Courtesy of Coach Ed DeWitt
QUINCY- Quincy High School Coach Ed DeWitt knows what it means to wear the school’s uniform and wear it with pride. After all, DeWitt is a Quincy High School graduate who played at the school. It is one of many reasons why the Presidents 5-0 start means so much to him.
DeWitt, who left Oliver Ames to return to his alma mater prior to last season says that taking over the program he played for was simple. It wasn’t about making a culture change. It was about bringing the pride in the program back and embracing being from Quincy.
“I am certainly proud of Quincy having played here. I don’t think we needed to change culture or that we are doing anything different. We embrace being Quincy. Our kids work hard every day, Nothing is handed to them. Our guys work jobs on the weekends. Being part of this team makes us all better. ”
Nothing has been handed to the Presidents so far. After going 3-8 in 2023 and 4-6 last season, Quincy has come of the gates strong this season with wins over Revere, Braintree, Stoughton, New Bedford and Plymouth South last week. Last week’s garnered the most attention because it was a Patriot League win against a good South team that beat Scituate the week before.
DeWitt credits the players commitment as to why the team is off to such a good start so far.
“We have had real good commitment levels from our guys. They have bought into the process of preparing week to week. They fight adversity well and are becoming more resilient.”
Players like Junior running back Jonas Ala who has scored 9 touchdowns this season and has been the focal point of the Presidents offense thus far.
“Good players make everything easier. Jonas is a Junior two year captain voted on by his teammates who is our strongest weightroom player and an unbelievably hard worker. Combined with Leo Steinberg they really make for a Thunder and Lightning backfield. I love coaching them. They make each other better and work to make those around them better. They are also great kids with bright futures.”
Staying in the moment is key despite the 5-0 start. DeWitt says that while he is proud of his team and leading his alma mater, the goal is to stay focused on this week’s opponent and trying to win a game. This week’s opponent. Scituate is the standard in the Patriot League and a program DeWitt says he wants to emulate.
“Obviously being from Quincy makes me always want this place to have success and its nice to be in a situation where we have won a couple of games. All it really means right now is that the games and the expectations get tougher. Scituate is a wagon. A program we want to emulate, we’re excited for the opportunity to get to play in the Patriot League and be tested week to week.”
As for the rest of the season, DeWitt’s goal is simple. Get better on a weekly basis.
“Our goals and expectations haven’t changed since day one. We want to continuously get better, limit our mistakes, put ourselves in advantageous positions and work to win football games while at the same time developing Student Athletes and giving them the tools they need for success. We have said since the first day of practice that we are the cause of and solution to all of our problems.”
It is why he stays in the moment and doesn’t look ahead when it comes to what he hopes his program accomplishes this season. He doesn’t want to think what his teams “ceiling” could beyond this week.
“As far as ceiling goes it’s too much work trying to beat programs like Plymouth South, Scituate, Hanover, Pembroke and eventually North Quincy to think about anything other than the week in front of us.”
Quincy will face their biggest challenge thus far this season when they visit Scituate on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 pm.