Londonderry's Brutus enjoying all-star summer with lacrosse, football games

Cam Brutus is ready to officially wrap up his high school athletics career Friday night.

On June 22, the long-stick midfielder helped Team New Hampshire score a 19-4 win over Team Vermont in the 31st Twin State All-Star Lacrosse Game at Hanover High School. That game, sandwiched between football practices, is just one of Brutus’ all-star games this week.

At 6 p.m. Friday, the Londonderry product will suit up at strong safety for Team East in the 12th CHaD New Hampshire East-West All-Star Football Game at Saint Anselm College in Manchester.

“Saturday was a great experience and fun, but I’m excited for Friday’s game,” Brutus said. “I’m playing lacrosse in college, so this is likely my last football game and it’s with a lot of talented players that I’ve grown up playing with or against. Practice has been fun and it’s going to be a fun game for a great cause.”

Despite committing to Bentley University for lacrosse, that “likely” comment stands out. Brutus has a love for football that may be hard to just throw away Saturday morning.

He’s taking a wait-and-see approach heading into his first year of college. The 6-foot, 175-pounder - who played quarterback, receiver and defensive back for the Lancers over the last four years - is prepared to focus on academics and lacrosse before considering a possible return to the gridiron.

“I was thinking about it,” said Brutus of playing both sports his freshman year at Bentley, “but I kind of want to see how lacrosse goes and my free time and how well I can manage it along with my classes. If I have a lot of free time and feel comfortable and confident in being able to handle it all, then I’ll definitely play football my sophomore year.”

One individual who thinks Brutus should consider playing football in college is his East All-Star coach, Eric Cumba of Dover.

Cumba, an assistant last summer and now head coach for Team East, loves the athleticism and versatility that Brutus and fellow Twin State Lacrosse All-Stars Memphis Patterson (Pelham) and Jacob Magri (Winnacunnet) bring to the football field.

“Especially when you’re looking at a kid's competitiveness, and their competitive nature,” Cumba said of the multi-sport athletes. “If they are able to compete and perform at a high level in various sports, it’s a credit to not only their athletic ability, but also their approach to competitive situations.

"As a coach, obviously you want to put together as competitive a group as possible. If a kid is able to be that across many sports it says something special about them.”

From football practice to a Saturday of lacrosse action and back to football practice, Brutus hasn’t skipped a beat.

In fact, Brutus believes that years of honing his lacrosse skills has helped him become the all-star football player he is today.

“I think that my feet, agility and lateral quickness from lacrosse definitely translates well to the football field,” Brutus said. “I also think that the physicality of football helps me on the lacrosse field with not being afraid of contact or getting hit.”

This week has been all about putting these crossover skills on display. With the lacrosse game complete, now he gets one last chance to show off that agility and physicality on the football field to wrap up a stellar high school career.

“It’s been awesome,” Brutus said. “I can’t really ask for anything more to really finish it all out. I’m playing the two sports I love. Getting to play football one last time in high school. Getting to play lacrosse one last time in high school. I feel I’m very fortunate in that sense.”