick their butts. Last year, it was fairly tight, and they’d kick our butts. So it’s just trying to find that depth.”

West Boylston graduated Bobby Humphrey’s 811 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, but McNamara, Muldoon and Ruas combined for more than 33 TDs and more than 2,000 rushing yards last season in the Lions’ ground-and-pound offense.

“Their offense they run is very difficult to stop,” LaChapelle said. “We’ve had trouble with that over the years. We’ve done it occasionally, but you have to match strength with strength, and they are strong up front.”

West Boylston and Northbridge first played in 1970, and the Rams lead the all-time series between teams with contrasting offensive styles, 21-4-1.

“I think it’s a great rivalry,” Ross said. “We’re in Division 8 now, and they’re in 7 and we still play, and I think it’s a great thing for football. We’re going to have to play good on defense and get to the ball, because they can do a lot things. We have to be prepared for all of their formations and passes. It’s two different ways of coaching. In that way, I think it’s an interesting game. It’s going to be a tough, tough game.”

Northbridge is 9-0 against the Lions in games played in West Boylston.

West Boylston players aren’t talking about last year’s Super Bowl triumph, but they are still learning from it.

“We learned what it takes to be great,” Jack Smith said, “and how hard you have to work.”

—Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.

The Division 8 MIAA Super Bowl will be played on Wednesday at Gillette Stadium.

Read on for a preview and prediction of the game.

Here’s a look at the full schedule.

WEST BOYLSTON (12-0) vs. CARVER (11-1)

When: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Gillette Stadium

How to stream: Patriots.com; YouTube.com/@Patriots; Nfhsnetwork.com

Coaches: West Boylston — Michael Ross (9th season, 82-16; career 188-70). Carver — Ben Shuffain (2nd season, 14-9)

Scoring: West Boylston — 44.4 ppg.; Carver — 41.7

Defense: West Boylston — 9.5; Carver — 14.7

The heavies up front: West Boylston — Jake O’Brien (5 feet, 9 inches, 210 pounds); Carver — Nathan Dirado (6-2, 220)

Stat check: West Boylston senior Connor Muldoon has rushed for 1,050 yards and 20 touchdowns on 66 carries for the Lions, who like to ground-and-pound opponents in their double wing-T offense. Seniors Jamie McNamara (16 rushing TDs, 800 yards), Jackson Caramancia (11 TDs, 500 yards), and John Ruas (10 TDs, 450 yards) provide West Boylston with three additional end zone threats. Senior linebacker Brian Smith anchors the defense with a team-best 65 tackles. Carver’s high-flying offense runs through the right arm of senior quarterback Tyler Lennox (149-of-208, 2,711 yards, 37 TDs, 4 INTs; 5 rushing TD). His favorite targets: seniors Robbie Peterson (51 catches, 925 yards, 18 TDs) and Derek Lopes (28-765-8 TD). On the ground, seniors Pat Attaya (56 carries, 600 yards, 9 TDs) and Jameson Helms (65-471-9 TD; 4 TD catches) lead the way.. Defensively, Helms (90 tackles), senior linebacker Tyler Swain (89 tackles), and Peterson (5 interceptions) are the leaders.

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The captains: West Boylston — OL/LB Brian Smith (Sr.), QB/LB Luke Foley (Sr.), OL/DL Jake O’Brien (Sr.), FB/DE Jamie McNamara (Sr.); Carver — QB Tyler Lennox (Sr.), WR/DB Robbie Peterson (Sr.), RB/LB Jameson Helms (Sr.), OL/DL James Callahan (Sr.), WR/DL Jack Balzarini (Jr.).

Seniors on roster: West Boylston — 13; Carver — 16

Last Super Bowl appearance: West Boylston — 2022 (Division 7); Carver — 2000 (EMass Division 4)

Riding a 13-game win streak that began with a 29-6 victory over St. Bernard’s in last year’s Division 7 Super Bowl — the program’s first state title since 2012 —West Boylston won’t stray too far from its identity against Carver, which is playing in its first state final in 23 years. The Lions pride themselves on being physical, and they welcome the opportunity for a game decided at the line of scrimmage. “The line put a lot of work in in the weight room during the offseason,” Carver coach Ben Shuffain said. “Without them, we’re a 2-8 team at best. It’s more than the quarterback and the skilled guys — it’s the whole program.”

Although West Boylston has scored at least 40 points in all but two games — including 50 or more in five contests, like the 50-20 win over Maynard on Thanksgiving — it hasn’t faced a team that has the high-scoring offense and stout defense that Carver boasts. Until somebody slows down Carver’s passing game, it’s hard to pick against the Crusaders.

Carver 43, West Boylston 38

WEST BOYLSTON – Wachusett Plaza will trade handing out college degrees for intense workouts later this year when a pickleball indoor venue takes over the space where Salter College once catered to Central Massachusetts students.

Coined Rt. 12 Pickle, aptly named after the street that passes by - also known as West Boylston Street – the venue will use 30,000 square feet on a multiyear lease, according to real estate broker Kelleher & Sadowsky.

The venue will open sometime by the end of the year.

A sport that looks a lot like tennis, pickleball has gained popularity in the last few years as it’s easy to learn and play, it’s fast-paced and gives a great workout.

The sport is played with a paddle that is bigger than the one used in ping-pong that is used to whack back and forth a plastic, perforated ball that is a few holes away from being called a Wiffle Ball.

The sport is played on a court the size of a badminton court – slightly smaller than a tennis court - and it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with 8.9 million players in the U.S. last year, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.

That’s a 158.6% growth since 2020.

Developed in 1989 at 184 West Boylston St., Wachusett Plaza spreads out on a total of 102,000 square feet with tenants including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Central Mass Safety Council (CMSC), Planet Fitness, Froze Zone, Miku Sushi, Brown Rice Thai Cuisine and Three Rivers Nursery School, according to Kelleher & Sadowsky.

It is currently owned by Surabian Realty Company, a West Boylston real estate company which purchased the plaza for $3.5 million in 2004, according to the Worcester Registry of Deeds.

Salter College was previously the plaza’s anchor, moving there in 2007, offering vocational training and associate degrees.

The school folded in 2019, after 82 years since its founding on Cedar Street in Worcester as Salter Secretarial School.

In the 1990s, the Wachusett Plaza was also home to a Prime Value Mart and later a Price Chopper Supermarket.

WEST BOYLSTON — One of Taylor Swift's biggest fans is out with an invitation and instead of "meeting her at midnight," 5-year-old Ava Blazis, of Sutton, wants the community to come to Gerardo's Italian Bakery Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.

The bakery is hosting a "Taylor Swift Night" at its West Boylston location, offering Swift-themed cupcakes, cookies and, of course, friendship bracelets. What's more, the bakery will treat the public to a free cannoli at the bakery's cannoli-making station.

About five years ago, the bakery began raising money for charitable causes this time of year.

"This time of year is our slow time," said Chris Halliday, manager of Gerardo's and nephew of the original Gerardo himself. "We have the facility and we want to put it to good use, so we thought, 'Why not?'"

In the past they've raised money for several organizations, including an animal rescue in Sterling and for an autism organization.

"For me, this is the best (cause) yet," Halliday said. "This little girl Ava ... I've been watching her (on social media) battle leukemia for a year now. You get that feeling like you want to do something, but what can you really do? So after the holiday season we decided there is something we can do."

Ava was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2023 and has been channeling her inner Swiftie and staying positive through the singer's songs, performing for nurses and doctors throughout her treatment at Boston Children's Hospital.

While Ava has been discharged from the hospital, her journey is far from over. The youngster continues to shine brightly, arriving at weekly chemotherapy treatments dressed in various ball gowns and high heels.

"She looks like a princess, but she fights like a Swiftie," her mother, Angela, told the Telegram & Gazette in December. "She's definitely a fighter. So although her treatment will be for the next two and a half years, we will get through this. We have to."

Halliday said Ava will be at Friday night's event, most likely dressed as Swift herself. What's more, he said Ava will be making friendship bracelets.

"Normally we have the old-fashioned Italian music playing in the store, but for one night we'll turn it into a Taylor Swift party," he said.

Here are some Gridbits winding up the regular season, and some looking ahead to this week's Super Bowls:

? Both Central Mass. teams in the state Super Bowls, West Boylston and Uxbridge, head into their games at 12-0. The last Central Mass. team to put together a perfect season was St. John’s. The Pioneers were 13-0 in 2017. They also set the regional record for most points scored in a season with 588.

The last time the region had two perfect teams was in 2012. Auburn and Nashoba were 13-0 that season. Thirteen wins is the Central Mass. record, and it has been done many times, including by Gardner in 1899 and Leominster in 1910.

West Boylston has scored 533 points going into the Super game against Carver. That is, unofficially, tied for ninth-most in Massachusetts state history and is fourth in Central Mass.

Statewide, Everett scored 600 over 13 games in 1914. Locally, Littleton scored 543 in 2013, Oakmont 537 in 2009. Uxbridge has 497 points through 12 games. Central Mass. has never had two 500-point teams in the same year.

Neither West Boylston or Uxbridge have ever lost a Super Bowl. The Lions are 3-0 and have allowed exactly six points in all three victories. The Spartans are 2-0. This is their first Super Bowl since they beat Bay Path back to back in 1991 and ’92.

? Close calls? Oxford finished 5-6 and was outscored by 301-300. Shrewsbury finished at 6-5 and was outscored by 239-238.

? This year’s biggest improvement was by Westborough. The Rangers went from 1-10 in 2022 to 8-3. They were a combined 7-31 over the previous four seasons, one of them the COVID year. Westborough swept the Battle of the Boroughs, beating both Marlborough and Algonquin of Northborough, for the first time since 2008.

? Thanksgiving leftovers? Bartlett beat Southbridge by the margin of a safety, and Tantasqua beat Shepherd Hill by a field goal. Bartlett’s 10 points were the fewest by a winner in that series since Bartlett won, 9-6, in 1988. Gardner snapped an eight-game Thanksgiving losing streak by beating Quabbin. Clinton beat Nashoba for the first time since 2004, snapping a 15-game losing streak, the last five of those on Thanksgiving.

? Sutton went 6-5 for the third time. That makes it a three-way tie for the best seasons the Sammies have ever had. Blackstone-Millville set a school record for most victories in a year with nine. Unless we find some more during offseason research, Leicester heads into 2024 with 398 all-time wins. Auburn coach Jeff Cormier goes into next year with 198 all-time career victories.

? Heading into this week’s Large School Vocational championship game with Blackstone Valley Tech, Bay Path has 299 since starting varsity football in 1972.

? Fitchburg went winless for the first time since 1965 when it was 0-8-1. The Red Raiders still need three victories to reach 700 all time. Nashoba was 1-10, its worst record ever in terms of percentage. The school also won just one game in 1990 when it was 1-9. Northbridge (5-6) has had consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1966-67, when the Rams were a combined 4-13-1.

This does it for Gridbits for 2023. See you next year.

—Contact Bill Ballou at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BillBallouTG.