There are far worse places to be in the fall than Marion, Massachusetts.

With the tapestry of fall foliage lying less than two hours to the northwest, Cape Cod just 45 minutes to the east and all that Boston has to offer just a hop, skip and a jump away, there is no lack of Massachusetts’ attractions awaiting those who settle in the area.

We sincerely doubt, however, that the scenic vistas of New England sit very high at all on the to-do list of Sudbury football prospects Paolo Grossi and Cohen Strickland.

Both local high-schoolers have committed to Tabor Academy for the 2024-2025 year – and most likely beyond – hopeful that their southern exposure might attract the attention of NCAA schools somewhere down the road.

Worse-case scenario: their gridiron development benefits substantially from joining a program that boasts a number of elite talents, including in-state four-star quarterback Peter Bourque who has already attracted offers from Penn State, Kentucky, Maryland and Syracuse (Class of 2027).

“It’s about learning to play with bigger people, more experienced people,” said Strickland, a 15 year-old Capreol product who will enter grade nine* this fall at Tabor.

* Canadian high-school transfer students must repeat the last year they completed in Canada when they begin their studies in the United States

“And I feel like I need to work more on my body,” suggested the elder of two children in the family. “The biggest challenge is I need to get more muscle, more mass. I’m tall, but I’m kind of lanky. I have a little workout room at home but it’s not even close to the same as the ones in these facilities.”

A defensive end almost since his start with the Joe MacDonald Youth Football League “Mini-Mac” program from the age of seven or eight, Strickland believes the positional fit is a natural one for the young man who has displayed glimpses of top-end potential during his time with the Sudbury Jr Spartans.

“I feel like the size and speed I have is almost perfect at defensive end,” he said. “I can get around and be where I need to be – and I can almost see everywhere on the field.”

Being everywhere on the field has never, seemingly, been an issue for Paolo Grossi, the ultra-purpose defensive back who is a constant scoring threat in his role as a punt and kickoff receiver and is more than capable of sliding in seamlessly to help out on the offensive side of the ball, if need be.

But it really is at safety where the hard hitting 16 year-old excels.

“I see myself as an aggressive, get to the ball as soon as I can defender,” said Grossi. “I want to be in every single play. If I am the first guy to the ball, I need to make an impact. Because I am undersized (about 5’10” or so), I cannot go in thinking I am going to lose this battle. I need to think that I can win every matchup, no matter if they’re 6’5”.”

“I need that mentality.”

The approach proved highly successful in all levels of football that Grossi has played locally. At Tabor, it’s an absolute must.

“My speed and physicality – I need those to be at the max they can be,” he said.

Both local teens are coming off summers where they represented their province, quite successfully, in competitions that brought together a slew of age related elite athletes from right across the country.

Travelling to Nova Scotia in July, Strickland enjoyed his third crack at sticking on the provincial roster most of all, tapping into all that he had learned while trying out in both previous summer camps.

“The first time was very different,” he said with a smile. “I was with the U16 linemen as a 13 year old, up against 15 year olds. They were much bigger than me, but it was a great experience overall. It’s probably one of the best things I have ever done.”

Grossi, meanwhile, was making his second appearance with Team Ontario, part of the U18 contingent that travelled to Saskatchewan and steamrolled their way through Nova Scotia, the host province and Quebec in capturing gold.

Like Strickland, the additional year made all the difference in the world for Grossi.

“It was a big leap from last year for me,” he stated, noting that he was named both as a starter and a team captain last month. Recording a “pick-six” (interception returned for a touchdown), playing consistently much bigger than his size and throwing in the added dimension of being a go-to guy on special teams (getting downfield as quick as anyone on his squad), Grossi shared the appreciation of his soon-to-be Tabor teammate.

“Three dominant wins in seven days; this was pretty unprecedented for Ontario football,” said Grossi. “It was a great experience. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

And as the tandem make their way to an absolute hotbed of the sport in the fall, the hope remains that the experience at Tabor will rank right up with Team Ontario memories, when all is said and done.

And if they have time to take in some of the beauty the region has to offer in the process, all the better.

Still with Sudbury football comes news that at least three local players have a chance to hit the field this fall with their respective U Sports' programs, with all three enjoying their rookie seasons of OUA football.

Wide receiver Jaeden Dulaney (Lo-Ellen Park) will wear #72 this year with the Ottawa Gee Gees, beginning his studies in Civil Engineering while defensive back Liam Hobson (St Charles College) works towards earning his number with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

Just an hour or so to the west, Antwan (Zidain) Allen is likely to make his debut, his jersey (#34) a testament to his potential to see the field at running back or on special teams.

Meanwhile, two more locals have made their way to the ever-evolving Football North program in Mississauga as both Carson Huzij (Lo-Ellen) and Mason McLaughlin (Lasalle) get acclimatized to a fall schedule that features only American Prep schools and the like as opponents.

Back in the old stomping grounds of the above-noted talent, the SDSSAA Boys Football schedule has been finalized, with six teams entered in both the junior and senior divisions. Lively, Lo-Ellen, St Charles, Lasalle and St Benedict are all fielding teams in both loops, while Confederation remains as a varsity only (senior) entry and Lockerby re-emerges with a junior program.