08-17-2009, 04:00 PM
St. X QB Massa back on track after breaking collarbone in '08
By Tom Ramstetter • tramstetter@enquirer.com • August 17, 2009
The Enquirer's high school football preview comes out in print on Thursday. Each day this week leading up to its publishing, we will feature some of the content provided.
A year ago, St. Xavier quarterback Luke Massa was coming off a football state championship season with high hopes of a repeat performance.
As a sophomore in 2007, he had gone 7-0 at quarterback after then-senior starter John Hurley suffered a knee injury, and Massa led the Bombers to their second Division I state title in three years.
But Massa suffered a fate similar to Hurley's in Week 5 last season when he broke his left collarbone diving out of bounds during the Bombers' 17-6 loss at Louisville Trinity. He then missed the rest of the season. St. X had won three straight games after falling to Colerain in the opener, in which Massa did not play, but the season spiraled down from there and the Bombers finished 4-6 (0-3 Greater Catholic League South).
Now Massa, who has orally committed to the University of Cincinnati, is back under center, and the senior again has high hopes for his final season in a Bombers uniform.
He was able to play basketball for the Bombers last winter, so there should be no question about his health.
"I'm fully recovered," Massa said. "It's my left shoulder, so it has nothing to do with me throwing. And my foot is fully healed, so I feel really healthy right now."
Massa had broken his right foot playing basketball his sophomore year and had surgery. He later tore some scar tissue, causing him to miss the Bombers' football opener.
After a last-place finish in the GCL South, Massa's Bombers aren't being mentioned as a favorite in the league in 2009. Elder reached the Division I state final last year, and Moeller is expected to challenge the Panthers for the league title.
"It's definitely a change for St. X, but we kind of like it, just because every year we usually have a ton of pressure on us," Massa said. "This year we can go out and we won't be the team that's nervous like Colerain and Moeller and all them that are expected to win. That's kind of a good feeling."
It's a feeling that could help the Bombers surprise some teams.
"I think it's going to give X a lot more confidence," Moeller coach John Rodenberg said. "I think X is definitely playing with a chip on its shoulder. They didn't have the season they wanted to have last year and he (Massa) was hurt, so I think he brings a ton of confidence to their team. Then with having kind of a chip on their shoulder, with not having been as successful as they usually are, it will be a tough situation for anybody who plays them."
Massa agrees about the chip. He also said he knows he must be more of a leader this season and that his ability to bounce back and play at the level he did as a sophomore will be key to the Bombers' fortunes.
Massa said he's not afraid of the first hit he'll take this season.
On the contrary, he and his teammates are raring to get on the field Aug. 28 against Colerain in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at Nippert Stadium.
"Over the summer, we've had a lot better focus in the weight room and workouts," he said. "Everyone has kind of a bad taste in their mouth from last year, and we just want to prove to everyone that the Bombers will be back this year."
By Tom Ramstetter • tramstetter@enquirer.com • August 17, 2009
The Enquirer's high school football preview comes out in print on Thursday. Each day this week leading up to its publishing, we will feature some of the content provided.
A year ago, St. Xavier quarterback Luke Massa was coming off a football state championship season with high hopes of a repeat performance.
As a sophomore in 2007, he had gone 7-0 at quarterback after then-senior starter John Hurley suffered a knee injury, and Massa led the Bombers to their second Division I state title in three years.
But Massa suffered a fate similar to Hurley's in Week 5 last season when he broke his left collarbone diving out of bounds during the Bombers' 17-6 loss at Louisville Trinity. He then missed the rest of the season. St. X had won three straight games after falling to Colerain in the opener, in which Massa did not play, but the season spiraled down from there and the Bombers finished 4-6 (0-3 Greater Catholic League South).
Now Massa, who has orally committed to the University of Cincinnati, is back under center, and the senior again has high hopes for his final season in a Bombers uniform.
He was able to play basketball for the Bombers last winter, so there should be no question about his health.
"I'm fully recovered," Massa said. "It's my left shoulder, so it has nothing to do with me throwing. And my foot is fully healed, so I feel really healthy right now."
Massa had broken his right foot playing basketball his sophomore year and had surgery. He later tore some scar tissue, causing him to miss the Bombers' football opener.
After a last-place finish in the GCL South, Massa's Bombers aren't being mentioned as a favorite in the league in 2009. Elder reached the Division I state final last year, and Moeller is expected to challenge the Panthers for the league title.
"It's definitely a change for St. X, but we kind of like it, just because every year we usually have a ton of pressure on us," Massa said. "This year we can go out and we won't be the team that's nervous like Colerain and Moeller and all them that are expected to win. That's kind of a good feeling."
It's a feeling that could help the Bombers surprise some teams.
"I think it's going to give X a lot more confidence," Moeller coach John Rodenberg said. "I think X is definitely playing with a chip on its shoulder. They didn't have the season they wanted to have last year and he (Massa) was hurt, so I think he brings a ton of confidence to their team. Then with having kind of a chip on their shoulder, with not having been as successful as they usually are, it will be a tough situation for anybody who plays them."
Massa agrees about the chip. He also said he knows he must be more of a leader this season and that his ability to bounce back and play at the level he did as a sophomore will be key to the Bombers' fortunes.
Massa said he's not afraid of the first hit he'll take this season.
On the contrary, he and his teammates are raring to get on the field Aug. 28 against Colerain in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at Nippert Stadium.
"Over the summer, we've had a lot better focus in the weight room and workouts," he said. "Everyone has kind of a bad taste in their mouth from last year, and we just want to prove to everyone that the Bombers will be back this year."
Quote:Metal health
Luke Massa's body has been through a lot in the past two years, but one thing it might not make it through is a metal detector.
After breaking his collarbone last season, Massa had his upper body somewhat reconstructed.
"I have a metal bar in there, so I don't think anything is going to happen," the quarterback said. "I had the metal bar put in my body, and there were a total of eight screws put in. After that, I was in a sling for five weeks. I was good to go after that."