1992 Mansfield Football

This is a look back at one of the greatest teams to wear the green of Mansfield

In 1992 a small school from the southeastern part of the state was trying to build a program that would be respected by other schools in the state.
To this end they scheduled a game with New Bedford (one of the strongest division one schools in Massachusetts.
Mansfield won 35-14!

1992 season recap

The 1992 edition of the Mansfield Green Hornet football team was one of the highest scoring teams in the school's history. During the regular season they outscored their opponents 267-42 in the first half of their games. This allowed the younger team members to play the second half of most games. These younger players would use this valuable playing time to hone their skills, which would lead to another Super Bowl in 1994.
This team had tremendous balance. Two quarterbacks, Alex Aleman and Dave Camelio, a backfield of Tony Forte, Omari Walker, and Matt Carpenter, wide-outs Dave Lundell, Josh Hines, and Rich Ruffing, and a solid line lead by Jamie Sullivan, Steve Botelho, Mario Corona, and Josh Marder. In the defensive secondary there was Craig Nelson, Pat Titus, Kris Drew, and Ben Moore.
To many fans this was as good a team as any to play for Mansfield, and to some it was the greatest. Whether it was or not, the town of Mansfield is proud of the members of this team. They have become solid citizens in the world community and great roll models to the youth of Mansfield.

Ed note: Enrolment in Mansfield was one third the enrollment it is now.
1992 senior class; 126 students
2012 senior class; 362 students

From 1988:
It seems like a distant memory.
Coach Redding stood before the Mansfield School Committee and delivered an impassioned plea on behalf of the school's athletes to stay in the Hockomock League.
Mansfield, the smallest school in the Hockomock for most of the league's 60-plus years of existence, had been mired in its second division for most of the decade. And as usually happens every 10 to 15 years, concerns over the town's perceived reputation as a "loser" was voiced to the school committee.
After several weeks a sub-committee recommended Mansfield move to a smaller division. The school committee then held hearing in the school auditorium. To the committee's credit they listened to the people who spoke.
Recommendations to hire coaches who could be teachers and role models instead of baby-sitters, establishing the power of tradition. And, they listened to Coach Redding- not a Mansfield native, but a newcomer whose commitment to the Green and White is as strong as his love for the Red and White was when he played for North Attleboro.
All he wanted was a chance. A chance to implement his system. A chance to mold the next generation of student-athletes into young adults who understood the importance of dignity and sportsmanship.
The results came sooner than expected. "Fortunately, we had a very talented team," he said "It was a combination of talent and hard work during the off-season."
In 1989 Mansfield won the Hockomock League Championship and made its first Super Bowl appearance, and then in 1992 its first Super Bowl victory.

Tony Forte

1992 Schedule and Scoring

Opponent	Score	Winning margin
New Bedford	35-14	21
Oliver Ames	42-20	22
Attleboro	42-21	21
Canton	35-0	35
Franklin	47-21	26
King Philip	41-20	21
No. Attleboro	35-0	35
Stoughton	27-9	18
Sharon	47-12	35
Foxboro	32-0	32
Winthrop	20-12	8
Totals	403-129	274

First week of 1992
Boston Globe
By B.J. Schecter
Date: 09/19/1992
Football roundup
DIVISION 1 NONLEAGUE:
Mansfield 35, New Bedford 14: Omari Walker scored three times, including a 90- yard kickoff return, to power No. 15 Mansfield and ruin Wayne Hamlet's debut.

Mansfield over Winthrop 20-12

Second super bowl appearance and first win.
Boston Globe
By B.J. Schecter, Contributing Reporter
Date: 12/06/1992
WINTHROP -- Mansfield has come up with big plays all season. Against a gutsy Winthrop defense yesterday, Mansfield struggled, but Omari Walker came up with the biggest play of the season to turn the game around.
With 10 seconds remaining in the first half and Mansfield trailing, 12-7, Walker showed why he is one of the top backs in the state. On fourth and 3 from its own 2, Winthrop punted. Walker picked up the ball at the Winthrop 44, bolted down the right side, cut inside and sprinted into the end zone for the touchdown as time expired, giving Mansfield a 13-12 lead at intermission. Backed by Walker's two touchdowns, Mansfield, ranked fourth in the Globe's Top 20 poll, defeated Winthrop, 20-12, capping a storybook season with the Division 3B Super Bowl title in front of 4,000 fans.
"I was supposed to get the ball and take a knee," said Walker. "When I got the ball and I saw all the room, I had to take off. I figured the worst thing that could happen is I could get yelled at."
Walker, who finished his high school career with 1,297 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns, didn't have a spectacular day (79 yards on 18 carries), but came through with key first downs and big plays when Mansfield needed them.
"With Omari, you always have to give him the green light," said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. "He has the ablilty to take control of the game. He didn't throw up the numbers he usually does today, but he made some pretty big plays."
Winthrop running back Anthony Palmer was impressive. The junior rushed for 96 yards and scored two touchdowns. More importantly he sparked his team, bouncing off defenders to gain the extra yard.
Midway through the second quarter, Palmer was hit at the line of scrimmage, bounced off another defender and went 58 yards for a touchdown, giving Winthrop a 12-7 lead.
Defense won this game. Mansfield (11-0), the Hockomock League champion, romped past every team it faced. Its closest game was a 27-9 verdict over Stoughton. Northeastern Conference champion Winthrop (9-2) played tough defense, shutting down Mansfield in the first half. Mansfield played solid defense as well, especially in the second half, forcing three turnovers.
"We never saw a defense this tough," said Walker. "We were all serious in the locker room at halftime. We had to change some things because they were picking us up so well."
With 4:24 remaining and Mansfield leading, 13-12, Jamie Sullivan knocked the ball loose from Winthrop quarterback Mike Mason and Eric Schleman recovered at the Winthrop 34. Six plays later, Tony Forte ran it in from 4 yards out. Sullivan's kick gave Mansfield a 20-12 lead.
"We stressed defense in practice all week," said Redding. "We knew we could score, and we had to stop them. Defense and special teams is the reason we won."
On ninth play of Winthrop's first possession, Mason (79 yards, 1 TD, 3 interceptions) connected with Palmer for a 31-yard touchdown. Mansfield answered early in the second quarter when Walker ran in from 2 yards. Sullivan's kick made it 7-6.
"They came up with the big plays, especially on special teams," said Winthrop coach Tony Fucillo. "Walker's touchdown at the end of the half really turned the game around."

1992 Roster

11 David Lundell SR
12 Fred Vallett SO
14 David Camelio SR
17 Alex Aleman SR
18 Josh Hines JR
19 Warren Bacon SO
20 Robert Wickersham JR
21 Tremaine Johnson SO
22 Daniel Bennett JR
23 Jason Aleman SO
25 Richard Ruffing JR
26 Tony Forte (C) SR
27 Craig Nelson SR
28 John Armstrong JR
32 Gary DeGirolamo JR
33 Robert Smith SO
34 Robert Reed SO
35 Patrick Titus SR
40 Eric Palmer SO
41 Jonathan Carpenter SO
42 Judson Brown JR
43 Omari Walker SR
44 Ryan Palmieri SO
45 Michael Bernstein SO

46 Matthew Carpenter (C) SR
47 Carlos Medeiros JR
50 Jamie Sullivan (C) SR
51 Martin Bray JR
52 Steve Botelho SR
53 Eric Schleman SO
54 Brian Lavery SR
55 Craig Smith JR
56 Jeffrey Devine SO
58 Joel Botelho SO
59 Stephen Medeiros SO
62 Mario Corona SR
63 Sean Gray JR
64 David Sullivan SO
68 Matthew Levesque JR
69 John Ewens SO
71 Joshua Marder SR
72 Paul Lunn SO
74 Kristoffer Drew SR
79 Paul Marder SO
80 Chris Brides SO
83 Kerry Taylor SO
84 Benjamin Moore SR

Final standings

BROCKTON'S FIRST IN TOP 20 POLL

Boston Globe
By Mark Singelais
Date: 12/08/1992

Brockton (10-1) is the No. 1 team in this season's final Globe Top 20 poll, selected by the school sports staff with input from coaches. Wellesley (2), Mansfield (3), North Quincy (4) and Xaverian (5) round out the top five.

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