Tide football begins season at home tonight against non-league Mansfield

Everett coach Justin Flores eyes revamped schedule to secure better playoff odds

By Joe McConnell

Year 2 of the Justin Flores era is about to begin for his Everett High School football team, when non-league Mansfield out of the powerful Hockomock League comes to Everett Memorial Stadium tonight (Sept. 6) to kick off the 2024 season, starting at 7 p.m.

Flores added Mansfield to the regular season schedule to go along with Brockton (Oct. 19 on the road) and Taunton (Oct. 4 at home) to give his team a better chance of making the Division 1 playoffs.

The MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) established the power rankings system three years ago to determine the playoff teams in all eight statewide divisions. It’s based on a team’s strength of schedule. Playing perennial playoff teams from stronger leagues gives schools like Everett more points win or lose. As a result of these three additions to the schedule, the Tide won’t be playing traditional Greater Boston League (GBL) rivals Somerville, Malden and Lynn English this year.

The Crimson Tide will also play non-league powerhouses Xaverian (Sept. 20 at home) and BC High (Sept. 27 in Dorchester).

One year ago, the Everett boys won another Greater Boston League (GBL) title with a 6-0 record. They were 9-2 overall. But despite what appeared to be a winning record on paper, they failed to finish in the Top 16 to qualify for the postseason. They ended up 18^th in Division 1, even though they defeated BC High (5-3), the eighth seed, during a regular season game. But with the additions and subtractions to this year’s schedule, it will hopefully avoid any further disappointment for Flores’ squad.

The Tide has practically a whole new starting lineup on both sides of the ball this year with only six returnees, including quarterback Carlos Rodrigues. But not wanting to reveal too much of his gameplan at this time, Flores did not disclose his starting offensive and defensive lineups days ahead of the Mansfield opener.

The second-year Everett coach determined his starters with an intersquad scrimmage during the first week of practice, followed by a scrimmage versus Arlington. “I liked how physical we were on both sides of the ball in both scrimmages, especially from our linemen,” said Flores. “I was also happy with how we ran the ball and how we stopped the run.”

Familiarity with the product has given Flores and his staff a better idea on what they have this year. Last year, he was handed the job just weeks before the first day of practice. “We have been around these guys for a while now, and as a result we have high expectations for them,” said Flores. “There will be a lot of new guys playing significant roles. You will see new faces from the freshman class to the senior class on the Everett Memorial Stadium turf Friday night.”

Besides Rodrigues, some of the other returning players include wide receiver Yariel Ortiz, wide receiver / defensive back Joao Barreiros, offensive linemen Marvin Desruisseaux and Chris Ruiz, linebacker Kevin Diaz, linebacker / safety Armani Negron, linebacker Fabrice Michaud, defensive back / wide receiver Gidion Legall, running back Manny Santiago and defensive back / wide receiver Elijah Lassister. They should be seeing plenty of action tonight against visiting Mansfield.