Sunday Conversation:  Kevin Carty, Sr., looks back at Somerville’s ’94 Cinderella title run

There are always high expectations around the football program in Somerville.  It has a long, rich and stories history.

But very few teams are expected to do much of anything coming off an 0-9 year, even if they do bring in a new coach and his 6-4 junior quarterback son.

Following a dismal 1993 season, that’s just what the Somerville Pioneers did.  After finishing 0-9, Kevin Carty came to the ‘Ville, leaving Morehouse State, where he was working under Rex Ryan, bringing with him his son, Kevin, Jr.

And all they did was go 8-3 and win the Central Jersey Group 2 championship, beating powerhouse Manasquan with their legendary head coach, Vic Kubu, up at Giants Stadium.

In fact, Carty jokes that they won two state titles that year; they beat Franklin during the regular season, a Warrior team went on to win the CJ3 title in the game before them up at the Meadowlands.

Along with its 1954 state title team, the 1994 Pioneers were recognized before Somerville’s opening game Thursday night at Brooks Field against Hillsborough, in an ironic twist because the Raiders are coached by Kevin Carty Jr, and his dad has been helping him as a volunteer.

They were on the other side for one night, but will always be Pioneers.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko talk with former Somerville head coach Kevin Carty, Sr.: