By Alan Segel
NEFJ Correspondent
NEEDHAM — Remember the saying “Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can’t lose” from Friday Night Lights? It was the battle charge given by coach Eric Taylor to his Dillon High Panthers. They had a great deal of success in the TV series and it was one of the most popular shows during its five-season run.
I am not saying that head football coach Doug Kopcso is a modern-day Eric Taylor or that Needham is the Massachusetts version of Dillon, Texas. However, during this current state tournament run that the Needham High Rockets are on, they are doing their level best to emulate that fictional borough and team.
The Rockets, not picked by anyone (except the team) to do well in 2023, have catapulted themselves into the D1 semi-finals against Xavierian on Friday Night. It is a definite understatement to say that the school and the town are excited.
Doug Kopsco is a Needham High Alum and former Rocket. He has been coaching for twenty years and has been the head coach for the past six years. He knows Needham has always been a soccer town and he is okay with that. He says he does not mind playing second fiddle as the boys soccer team has had great success with their own march to the state semi-finals.
“We love them and we support them, but I think the way the town has stepped up and embraced Needham football this year has been so phenomenal. We have been very lucky”, Kopsco said in an interview on Monday afternoon. It is a thought echoed by senior co-captain and star running back Tate Hoffmeister, who has rushed for 1,237 yards this season with 15 touchdowns.
“Walking the corridors is great. You can kind of tell the energy, you can tell everyone is on your side and in town definitely everyone I know, and even don’t know, will be asking if I am on the football team. My parents and other parents are getting text messages from people they have not heard from in years.
“I actually got a letter from State Representative Denise Garlick. She was congratulating me on a pretty solid season. It was really great to hear from a State Rep. It was amazing. There is lots of support.”
For example, the success of the Rockets has also reached inside town hall “It’s always exciting when a Needham High athletic team makes it this far in the state tournament and this season, we are thrilled for all of the winning Needham teams” said Marianne Cooley, Chair of the Needham Select Board. “Cheering on the Needham Rockets Football team during their tournament run has helped bring the community together,” said Cooley. “On behalf of the Town of Needham, we wish them good luck in the quarterfinals against Xaverian.”
Needham did make the Division 1 Super Bowl in 2011, losing to BC High 21-7 in Foxboro. However, success has been hard to come by since. In the last four years, leading up to their current 9-1 mark, the records were 3-9 in 2019, 2-3 in 2020 (Covid), 3-9 in 2021, and 5-6 last year. Attendance naturally was down, but that’s not the case this year.
Senior linebacker and co-captain Jake Reiser, whose shoulder injury will keep him sidelined, has marveled at the support during this historic season. “We get close to a thousand fans here every week and it has been a really special atmosphere here on the hill”, Reiser said. “It’s something that has never been, maybe the last ten years, so it gives us energy as a team and we really embrace the town. We really have been able to just win from the energy that they give us.”
Kopsco, Hoffmeister, and Reiser basically all said the same thing about how this team built their foundation. It started with a young team last year (eight starting sophomores) and it also depended upon the 2022 junior class that became seniors this year. Kopsco knew that was going to be the key. “Could they extend, step up and become leaders?,” he added.
“We knew they could, but it would take a lot of work on their behalf. They have more than exceeded our expectations”.
Hoffmeister and Reiser both agree with their coach, who, by the way, was sporting a 2011 Needham Super Bowl hat at practice on Monday. “We turned it around with senior leadership. We have a great bunch of guys and I really love and each and every one of them. It has been amazing”, Hofmeister said.
Reiser says he too knew things were different from the off-season summer workouts. “We had a big group of kids and we were working really hard and we have a lot of talent. We knew really early on that we would be good”.
The next step will take place on Friday Night inside Brockton’s famous Rocky Marciano Stadium.
I am also sure that if you listen real close as the 6pm kickoff against Xaverian draws near, you might indeed hear Eric Tayloy – sorry I meant Doug Kopsco – say to his Rockets “ Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t lose.”