Photo/story by Cary Shuman, The Lynn Journal
Lynn Classical football
star Quivari Jackson signed a Letter of Intent Friday to attend Merrimack
College and accept a Football Scholarship.
Jackson was a two-way standout for the Rams, who finished second behind
Gloucester in the Northeastern Conference Large Division. Gloucester went on to
win the Division 2A Super Bowl. Jackson was also a guard on the Rams’
basketball team that nearly toppled Charlestown in the State Tournament.
Jackson will join Classical teammate Tony Johnson in the Merrimack football
program under first-year head coach John Perry.
By the way, Perry is the brother of former Daily Item All-Star quarterback
James Perry, who played football at Malden Catholic.
Tony Johnson Wins the Big Prize - A College Education
Tony signs his Letter of Intent to attend Merrimack College
and play on their Football Team. The Scholarship will cover most of his college
expenses over the next four years. Witnessing the signing, from left to right
are Tommy Dublin, Principal Warren White, Guidance Counselor Jessica Toomey,
Karen Watler, LCHS Athletic Director Bill Devin, LCHS Football Coach Matt Durgin,
and Harold Watler.
Photo/story by Cary Shuman, The Lynn Journal
When John Perry was recruiting Tony Johnson for a
spot in the University of New Hampshire football program, he saw firsthand the
Lynn Classical senior’s athletic skills on the football field and the
basketball court.
As Perry continued the recruitment process and talked with Classical head coach
Matt Durgin and other school personnel, he also realized his impression of
Johnson was right on the mark: Johnson was a great kid off the playing field as
well.
Perry was named head football coach at Merrimack College in January and
immediately made Tony Johnson his No. 1 recruit. Johnson was offered a
scholarship package to attend the school, and last Thursday, in a ceremony
inside the athletic office at Classical, the Rams football captain signed a
letter of intent to become a member of the Merrimack Class of 2012.
It was a happy but emotional occasion as Johnson, who has had to overcome a lot
of adversity in his life, made his intention official and talked about the honor
of attending a top-notch university close to his hometown of Lynn while being
able to pursue his dream of a college football career.
“It’s an exciting day,” said Johnson. “Merrimack made a great offer.
I’m really close with Coach Perry because he had recruited me at UNH
[University of New Hampshire] before. It’s a great school with a nice campus
and excellent facilities. I’ll receive an outstanding education there.”
Johnson thanked the coaches, teachers, guidance counselors, and administration
at Lynn Classical for their helpfulness throughout his four years at the school.
“Coach [Matt] Durgin is one of the greatest coaches who ever coached me,”
said Johnson. “He helped 100 percent throughout this whole process. Everyone
– my teachers, the guidance department, the administrators, my friends and
classmates - helped me reach this goal and attend a prestigious college
like Merrimack.”
Johnson also noted the support of Tommy and Irene Dublin, who have been a
guiding presence in his life since the fifth grade.
“They’ve given me such great support and encouragement, and I’m very
grateful to them,” said Johnson. “I’ve been staying with them since fifth
grade, and they’ve been helping me a lot with everything. And I want to thank
the Watler family, who has also been so kind and generous and is helping me a
lot. Mrs. [Karen] Watler took me on a lot of my college visits.”
Perry said he was extremely happy that Johnson, a handsome 6-foot-2, 215-pound
senior who was named the 2007 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, has
decided to join him in his first season at Merrimack.
“I’ve been recruiting him since I received his junior tape last May,” said
Perry, formerly the associate head coach at UNH. “I got the Merrimack job at
the beginning of the January and immediately, he was one of the first calls I
made after receiving the news that I got the job. I feel he has the
capacity to play at the next [1-AA] level, but I just think Merrimack is a great
fit for him academically and athletically. I think there’s going to be a lot
of people here and an environment that will give him the attention from an
academic and athletic standpoint for him to really mature.”
Perry said he expects Johnson to succeed at Merrimack.
“When you look at the obstacles he’s had in his lifetime, to be able to
mature into a great young man where everyone in the schools speaks so highly of
him – despite the challenges he’s met – that shows me has great character
and that he’s going meet every challenge that he faces here,” said Perry.
Among those attending the signing ceremony at Classical were Principal Warren
White, Athletic Director Bill Devin, and head football coach Matt Durgin. The
three former collegiate athletes lauded Johnson for his hard work and dedication
to his academics and his athletic achievements.
“Tony does a great job in the classroom and we know he does a great job on the
athletic field,” said White, who played college football at Eastern Michigan.
“He’s also a very good school citizen and he’s provided a lot of
leadership here. We’re very happy for him and wish him nothing but the
greatest success.”
Devin, a former college baseball player at North Adams State, said, “The
entire Lynn Classical community is very proud of Tony and his accomplishments.
He’s a fine individual and Merrimack is getting not only a great student but
an outstanding athlete. We look forward to following his career closely and
we’re all proud of him.”
Durgin, who played football at URI (University of Rhode Island), said Classical
will miss Johnson’s classy presence and leadership in the program but he knows
he’ll excel at the next level as well.
“Tony is a great person and a great football player, and he has the
opportunity to go on and play a high level of football and get a great
education,” said Durgin. “Coach Perry heavily recruited him, and they really
like Tony as a person and a player, and they look forward to coaching him. Tony
has worked hard to earn this and he deserves it.”