BRAINTREE – Mark and Chris Landolfi never played together on the Archbishop Williams High football team because they were two years apart. The best Chris (class of 1988) could do was serve as a backup on Mark’s sophomore team in 1985, which made it to the Division 4 EMass Super Bowl, losing to Holliston.
But the brothers met (ahem) by chance in college.
Chris was a cornerback at Central Connecticut. Mark was a fullback at UConn, back when the Huskies were a 1-AA program in the old Yankee Conference.
“He threw me out of the game for a couple of plays,” Chris recalled, laughing. “They threw a sweep right at me and I just froze. I don’t know why. He weighed 245 pounds at the time. He literally threw me into their sideline. I got him back (later).”
The brothers no longer clash, especially now that they are reunited at their alma mater. Mark was a longtime member of Chris’ staff when Chris was head coach at Hanover High from 2013-2022. Now the roles are reversed. Mark is the Archies’ first-time head coach (after a 5-6 season) and Chris is on his staff as defensive coordinator.
Chris Landolfi took a year off from Hanover last season to coach at Lawrence Academy, where his son Michael was a star quarterback. Mark Landolfi stayed in Hanover and helped interim coach Brian Kelliher (now full-time) lead the Hawks to a Div. 5 Super Bowl appearance.
The Landolfi brothers could have returned to Hanover, where they both still live, but when Archies called, it was hard to say no. “Being able to go back to the old high school, a place we loved,” was too good to pass up, said Mark, 56. Chris added, “It’s like coming full circle. This is where I fell in love with football.”
Mark Landolfi, who is retired from the Secret Service, admits that being a head coach for the first time was an eye-opener when it came to the responsibility. But Chris expresses his confidence in him: “I think he’s perfect for this.”
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Mark has a wealth of experience. Kevin Macdonald, who coached the Landolfis at Archies and later had a long, successful tenure at Milton Academy, is on the new team as running backs coach. And Matt Landolfi (there are five Landolfi brothers in total) is a veteran of Duxbury’s Division 4 Super Bowl victories as head coach.
So far, Mark Landolfi likes what he’s seen from his new team, which begins its season Sept. 6 at Oliver Ames. “We definitely have talent,” he said. “We’re bringing a new offense and a new defense to the field, and they’ve tried really hard to learn that and ask good questions. It’s been tough on the guys, but they’re all in. And they’re getting better every day.”
The no-huddle
Senior Nick Schwartz (Braintree) is the new quarterback; his older brother Joe held the job last year and accounted for more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage with 17 touchdowns. Senior Devin Sheehan and junior Tyler Gardner-Harris are the top running backs, replacing All-Scholastic graduate Shane Wright, who rushed for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Luke Deftos and seniors Nolan Swirbalus and Collin Waldron are in the mix at receiver. Sheehan could also play in the slot. Senior Zach Garrett will anchor the O-line at left tackle, supported by junior right tackle Travis Gardner-Harris and junior center Kevin Esdale. Junior Marc Romain will be one of the guards. Sheehan, Swirbalus and Waldron will play in the defensive secondary, Tyler Gardner-Harris will play linebacker and Garrett will anchor the defensive line.
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Review 2023
The Bishops had lost four straight before finishing the season with two straight wins over East Bridgewater (40-21) and Cardinal Spellman (42-24), the latter of which was their fourth straight victory in the Thanksgiving Gravy Bowl rivalry.
Three names you should know
QB Nick Schwartz: This 5-foot-10 senior from Braintree will lead the Bishops’ new offense.
Zach Garrett: The 6’4″, 250-pound senior from Kingston will play a key role in the trenches for Archies. Coach Mark Landolfi said, “He’s big and he can move. He’s smart and knows all the plays. He helps the younger guys.”
Gardner-Harris twins: Travis, a two-way lineman, and Tyler, a running back/linebacker, are up-and-coming stars from Braintree. “Great guys,” Garrett said. “They deserve it.”
They said it
Coach Mark Landolfi on his memories of the Gravy Bowl games against Cardinal Spellman. (Archies won his senior year, starting a nine-year winning streak in the Thanksgiving rivalry.) “It’s nice to have memories of those big games with the big crowds. My senior year, I think it snowed and rained, just a horrible day. But back then, it was fun running around in the mud.”
Defensive coordinator Chris Landolfi on senior QB Nick Schwartz: “He has come on leaps and bounds. I’ve always had good quarterbacks around me in Hanover and Duxbury, and he’s already up there with the best.”
Senior LT Zach Garrett on Archies’ O-Line prospects: “It’s going to be great. Great group of kids. Hardest workers I know. We couldn’t have put together a better line.”
Archbishop Williams High Football Schedule 2024
Friday, September 6 – at Oliver Ames, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 13th – in Quincy, 7th
Free week
Friday, September 27 – at Bishop Feehan, 6
Friday, October 4 – against Bishop Fenwick, 7
Saturday, October 12 – at Arlington Catholic, 11 a.m.
Friday, 18 October – against St. Mary’s (Lynn), 6
Friday, 25 October – at Bishop Stang, 7
Friday, November 1st – vs. Cathedral, 6th
Thursday, November 28 – vs. Cardinal Spellman, 10 a.m.
