HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Defense, once again, the staple for Rockland's success

ROCKLAND — For the best Rockland High football teams, defense is always a staple.

And for this bunch of Bulldogs, which is Rockland’s best team in a long time, there’s plenty of credit to go around.

The coaches highlight their players' willingness to take guidance and ask questions. The players thank the coaches for their expertise and effort. The linebackers highlight the secondary, and the linemen highlight the linebackers.

“Brotherhood,” said Rockland junior defensive end Leary Costa. "We’re all connected. On the field, off the field, we’re all brothers, we’re all friends, we’re best friends. No one on the team really has bad blood or animosity towards each other, so that plays a big part in our defense, and our offense as well. As a team, we play as one.”

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That defense will face arguably its biggest test on Friday. Rockland (9-2), which is returning to a Super Bowl for the first time since 2000, will play Abington (11-1) in the Division 6 final at 5 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Standout players for the Rockland Bulldogs: Leary Costa, 16, Matteo Vasquez, 18, Brett Armstrong, 17, and Austin Clarke, 17.
Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Standout players for the Rockland Bulldogs: Leary Costa, 16, Matteo Vasquez, 18, Brett Armstrong, 17, and Austin Clarke, 17.

On the field, the success of Rockland’s defense starts with senior middle linebacker Gabe Pinheiro. He’s the emotional leader of the unit and is tops on the team in tackles.

“Hardest hitter, easily,” said senior Brett Armstrong of Pinheiro. “He’s electric, he’s got energy. He calls the plays on defense and it’s worked pretty well.”

Pinheiro shares the middle of the defense with junior Austin Clarke. Teammates say Clarke is the unsung hero of the defense and forms a yin and yang combination with Pinheiro.

“He’s like a silent killer,” said Costa of Clarke. "There’s Gabe over there talking up a storm and then Austin’s quiet, he’s serious and when you need him to he make plays.”

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“I love his instinct,” said Armstrong of Clarke. “He has a great, instinctive mind for football. When you need a big play, he’s always in the hole to fill it up and he brings energy. He seems like a nice, lovable guy, but on the football field it’s pretty different.”

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Austin Clarke, 17
Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Austin Clarke, 17

“Gabe is deceivingly quick and you think that he’s just a wiry type of kid that’s going to get pushed around a little bit,” said Rockland coach Nick Liquori. “He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s very good at reading what’s going on in front of him and just reacting at a split notice. Clarky is the same way, he might even do it a little bit faster. They’re true to their technique, which makes them a tough block.”

Clarke’s choice for the guy on the defense who doesn’t get enough credit is senior Swiss-army knife PJ Celestino. Celestino, a captain, gets time as a dual-threat quarterback and also plays on defense and special teams. As an outside linebacker, he's strong in pass coverage and the run game.

For the Bulldogs, it all starts up front with Costa and Armstrong, the defensive ends.

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldogs Leary Costa and  Austin Clarke run a practice drill as they prepare for their Super Bowl against Abington.
Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldogs Leary Costa and Austin Clarke run a practice drill as they prepare for their Super Bowl against Abington.

“When you have two good bookends like that, it makes it a lot easier,” said Liquori. “You don’t have to make up for it on the outskirts.”

Costa, who is the leader of the offensive line from his guard position, is constantly double-teamed on defense. He’s helped the Bulldogs rush for over 2,200 yards this season.

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Armstrong has lined up wherever the coaches need him. When junior running back Jacob Coulstring missed time, Armstrong earned more carries out of the backfield and produced. In a first-round playoff win over Easthampton, Armstrong ran for 83 yards and a TD while helping the defense pitch a shutout.

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 --  Rockland Bulldog Brett Armstrong, 17
Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Brett Armstrong, 17

“He probably hasn’t gotten enough credit for what he’s done for us,” said Liquori of Armstrong.

“That just shows how good an athlete he is, why he’s an all-star in the league,” Clarke said. “Where would we be without Brett?”

“It’s always nice to get to carry the ball, you know,” said Armstrong. “I like it, but I always tell the coaches they can stick me wherever they need me. I like to be an athlete on the field, not just an H-Back or a fullback.”

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Matteo Vasquez, Gaven Wardwell, Lucas Leander and Coulstring all play key roles in the secondary. Liam Wallace, Joe Earner, Skyler Hitchcock and Jaylen Johnson also factor into the defense.

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Mateo Vasquez, 18,
Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Mateo Vasquez, 18,

Liquori, Wayne Leander and Fred Damon are the coaches who focus on the defensive side of the ball.

“Good people, they know what they’re doing,” said Vasquez of his coaches.

"I couldn’t do anything without the best linemen coaches in the South Shore, the best linebacker coaches, Liquori telling me everything to do,” said Armstrong. “We wouldn’t be close to the Super Bowl without this fantastic coaching staff. No one thought we were going to make it anyways.”

Throughout the regular season, Rockand’s defense was dominant. Through their first eight games, including the first-round shutout against Easthampton, the Bulldogs allowed an average of 6.4 points per game.

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Leary Costa, 16
Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 -- Rockland Bulldog Leary Costa, 16

That defense has bent a little bit more in Rockland’s last two wins. Winthrop scored 34 in the quarterfinals and Blackstone Valley Tech scored 17, but in both games Rockland’s defense made fourth-quarter stands to secure the win.

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The Bulldogs will look to repeat one of their best defensive performances on Friday. Back in October, Rockland defeated Abington, 17-7, to spoil legendary coach Jim Kelliher’s 500th game at the helm.

In that win, the Bulldogs let the Green Wave reach Rockland territory six times without coming away with points. Rockland was a few minutes away from a shutout in that win. Down 17-0, Drew Donovan had a long kick return to set up a 45-yard touchdown pass from Eddie Reilly to Isaiah Ricketson with 2:16 remaining. Celestino and Coulstring had interceptions in that win.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Defense is key for Rockland