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01/17/2018 11:00 PMAndrew Luzzi gutted out his final season with the East Haven football team. Although the young Yellowjackets had a difficult campaign, the senior captain stood by his teammates when things got tough, and they all became closer friends as a result.
“It was hard to keep the whole team together. We lost a lot of seniors and finished with five. It was tough with such a young team, and we didn’t like the way we finished, but we stuck it out together, and us remaining seniors formed a bond,” says Andrew. “To finish the year 1-9 and nine straight losses, it was hard to keep each other going, but we continued to move forward and keep focused on the next game.”
Melvin Wells, who was East Haven’s head coach the past three years, said that Andrew’s leadership abilities shined through during the 2017 season. Wells also describes Andrew as an excellent teacher on the gridiron.
“Andrew has been a leader. He started last year when he stepped in to help and support the team...He’s not the biggest or fastest guy out there, but he knows his way around the field, and has a real good nose for the football,” Wells says. “He’s done a really nice job of leading this football team through difficult times and adversity. He’s always stood up and been a man about how he manages his football team. The kids respected him as a captain and allowed him to take that leadership role.”
Andrew loved his leadership role with the Yellowjackets. The 2017 fall season marked Andrew’s first time as a captain, and he relished being in that esteemed position.
“The role was pretty fun. I got to help a lot of people who didn’t know how to even play,” says Andrew. “I helped them not only get good at football, but now, they love the sport. I also loved the respect I got.”
However, Andrew’s senior season got out to a rough start as he was sidelined with a foot injury when the Easties won their season opener. Andrew felt that was a huge setback, but when he returned, he did everything he could to prepare the team’s underclassmen for the future.
“It was tough. I started off with an injury, which didn’t help. It’s hard to make the team focus when I couldn’t get out there and play,” he says. “The season didn’t go how we wanted it to go. We were a younger team, so I helped get everybody to focus to get better for next year.”
Andrew was primarily the Easties’ lead blocker on runs, although he did make plays when he carried the ball the past three seasons. Andrew finished his high school career with 70 carries for 526 yards and two touchdowns.
“For offense, I was more in the blocking role. I would lead the tailback through the hole and, when I got the ball, I did what I had to do,” says Andrew. “I was more of the inside runner. [Running and taking out the opposing linebacker] is the best part about it. It’s pretty hard, because you have to find the hole first and find the first person there and clear them out of the way. You’re the man leading the charge.”
Defensively, Andrew moved from outside linebacker to middle linebacker for his senior year. He finished the season with 85 tackles to his name.
“As an outside backer, I would control the outside contain. This year, I was moved inside, so I had to adapt. I needed to take on the fullbacks and pulling guards to plug up the hole,” Andrew says. “Last year, the middle linebacker would clog up the holes, and I was there to finish the tackles.”
Anderw plays baseball in the spring and, with plenty of players returning from last year, he’s eager to help the Yellowjackets have another successful season in 2018. Andrew is slated to patrol the hot corner and play third base for East Haven.
“I’m pretty excited. I think we’re going to do well,” says Andrew. “It should be fun. Our senior class has been together since we were young. For that to happen is good because we have the chemistry we need.”