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12/13/2023 02:47 PMThe game of football can display a great deal of guts, glory, and determination on the gridiron, from the naked eye of a casual observer. That was the exact initial impression the pigskin had upon a young man from East Haven that has burst onto the scene as the workhorse running back for the Yellowjackets’ football team, through its most recent campaign.
Junior Rocco D’Amato played on the hardwood growing up with basketball, and additionally played football in his youth. Also, to enhance his stamina and running abilities, Rocco took on track upon entering East Haven High School. This past fall campaign on the football field, Rocco finished with proficient numbers, in amassing 1,300 yards for his now two-year stint as a starter. This statistic was good enough to make the All-SCC Tier 3 Team as a ball carrier behind center at running back.
“My parents made me fall in love with football,” says Rocco. “When I watched it, I just fell in love with the competitiveness of it, and how each team fights their hardest to win.”
Following earning those great postseason solo accolades, Rocco was quick to give kudos to his peers and mentors for pushing him to his fullest potential, in order to hit that next level of success and prominence within the SCC.
“My success has just come from my teammates and coaches pushing me through the hard days and workouts,” Rocco says. “I was honored to make the All-SCC Tier 3 Team. I was so honored that the coaches voted on me. The team and my offensive line worked a lot over the summer to help me get here.”
The running lanes Rocco races through in the spring have paved the path for him to bulldoze his way through the tackles in the fall. Yet, spoken like a consummate professional running back and teammate, Rocco is verbally as swift to thank his boys up at the front.
“A big thing that has helped me as a running back is my speed, which I have gotten more of and gained in from doing track,” Rocco says. “I have to give a ton of credit to my linemen; they are some big boys blocking for me in front of me.”
Through the treks in the trenches, Rocco’s field vision has sharpened by being able to see the openings to cut through with the quickness. He adds that another big component of it all has been the hours logged with the iron away from the gridiron, by pumping up in the gym the other nine months of the year he is not playing football.
“I feel like I am seeing the holes better when I go through the line,” says Rocco. “My strength has also improved through taking part in the workouts, and putting in time in the weight room all year long.”
Many receivers pride themselves on a big statistical acronym of YAC–standing for yards after catch. From the running perspective, Rocco relishes in the extra territory gained after the initial point of impact with opposing defensive linemen and linebackers. He explains it can be hard to find those paths to pay dirt, though it is always great to take a blow and keep on churning.
“One of the tougher parts of playing running back can be finding those holes to run,” Rocco says. “My favorite part of playing the position, though, is getting that extra yardage after taking a tackle. I just like to take that hit, keep fighting, and then move forward.”
Rocco adds that cohesion and camaraderie with his line away from all of the action and practices plays a pivotal role in him being the top ground gainer for the Yellowjackets on a weekly basis.
“The offensive line is probably the key part of our offense and its success,” says Rocco. “Without them, myself or anyone would not move the ball at all, so I made sure to have a good relationship with them away from football and bond with them.”
Next fall, Rocco will gear up for a crucial senior year, in which he will ascend to a bigger leadership role as East Haven welcomes back a great deal of starters from this past completed campaign. He looks to return to the fold even more fortified for 2024 in helping the Yellowjackets make a return trip to the postseason.
“Next year as a senior, I want us to make the playoffs,” says Rocco. “I also want to get bigger, faster, and stronger. I would love for us to make the playoffs and win a state title.”
Rocco has earned himself a big honor for his senior year, per Head Coach Scott Benoit, given his persistence, durability, and dedication to both his craft and his club.
“Rocco has had a great career at East Haven. He has been a two-year starter, rushing for over 1,300 yards in his career thus far,” says Benoit. “He has good speed, good vision, and is a tough kid. He is quiet by nature, but leads by example. He never misses practice or workouts, and is a very good student. He has been elected one of our captains for next year.”
Persistence truly pays off, not only with the leather and the laces for Rocco, as he has discovered that no matter the blows you are dealt in life, you just have to keep on trucking towards that end zone of a goal or objective.
“A big thing about life I have learned from playing football here has been to always keep going,” Rocco says. “You have to just keep going, no matter what is happening or whatever physical or mental state you are in.”