A Central Showcase: Northeast 7v7 football regional comes to Central Mass.

FITCHBURG — Milton football coach Steve Dembowski has run the Northeast 7v7 football tournament, located mostly in Eastern Massachusetts, for the past 20 years.

This year, however, Dembowski brought the tournament west of Route 495 to St. Bernard’s in Fitchburg, and with the help of Bernardians coach Tom Bingham, the creation of the Central Regional has allowed more Central Mass. teams to take part in the midsummer, one-hand-touch passing tournament and prepare for the upcoming season.

“We’re providing the venue and some trash barrels,” Bingham said. “Dembo does it all. He’s got the name, and he’s the one that does this … They run everything so well it’s like clockwork. Steve is the draw, and I’m just glad that it’s here so that more Central Mass. teams can get here.”

Twenty-four teams from Massachusetts (including 14 schools from Central Mass.) descended upon the Bernardian Bowl Friday playing for a chance to advance in to the New England championship. With schools coming from BC High all the way to Wahconah Regional in the Berkshires, St. Bernard’s provided the perfect central location. Included in the teams in attendance were Independent School League teams from Dexter Southfield and Lawrence Academy.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to play a lot of the teams that we don’t even think about playing like some of the prep schools and Eastern Mass. teams that we don’t get a chance to play,” said Grafton senior wide receiver/safety Jake Robertson after the Gators' 26-13 win over Groton-Dunstable in pool play.

Among the schools represented from Central Mass. were St. Bernard’s, Leominster, Narragansett, David Prouty, North Middlesex, Grafton, Murdock, Groton-Dunstable, Quabbin, Lunenburg, Gardner, Wachusett, Bartlett and Ayer-Shirley.

“I’m hoping next year we can fill this whole thing with all Central Mass. teams,” Grafton coach Chris McMahon said. “Not that it’s not great playing teams from all over the state, but if we could get a whole Central Mass. slate, I think that would just benefit the football here.”

“That’s on the books,” Bingham said on getting an all-Central Mass. 7v7 tournament. “To do this as a Central Mass. part, but still with Northeast so we can take pride in celebrating Central Mass. and have our own.”

In addition to setting up a Central Mass. only 7v7 tournament, Bingham is thinking of other ways to showcase the area's football talent.

“We are working hard towards a combine for football for Central Mass. to really showcase our kids,” Bingham said. “Times have changed like with recruiting, exposure. Doing things like this really makes a difference in giving kids out there (an opportunity to showcase their skills).”

Friday's format consisted of 24-minute games being played throughout the day, with action spread so four games were going on at once. Teams were comprised of up to 18 players, and the top two teams qualified for the New England Championship tournament.

Lawrence Academy defeated West Springfield, 28-26, in Friday's final. Grafton fell to West Springfield in a semifinal, which was the first time the Gators fielded a 7v7 squad.

“We have our passing league, which is every Tuesday night,” Gators junior quarterback Sean Griffin said. “It’s like this, but we only play two games. (This tournament) is a great experience.”

Wachusett played in the Northeast 7v7 last year in a regional held at Xaverian Bros. High School in Westwood.

“We sometimes hold a joint get together with Marlborough, but this is our first big group one since we did the one last year at Xaverian, so it’s a good opportunity to come out and compete again," Wachusett linebacker/tight end Logan Dennett said.

While Bingham is more of a ‘battle in the trenches’ kind of guy when it comes to football, he loves the opportunity that this 7v7 tournament provides the kids to showcase skills while having fun.

“At the end of the day, I’m an O-Line guy,” Bingham said. “Do I love 7v7? No, but what I do love is seeing our kids compete. I love seeing them excited and I love seeing them fight through the heat and do things together and all of those things can only turn into something positive in the fall.”

“I just want to say thank you,” Wachusett lineman/linebacker Angel Rosa said. “Big shout-out to (St. Bernard’s). Everybody here wants to put in work, get better as a team, and I just want to say thank you to them for letting us come out here and compete.”

—Contact Ethan Winter at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ewints.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: A Central Showcase: Northeast 7v7 football regional comes to Central Mass.