The talent is there. The culture created from a 2022 Mid-Wach banner season remains intact. But one season and two weeks removed from a league title and an MIAA postseason berth, the Ayer Shirley football team isn’t quite sure what to think of its chances of returning to the promised land.
“I don’t know what our ceiling is, but I think it’s much higher than what we showed [against Littleton High School],” said Coach Bill Wright following a 21-0 road defeat Saturday afternoon.
The setback was a stark difference from the Panthers’ Week One 24-20 victory over Groton-Dunstable.
“The biggest thing that we need right now is buy-in from everybody,” said Wright, who is in his fourth year at the helm. “To be competitive with a small program, that’s what you need. And right now, I’m not getting it.”
The 30-man Ayer Shirley roster is captained by seniors Bobby Manchester, Dominic Sciabarrasi, J.T. Bresnahan, and Joey Clayton, as well as junior Evan Cornier.
“I don’t have a vocal leader per se but these [captains] work hard and show up to practice,” Coach Wright said. “What our younger kids should do is follow the example they set every day.”
Absenteeism and a bout of the flu led to a “tough week of practice” for the Panthers, Wright said. Ayer Shirley was outmuscled at the line of scrimmage as Littleton totaled more than 150 yards rushing en route to a three-score win. The Panthers did pull some positives from the loss, including a persistent defensive effort from two-way starter Isaiah Mulemba.
“He’s done a great job on the corner and he’s getting better every week,” said Wright of the junior from Belmont.
Fellow classmate Manny Gambino led Ayer Shirley in rushing and also provided a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball. Behind an embattled offensive line, Manchester fought valiantly under intense duress from the Littleton defense. Wright commended the toughness of his second-year signal caller.
“We were down two lineman and we weren’t able to run our stuff the way we’re capable,” Coach Wright said.
The Panthers will host North High School (Worcester) this Friday at 7 p.m., before hitting the road for a pair of challenging competitors in Gardner (Sept. 27) and Lunenburg (Oct. 4).
“The schedule only gets tougher from here,” Coach Wright said. “We have to learn to match a certain level of physicality and we’re not there yet.”
Added “buy-in”, he repeated, would be the key to any success Ayer Shirley finds this season.
“What we have to hope for is that everyone shows up for practice this week and we get ready for North,” he said. “With a little more enthusiasm and a little more effort, hopefully we’ll have a better result.”
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