Faieta takes over as Beth-Center quarterback
At Beth-Center, youth isn’t just being served – it’s the main course. The Bulldogs’ football team will count on no less than 16 sophomores to play key roles this season for a program that went 8-2 last year and is vying for its ninth consecutive playoff appearance in 2009. Leading the way for this sophomore contingent is Sal Faieta, who will be the starting quarterback this year for the Bulldogs.
The 6-1, 192-pound signal caller saw plenty of action last season as a backup to four-year starter Dominic Moore.
However, the bulk of that action came in mop-up duty as the Bulldogs rolled to several wins on their way to the Tri-County South Conference championship.
Still, Beth-Center coach Ed Woods isn’t the least bit worried about turning over the reins of his program to the young QB.
“Sal was fortunate because he did get a lot of playing time last year,” Woods said. “He’s a very hard worker and he’s very good at both running and passing.”
That should bode well for the multiple offensive set that Woods likes to run at Beth-Center.
“Sal goes above and beyond what is expected,” Woods said. “He’s only going to get better because he is the first one on the field and the last one to leave. That’s why he’s our quarterback.”
Faieta has spent plenty of time around the Beth-Center program.
His father is an assistant coach for Woods and Sal served as a ball boy for the Bulldogs when he was younger.
“He’s been around the program and he knows the system and knows what we expect from our quarterbacks,” Woods said. “The only change from last season to this year for Sal is that he now has a legit chance at being the starter.”
This is the chance that Faieta has been waiting his entire life for.
“I’ve always been the quarterback since I started playing football at six or seven years old,” Faieta said. “I’m excited about the program and I know we have some great things coming this year and the future.”
Woods and the Bulldogs could easily look toward the future with their youthful inexperience but that’s not the case.
This team is expecting to compete for a conference championship and a playoff appearance.
“We have quite a few sophomores who are going to be counted on this year,” Woods said. “It is exciting to think that we do get them for another two years after this year but I’m really excited about this group of players this season.”
The core group of 16 sophomores has been playing together since the age of 10 and Faieta said they are close on the field and off.
Woods also likes what he sees from this group of players.
“I believe this sophomore class – if they can stick together – will do a lot of great things,” Woods said. “Obviously, I look at the entire team and this group of players is just a great group to work with.”