Sophomore QB Mike Miller gets set to throw behind RB Cookie Desiderio during a walk-through at Somerville football practice on September 17, 2020 at Brooks Field.
The Somerville Pioneers have risen to new heights since the beginning of the Jeff Vanderbeek/Dallas Whitaker era.
They’ve made three straight state finals, winning the first against Rumson-Fair Haven in 2017, avenging a semifinal loss in 2016. But they’ve dropped their last two title tilts: again to the Bulldodgs in 2018, and to Woodrow Wilson of Camden last season.
But that doesn’t mean Somerville’s seniors aren’t hungry to go out winners. The goal is an undefeated season for Cookie Desiderio, AJ Pena, and the 16 other seniors on the Pioneers’ pre-season roster.
Watch the video below to hear what Desiderio, Pena and head coach Dallas Whitaker have to say about 2020.