Video from GNB Voc-Tech quarterback Nick Boucher on the strengths of the team
Senior quarterback Nick Boucher talks about GNB Voc-Tech’s goals for the 2024 season.
NEW BEDFORD – GNB Voc-Tech sometimes had trouble finding the end zone last year.
The coaching staff has added a pro set to the Bears’ offense in hopes of changing that in 2024.
“Last year, I think we did a really good job of getting into the red zone from the 20-yard line and then we struggled to score a few points,” said GNB Voc-Tech head coach Justin Cruz. “Hopefully this change on offense will help us.”
Cruz said new assistant coach Matt Silva brings experience with professional sets.
“He comes from a pro set and I think that fits together really well,” Cruz said. “We have this three-phase offense where we can be in a strong set with a tight end, we play a little bit like we did last year with two backs spread and we can do a little bit of our spread stuff.”
As the team’s starting quarterback, senior Nick Boucher is looking forward to more options on offense.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “We can run a lot of different attacks and we have a lot of good playmakers in every set we go into.”
“I can read a defense very well and that helps in a professional offense with a lot of read plays.”
Breakdown week by week: Football dates 2024 for the nine SouthCoast teams
Through offseason work, Boucher has made great progress, which was evident early in training camp.
“He’s been working hard,” senior tight end Tyler Vasconcelos said. “The way he’s been playing, he’s trying to get better for all of us. He’s definitely been working his body out a little bit so he can throw further for us.”
Senior wide receiver Nas Cox added: “I think Nick had a great offseason this year. I have a lot of confidence in him. He’s lost weight and been lifting weights.”
Cruz said Boucher is the right person to lead GNB Voc-Tech’s multi-pronged offensive.
“He understands the game really well, especially with this offense,” Cruz said. “He has the ability to go from center to pistol; that’s a nice trait and he deserves it. His journey with us hasn’t been easy. He’s waited his turn and now his time has come.”
FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS: Find all of our coverage of SouthCoast High School Football 2024 here
Boucher took over as starting quarterback towards the end of his sophomore season and led the Bears to three wins. Starting in 2023, he will share time with senior Jhaden Reis.
“This is his year,” Cruz said. “He finally took over Jhaden’s spot in year two and won a couple of games for us, and last year he did really well. It was hard to go from starting quarterback to splitting reps with Jhaden, and Jhaden took control a little bit toward the end.
“He works really hard. He’s done a lot of training camps in the offseason. He loves football. He really knows football.”
FULL OF EXPERIENCE
The Bears appear to be one step ahead thanks to the experience of a great graduating class that includes many players who started two or three years.
“It feels good,” Boucher said. “We have a lot of players back, which is nice. A lot of us have been regulars since our second year.”
“We are really looking forward to this season. There is a lot at stake. Hopefully we can make the playoffs this year.”
Cox added, “I’m pretty confident about our team this year because most of us have been on the varsity team since our sophomore year. A lot of our core players are back, so we have the same chemistry and are ready to go.”
Cruz said the graduating class set the tone early on.
“We’re a team with a lot of seniors,” he said. “We have a lot of really good leaders from that senior class. It’s been a really fun camp with the guys we have.”
START OF THE YEAR 2024
GNB Voc-Tech opens the season with three consecutive games against professional opponents in Bristol-Plymouth (Sept. 6), Old Colony (Sept. 13) and Southeastern (Sept. 20) before a South Coast Conference crossover with rival Fairhaven on Sept. 27.
“It’s good for us to have some professional games early in the professional playoffs, where we don’t normally have as many professional games,” Cruz said.
