Positioned for success

Wherever he’s needed, Jets’ Amodeo is ready
By Evan MacDonald, Globe Correspondent | December 1, 2009

East Boston coach John Sousa said that when his team needs to plug a hole, he looks to his Band-Aid.

But he’s not referring to an adhesive bandage. He’s talking about senior Brandon Amodeo, his do-it-all workhorse who is fourth in Division 4 with 108 points this season.

During his career, Amodeo has seen time at running back, fullback, quarterback, cornerback, and linebacker.

“I think it’s an honor for [Sousa] to trust me like that,’’ Amodeo said. “I would never say no to him, so whatever position he wants to play, I’ll play.’’

Amodeo’s 16 touchdowns are a major reason the Jets (9-1) are set to face Bristol-Plymouth tonight at Taunton High in the Division 4 semifinals.

And as the Jets practiced on the field outside Sartori Stadium last Saturday, Sousa was still looking for different ways to use Amodeo. In the brisk morning air, Amodeo was booming punts as if he’d been the team’s regular punter for years.

“On Mondays, we practice punting the ball, and he’s the best,’’ Sousa said. “So I said to Brandon, ‘Do you think you can sell 50/50 raffle tickets at halftime, too?’ ’’

Sousa said he uses Amodeo at so many positions out of necessity. As a junior, Amodeo was the team’s quarterback until current signal-caller Troy Williams was ready to take the reins. He was then rotated between positions in the backfield, before finally settling in at halfback.

Amodeo was also a cornerback for two-plus years before an injury left a hole at linebacker in the Jets’ defense. Amodeo is slightly undersized for the position - he’s generously listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 190 pounds - but he has stepped in to fill the void.

Sousa said the transition to linebacker has been seamless because Amodeo is such an intelligent player.

“He’s very smart out there,’’ Sousa said. “He knows the formations, and he knows the plays. He’s a good little linebacker.’’

Amodeo isn’t just smart on the field; he’s an honor roll student and wants to attend college, where he hopes to study civil engineering. He also runs track during the spring.

Sousa said the way Amodeo carries himself, on and off the field, is what led to him being selected as a team captain this season.

“He’s a good kid, he works hard, and he sets a fine example for the football team,’’ Sousa said. “He’s a football player that I want all our other players to emulate.’’

Amodeo said he tries to do all that he can to be an example for his teammates, including being a vocal leader in the locker room.

“Every game, before the game, someone gives a little speech,’’ Amodeo said. “I just try to say something to psych my team up.’’

Amodeo began playing football for East Boston Pop Warner when he was 7. He was always a quarterback until his junior year in high school.

It wasn’t until his sophomore year that Sousa really started to take notice of Amodeo. When the team’s starting cornerback went down with an injury, Amodeo was asked to step in and produce.

“To tell you the truth, I didn’t really think he could do it, because he’s more of a linebacker type,’’ Sousa said. “But he had four interceptions as a sophomore, and I said, ‘Son of a gun, great job.’ A little sophomore kid, getting out there. Because he was smart, he understood.’’

Sousa said one thing that sets Amodeo apart is his knack for making a big play when the Jets need it most. He noted the Jets’ Nov. 13 win over Madison Park, when Amodeo broke off a 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The score increased the Jets’ lead to 22-0 in a game they would go on to win, 29-0, clinching the Boston North title.

A Super Bowl win would be especially sweet for the Jets this year, because Sousa is set to retire after 15 seasons at the helm. Sousa is an East Boston alumnus who captained the 1968 Jets to an undefeated season, and he said it would be great to end his career with a championship.

“We’ve got 18 seniors,’’ Sousa said. “I said to them, ‘I’m going out with you, boys! This is our last year, so let’s go!’ ’’

Amodeo, similarly, would like a championship, both for himself and his coach. He was a starting cornerback two years ago when the Jets lost to Greater Lawrence, 19-6, in the Division 3A Super Bowl.

“To go undefeated [in 2007] and then to lose in the Super Bowl during my sophomore year was the hardest thing to happen to me, ever, in football,’’ Amodeo said. “I don’t know if I’m going to play football in college, so to win the Super Bowl would be the best thing that could happen to me.’’