Davies kicks off

LINCOLN — It was hot at Davies Tech on Monday, 91 degrees at 4 p.m., with the type of humidity you can see. Henry Cabral, the Patriots first head football coach in the program’s inaugural season, spoke to 30 players in the gym for the team’s first official practice.

By the time he finished talking about goals and expectations for the fall, the clear skies gave way to a darkness that enveloped the school’s campus. The players then walked to the field, the temperature dropping with each step; a light rain fell as they made their way to the softball field at the back of campus. When the coaches showed up a few minutes later, the skies opened up.

No one ran for cover. When you’re still mixing the concrete to pour the foundation that a program is built on, it was a good sign. The weather didn’t make for a perfect start, but the attitudes of the players who were there for Day 1 of Davies football did.

“I’m not complaining, man,” senior Isaias Lang said. “One way or another we’re going to be sweating, so it’s all worth it.

“This is very exciting, to get helmets on and get out on the field,” senior Andre Rancourt said, “and actually start practicing together.”

Getting a football team at Davies has been a rumor for years, but it wasn’t until last winter that it became a reality. Cabral was named head coach in January and immediately started organizing, trying to get potential players on a training regiment and get word out to as many students as possible. Davies will compete in Division IV of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

Cabral, who’s been an on-again, off-again assistant coach at Mt. Hope since 1995, sounded pleased with Monday’s turnout. He said several players had excused absences from the practice due to work commitments. He hopes more will come out once school starts.

Minus the weather, the first practice ran well. Players did conditioning drills and got first-hand experience to how a football practice runs. For many, this was their first experience with one. Things like breaking down a huddle or taking a knee when coaches talk had to be explained.

No one had a position on Monday. For now, the big guys are linemen and the fast ones are skill players. When Cabral asked who wanted to try quarterback, Nick Mercer — who looks about 6-foot-2, 260 pounds — jokingly raised his hand, earning the first laugh in Davies football history. They’ll figure out the details of positions as they go.

“It’s kind of like a Pop Warner team, if you think about it,” Cabral said. “The first days of Pop Warner, you get into routines and drills and it doesn’t matter if it’s the best kid or the worst kid, everybody matters. That’s the bigger thing.”

“I learned how to play every position growing up, so wherever he puts me at is what he puts me at,” said Nashawn Dalomba, a senior from Pawtucket. “I just want to play.”

Football is more than playing games. Cabral went over his expectations for the team, both on and off the field, reminding players of the importance of attending class and making the grade. He wants players to understand that just because this is a first-year program, you have to earn the uniform.

“I’ve always worn the Davies name with pride,” Rancourt said. “We’re a school that teaches kids to get out into the workforce and even helps us get into college and get jobs. It’s just something to really be proud of and to bring something like [football] to our school to make it better, it’s nice.”

“When they believe in anything, they’re dedicated,” Cabral said. “They put their trust in you and, if we can get them to do that, I think we’ll be all right.”

There are scrimmages planned against Juanita Sanchez and Narragansett. The season begins the second week of September, more firsts in a season of firsts.

Before the Patriots can think about that, there’s another first to cross off the list on Tuesday — the first second day of practice. Another step in building a program.

“We’re going to provide these kids a good foundation,” Cabral said. “I hope they’ll buy into what we’re preaching.”