FOXBORO – Starting quarterback Drake Maye will reportedly start for the Patriots against the Texans on Sunday. When it comes to Patriots football, who better to talk business with than the passionate young players who fell in love with the game in the shadows of Gillette Stadium.
For the Foxboro faithful, what’s happening at Gillette Stadium can feel like the heartbeat of the city. “1-4 isn’t the best record. We need a chance to make the play-offs,” said a serious Andrew Stow.
Many Foxboro Youth Football players were born into glory; others got used to it quickly. “I moved to Foxboro and it all just clicked for me,” eighth-grader Chris Tortora said of playing football.
Now across New England, fans are crossing their fingers that it’s all about to click for Drake Maye. “Just watching him, in the biggest moment of his career, it’s pretty cool to think about,” Tortora added.
Fans excited about Drake Maye
Many of these players, not that much younger than Maye, have been waiting for this moment. “When I looked at the draft, Drake Maye was on the board, and I looked like Drake Maye! Drake Maye! When they picked him, I was jumping,” recalled fifth-grader Matt Cicerone.
The pressure is great. “Yes, he’s 22 years old. That’s crazy!” said Matt Conahan.
But expectations are realistic. “Young and not having a lot of playing time in the NFL. He could be good, but he could also be… not that good,” Myles Hunt said.
This QB knows how he feels. “I hope there are people at the concession stand when I mess up,” Cicerone joked.
And what Maye did to get here. ‘It’s all focus. Learning how to trust certain people. Learning how to build trust,” Tortora said.
“I hope it can work. I think it can work. We’ll have to wait and see,” Conahan said.
July McDonald
