Thanks Guy: Newcomer Coy filled leadership roll for Nashua South football
Note: Thanks Guy is a feature we like to do at Thanksgiving to recognize players from the Nashua North and South football teams who were unsung heroes during their senior season.
There aren't many things tougher than going to a new high school as a senior.
But what about going to a new school, trying out for the football team, and becoming a captain of that team all at the same time?
That's how Mitch Coy started his senior year at Nashua High School South, after going to Manchester Memorial the previous three years. The change made him nervous, but there was one thing over the summer that helped him get closer to his new teammates.
"As I got in the weight room every day and worked out with the guys, I got comfortable and it turned out to be a really transition," Coy said. "It wasn't that tough."
For South coach Scott Knight, it was a surprise, but welcome, addition.
"We were studying film last winter and one of the first teams we were starting to prepare for was Memorial," Knight said. "They've got this kid, (Coy), he comes in and throws pretty good. Next thing you know, he's here. He worked hard all summer and did a great job in the weight room doing all the things he had to do.
"He's been a godsend, having him. Not too often do you have a first-year senior transfer that you make captain. That says a lot about a kid. From the moment he walked in here, he's done everything we asked him to do and then some."
And the Panthers have asked Coy to do a lot on the field, but to be honest, he's grown used to it.
As a sophomore for the Crusaders, he was a wide receiver on offense and a linebacker on defense. Last year, he spent his junior season splitting time at quarterback, and this season, he's been one of South's top running backs.
Knight believes that versatility will help give Coy an opportunity to continue playing at the next level, if he wants to.
"Hopefully, he gets to play at the next level and he'll settle in," the coach said. "Being good at a lot of stuff can be a curse because everybody wants to try you at everything and when he goes to college, that's not going to happen. He can play tailback, he can be an outside linebacker, he could grow into an inside backer, he could be an option quarterback, I think. You just don't know."
On Thursday morning, Coy will be trying to help South do one thing - beat Nashua North.
The Panthers have owned the series since it started in 2005, going 8-3 against the Titans on Thanksgiving, including the last two and four of the last five. North won the regular-season meeting, 47-27, snapping a four-game losing streak over all to South. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Stellos Stadium.
"It is exciting, but it's also emotional, knowing I'm coming out here to play my last high school football game," Coy said. "We're very excited and really pumped up. We've come here week by week and corrected our mistakes and just trying to get better and better."
