Biography

In 1985 the North Attleboro coaching staff radically altered the face of the Rocketeers by changing from their traditional I-formation to the now highly-popular Wing-T offense. With its quick slants and misdirection plays, the Wing-T requires offensive guards who possess the quickness needed for "waggling", "buck-sweeping", and "criss-crossing", along with the force needed to power-block inside. In that first Wing-T season the Big Red had one of its finer guard-tandems ever in junior Steve Connolly and senior Rich Puccio.

A three-year letterman and two-time Hockomock League All Star, Connolly was a complete two-way player. His athleticism offensively helped pave the way for running backs Mike McCarthy, Mark Newport, and a North ground attack that amassed over 3,100 yards rushing during the '85 and '86 seasons, and a 14-3-3 record over that same period.

Defensively the 6'2" 2051b Connolly was immense at linebacker, defensive tackle, and nose guard. In 1985 Connolly helped spearhead a defense which allowed just 54 points all season, including a stretch of 4 games when they allowed no points at all. In a physical showdown with Canton during his senior season, North relied heavily upon Steve's outstanding play at nose guard, where he made seven solo tackles and assisted on five others to help North shut down the previously unbeaten Bulldogs 7-0.

It is not surprising that Steve Connolly, whose inspiration was, and continues to be, his older brother and '83 North graduate Danny, portrayed many of the same tough, physical characteristics on the gridiron as his Hall of Fame brother. In two seasons Steve was involved in 92 total tackles, helping him earn the Big Red's Defensive Player Award in 1986.

After his final season Steve was named to the 1986 Sun Chronicle, Boston Herald, and Boston Globe Division 3 All Star Teams, and later continued his playing career at Harvard University.