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If there’s one word that Micah Morel could use to describe his anticipation for the 2012 football season, it isn’t excited or nervous or happy.

Since Brockton lost to Bridgewater-Raynham last Thanksgiving to be kept out of the playoffs with a 5-6 overall record, the senior safety has felt something different all offseason.

Hungry.

Hungry to prove that one of the worst statistical seasons in the program’s storied history is also a thing of the past, hungry to show that he can be as good as the many recent Boxer safeties to go on to play Division I football, hungry to help a famished offense reach the end zone after not being able to do so at an alarming rate in 2011.

Most of all, Morel is starving, ravenous in anticipation to regain a once-proud program’s place among the state’s elite.

“There was a lot of emotion and feeling right after the season,” Morel said. “The number one thing is I’m just hungry to get back to what Brockton always was. There’s been so many greats and the last two years were really disappointing. We really need to turn the ship around and really, really get the ball rolling this year. We’ve really worked so hard as a team. We just need to take one good thing as it comes.”

Once a promising third baseman and outfielder on the baseball diamond, Morel has focused his workouts all offseason on improving himself as a football player under the tutelage of Michael Williams, who supervises an intense training regiment to those in the city who choose to accept it. Morel calls the workouts “one of the hardest things we’ve ever done.”

In addition to the current players that participate, some of the former Boxers that have moved on to the next level also come back and get involved. One former player that has had a particular influence on this group is current Boston College safety Dominique Williams, who is Michael’s nephew.

“I get to talk to [Dominique] quite a bit,” said Morel, who made four interceptions in his first year as a starter last season. “We text each other quite a bit and talk about football, life. I really listen to any tips he gives to me and the rest of the team. After last year, we’re really, really focused on working together as a team. What he’s said to us motivate us really got us. I can honestly say we worked harder as a team than any season I can think of.”

“The thing [Morel] has in common [with previous Boxer defensive backs] is the awareness you look for in a guy in that position,” said Brockton defensive coordinator and secondary coach Bobby O’Neill. “He understands the big picture, takes on the responsibility of making the checks.

“A lot of those guys going into their senior year, it just clicked and became good football players. At that position, it doesn’t always happen overnight. As a junior, Dominique would be in position a lot of times and just didn’t finish. As a senior, he did. [Morel] is very similar. In the run game, I think you’ll see a vast improvement. I think the pass game he’s going to be fine. He learned a lot last year. I expect it to all come together. He’s worked hard. He’s been in the system three years. I expect it to all come together.”

Morel definitely wants to put his name in there as the next Brockton defensive back to get a Division I scholarship. But he makes a clear distinction that the only thing that will fill the hole in his stomach left by last year’s famine is getting his high school team back to its winning ways.

“I’m getting some good interest (from colleges), but I’m focused on winning right now,” he said. “Once we keep winning one game at a time, the rest will take care of itself. I’m not concerned with playing selfish, individual ball out there. All that matters is winning and the rest will take care of itself.”

Sounds like he’s ready to eat.

BROCKTON AT A GLANCE
2011: 5-6 (2-0 in the Big Three)
Coach: Peter Colombo (10^th season, 77-29-1)
Key Returnees: Austin Roberts, Sr. QB, 5-10, 185 lbs.; Micah Morel, Sr. S/RB/WR, 6-0, 190 lbs.; Joe Previte, Sr. OT/DT, 6-3, 250 lbs.; Anthony Davis, Sr. G/DT, 5-11, 250 lbs.; Moise Eduard, Sr. LB/RB, 5-8, 220 lbs.; Ricardo Calixte, Sr. OLB/RB/WR, 6-0, 195 lbs.; Malik Cooley-Walker, Sr. DT, 5-8, 240 lbs.; Jeff Celestin, Sr. DE/TE, 6-0, 220 lbs.; Max Castor, Sr. DE/TE, 6-0, 215 lbs.; Matt Adams, Sr. C, 6-2, 200 lbs.; Aaron LeClair, Jr. DB/RB, 5-8, 170 lbs.; Kervin Jean-Claude, Jr. LB, 6-0, 200 lbs.; Sebastian Porter, Jr. OT, 6-2, 270 lbs.
Strengths: Defense, offseason commitment.
Weaknesses: Offense, tough schedule.

Outlook: After a disappointing season in 2011, the Boxers have the potential to field the type of defense that this traditional powerhouse is used to with experience returning at every positional unit. Morel and LeClair lead the secondary while big things are expected from Calixte, Jean-Claude and Eduard at linebacker. Celestin, Castor, Cooley-Walker, Davis and Previte all saw significant action on the defensive line in 2011. However, it’s the offense that needs a major rebuilding job after getting shut out four times a year ago. Roberts returns as the team’s signal-caller and promises to steer an option attack that will feature a committee of backs. The offensive line returns four-year starters Previte and Davis and will be an overall experienced group that figures to be physically stronger than last year’s. We will know just how much this team has recovered from last year right away when it takes on BC High, Reading, Xaverian and St. John’s Prep in its first four games.

It’s not often that a Brockton Boxer is literally a boxer.

Austin Roberts, though, a junior Swiss Army knife for the Division 1 powerhouse and No. 5 team in the state, actually puts on gloves and hits people when he’s not doing it in shoulder pads.

Roberts lives in East Bridgewater, but is able to attend Brockton because his father Ralph -- an assistant coach with the Boxers -- is a sophomore English teacher at the high school. He started boxing in his early teens at Eddie Bishop’s Gym in West Bridgewater.

“I’ve definitely became tougher because of boxing,” said the 5-foot-8, 175-pounder, who is 2-1 in three amateur bouts. “It’s an awesome experience sparring with people a lot better than me. It teaches you to remember to stay in the ring no matter how much you’re taking a beating. It made me a better foottball player in that sense.

“I love being an underdog. I’m, you know, a smaller person. I’m only 5-8. Going against taller people bigger people, you have to out-tough them every chance (you) get.”

“He loves it maybe moreso than I thought,” noted Ralph. “He does like getting in the ring with people.”

He got one such chance earlier than expected in 2009, when a suspension to starting quarterback Sam Previte forced the freshman, then only around 5-6 and 150 pounds, into action against Waltham on Thanksgiving and a date with unbeaten Xaverian in the Division 1 semifinals.

Against Waltham, Roberts completed 9-of-16 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in an 18-11 win.

Facing unbeaten Xaverian the following Tuesday was a different animal. Still, the freshman didn’t go in to the situation intimidated.

“I was just thankful for the opportunity to get the experience as a freshman,” he said. “I was more excited than anything.”

When Xaverian took a 21-6 lead deep into the fourth quarter, the game looked finished.

But Roberts led the Boxers on a two-minute drill that culminated in a 28-yard strike over the middle to Dominique Williams, now a safety at Boston College. Williams ran in the two-point conversion out of the Wildcat and it was 21-14 with 1:28 to play.

The Boxers nearly recovered an onside kick, but Xaverian was able to hold off the comeback bid and eventually win the Super Bowl the following Saturday.

“Yeah, I mean I’ve thought about that (onside kick) over and over thinking what could have happened,” Roberts said.

By the time his sophomore year rolled around, Roberts was first on the depth chart at quarterback before Paul Mroz eventually overtook him. However, that didn’t keep Roberts off the field. His strength as a quarterback to this point in his career has been running the option, so he did that in spots and also held for extra points as well as other various special teams duties.

“Obviously I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to get the starting job,” Roberts said. “But I was contributing and I wanted to have a good attitude by just getting better and waiting my chance.”

This season, those chances are abundant. While he still comes in and runs the option, he also starts at outside linebacker and slot receiver and rarely comes off the field.

“Auggie comes in and immediately runs the option as well as any high school quarterback I’ve seen,” said coach Peter Colombo. “That’s good to know we have that. He’s also playing on defense, playing at wide receiver, showing his versatility.

“Guys that play multiple positions are intelligent players and they wouldn’t be able to do that without that and I think it showed on defense; he’s just always around the ball. If the ball hits him in the hands, it’s going to be our football.”

“As a freshman and sophomore game the game was very fast,” Roberts said. “This year we’re able to get to the plays faster. I know the plays a lot better. I also got work last year at the J.V. level and now I can crank it up to the next level to varsity.”

So far, the whole defense has cranked it up to another level in that respect.

“(The defense is) tougher than last year,” Roberts said. “We had to be. We’re smarter, too. We’ve got a lot of smart kids on the field. I don’t know. We’ve got to clean it up before (the BC High) game. I think we know we’ve got work to do.”

Sounds like he’s ready to rumble.

Coach: Peter Colombo (9th season, 72-23-1)
Last year: 8-3
Key returnees: Paul Mroz, QB, 6-2, 195, Sr. (64-of-130 passing for 1,322 yards, 12 TD, 7 INT, 398 yards rushing on 59 carries, 6.75 yards per carry, 8 TD); Josh Brewster, RB, 5-9, 175, Sr. (177 yards on 34 carries, 5.21 ypc); Dino Hyppolite, DT, 6-0, 250, Sr. (30 tackles, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries); Jesse Monteiro, WR/CB, 5-8, 170, Sr. (16 catches for 271 yards); Lucas Depina, WR/K/P, 6-2, 180, Sr. (4 catches, 162 yards, 3 TD); Khahleell Alcide, LG, 6-0, 220, Sr.; Jerrod Shelby, WR/TE/OLB, 6-4, 190, Sr.; Devante Cartwright, CB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; D.J. Brown, DB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Austin Roberts, OLB/QB/WR, 5-8, 175, Jr.; Ryan Kelley, ILB, 6-2, 210, Jr.; Joe Previte, OT/DT, 6-2, 260, Jr.; Anthony Davis, G/DE, 6-0, 250, Jr.; Micah Morel, S/QB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Moise Eduard, OLB/RB, 5-8, 225, Jr.
Strengths: Quarterback, speed, offense, young talent.
Weaknesses: Inexperience on defense, pass rush.
Outlook: Offensively, the Boxers have the potential to be better than a year ago despite losing speedy wideout Albert Louis-Jean (Boston College) and shifty running back Trevon Offley (Suffield Academy). Mroz, with a year of experience under his belt and a deep group of weapons to spread the ball around to in Brewster, Depina, Monteiro, Depina and Cartwright. Brewster will get to run behind an offensive line that includes three three-year starters in Alcide, Previte and Davis. The defense has strength on the defensive line but has lacks a pure pass rusher off the edge. The linebackers are sure tacklers and the secondary has excellent corners and a safety in Morel that is already drawing FBS interest despite not having started a single varsity game yet. The schedule offers no favors with BC High, Xaverian and St. John’s Prep in the first four weeks. If the Boxers survive that stretch relatively unscathed, there is nothing holding them back from their first appearance at Gillette Stadium since 2008.

WESTWOOD, Mass. -- Brockton coach Peter Colombo had one message for his team following its impressive showing in a scrimmage with Central Massachusetts powerhouse St. John’s of Shrewsbury, at Xaverian High.

“Keep this in perspective. It was a scrimmage,” said the coach of the preseason No. 5 team in the state. “I think we know that the sky is the limit this year.”

It certainly looked that way Saturday.

Brockton’s offense scored twice in its four plays and -- from the first string to the end of the depth chart -- the Boxers found the end zone at least once on every possession. The Pioneers moved the ball well in spots but found the end zone just once. While keeping score in a first scrimmage can be taken with a grain of salt, strictly first team against first team, Brockton led, 20-6, and overall it was 42-6. Each team went for two-point conversions after every score.

“You keep it in perspective,” Colombo said. “(The Pioneers) have been real good the last two years, and maybe a little inexperienced this year, which I thought we exploited. But I’m very happy with being in pads two days; the execution was very good. People’s attitudes, we’ve got people people in different positions adjusting. And (our) defense is young but I liked the way they ran to the ball. I thought the hitting was excellent for first day.”

“All around good game: offense; defense. It was just a good game,” said senior Jesse Monteiro, a wide receiver and cornerback. “Everybody stepped it up from the sophomores and the juniors and the seniors. Played as a team, and that’s what you have to do to make it.”

The players seemed to absorb Colombo’s message well.

“Stay humble,” Monteiro said. “Don’t let it get to our heads because we have a lot more work to do. It’s a long journey.”

The first step wasn’t too shabby.

Some other observations:




-- Brockton quarterback Paul Mroz looked superb. At this time last year, the signal-caller wasn’t nearly as patient with his reads and was prone to scrambling before the play fully developed. The senior, who received a waiver earlier this month to return to the team and is on track to graduate in January, went through his progressions and found the open receiver, spreading the ball around evenly to his weapons.

“The offensive line did a great job,” Mroz said. “They gave me confidence and if they give me time to throw I think I can make the throws happen.

“All offseason I’ve been working with these (receivers) so I got to adjust to their speeds and the timing on the routes. They do a great job running them.”

His first pass was around a 50-yard completion to Jerrod Shelby to set up a touchdown run by Josh Brewster. After a first-down strike to Monteiro, Mroz kept the ball on a zone read, found the sideline and scored a 60-yard touchdown that was aided by a thunderous block by Shelby on a trailing Pioneer defensive back.

“It was a basic read, read the end,” Mroz said. “He came in, he went with Brewster, so I just went around the whole team and I had good lead blocking on the way there. I saw Bubba (Shelby) the whole way. The defender didn’t even see that one coming.




-- Brewster looks like a capable replacement for departed All-State tailback Trevon Offley, now doing a post-graduate year at Suffield Academy. Brewster, a senior, runs downhill with decisive cuts and has soft hands coming out of the backfield. He finished with two touchdown runs and caught a two-point conversion on a nicely-designed and executed weakside throwback.

“I think Josh could be in the tradition of Brockton High running backs,” Colombo said. “We’ve got to make sure we get the ball in his hands enough because we want to spread it around, be balanced. But still, he’s a weapon that we want to exploit.”

Backups John Gomes and Moise Eduard scored on touchdown drives led by junior quarterbacks Austin Roberts (who also played outside linebacker and slot receiver) and Micah Morel, respectively. Junior Josh Laboard also had a rushing touchdown.

-- Defensively, the Boxers are young and inexperienced, but there is talent. Despite missing starting cornerbacks D.J. Brown and Devante Cartwright for much of the scrimmage, the Boxers made good plays on the ball and only let up one long reception. Morel came up and filled the running lanes well at safety. An all-junior linebacking corps of Eduard, Johashy Cornely, Ryan Kelley and Roberts was stout inside the tackle box with Eduard coming up with one of the biggest hits of the day on a third-and-short at midfield. Juniors Jeff Celestin, Malik Cooley-Walker, Anthony Davis and senior Giovanni Hyppolite held their own against a big and physical St. John’s offensive line. The backups also played well up front, as junior defensive tackle Rodney Thomas swallowed up a play in the backfield on the last defensive series.

-- For St. John’s, an always-good offensive line got better when senior Ethan Borchelt came out for football for the first time and won the starting left tackle job. At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, the Pioneers found good yardage running to his side. Borchelt, who rows crew and plays basketball, has room to fill out his long frame and shows good technique for a first-year varsity player. The offensive line will be even better once junior Michael Marto (6-3, 280) returns to the lineup.

“It was the first full contact (Borchelt’s) had other than in a controlled camp-type structure and practice,” said St. John’s coach John Andreoli. “But just in terms of getting his body where it needed to be and keeping his lower half down lot and walling guys off, he did a pretty good job. We were very pleased with what he did and I think he’s going to keep getting better. So he’s going to be somebody to watch.”

-- St. John's senior captain Brendan Melanson, a returning starter at center, has transitioned well into taking over an inside linebacker spot.

“I kind of had some butterflies going into this game, how I was going to do,” he said. “Basically it was an easy move. I feel like coach ‘A’ is great to learn from. He’s got so much knowledge. So I feel like it’s been an easy switch. I think I did pretty well today but I definitely have something to move on from and learn from.”

-- The battle for the Pioneers' starting quarterback job is between junior Connor Kurtz and sophomore Andrew Smiley. Kurtz led the Pioneers on their only touchdown drive with a nice pass down the seam to Drew Ortone for a big gain that helped set up a short touchdown run by senior Sean Wilson. No matter who wins the job, he will have a deep and talented group of runners to hand the ball to. Efrain Montalvo is a speedy slot receiver who picked up good yardage on jet sweeps, while junior Shadrack Abrokwah and freshmen Devon Jones and Taquar Stewart also had nice long gains.

“Sean Wilson just ran with a lot of pop today,” Andreoli said. “He was delivering blows and making nice cuts. Efrain Montalvo: he’s a 4.4 guy legitimately and he has some really nice hips and can get in the open field really quick...And those freshmen - Devan and Taquar - they’ve got a fourth and fifth gear. They have a natural ability to run the ball and get to the open area. Those were a couple hit-and-spins that were pretty impressive today.

“We’ve got a lot to do. But we saw some really good things today.”