UPTON — Blackstone Valley Tech enters the 2026 high school football season with a veteran core, several promising young contributors and a renewed focus on toughness and consistency after closing last season with momentum.
Head coach Anthony Landini said the Beavers have had a productive offseason and are preparing to ramp things up with pre-camp work as the program gets closer to its season opener.
“We’ve got a lot of kids coming back that have played,” Landini said. “We had some young kids last year step into some big roles. We’ve had a good offseason with them working hard, so we’re excited to get back in the swing of things.”
BVT will open its season at home on Saturday, Sept. 12 against Auburn, and Landini said much of the preseason focus remains on improving internally rather than looking too far ahead at opponents.
“I really do not look ahead,” Landini said. “Mostly this time of year, I’m focusing on us. I’m trying to get us ready offensively, defensively, and get the little things intact so when stuff hits the fan, we can just get going.”
One player Landini highlighted immediately was captain Xavier Suarez, a returning starter from Millbury who also saw varsity action as a sophomore. Landini praised the work Suarez has put in during the offseason and expects him to be one of the team’s key leaders.
The Beavers also have several younger players who could take on larger roles, including upcoming sophomore Brody Guttenberg, who earned varsity reps as a freshman, and Anthony Pellegrin, another sophomore Landini believes can contribute this fall.
With several starting spots still being decided, Landini said the coaching staff values more than just raw athleticism when determining who earns playing time.
“Consistency,” Landini said. “We’re a very discipline-oriented defense and offense. You’ve got to know what you’re doing out there. The kid that knows what he’s doing will play.”
That philosophy also carries over to how BVT handles roster turnover from year to year. Rather than forcing the same system regardless of personnel, Landini said the coaching staff adapts its offense and defense to fit the strengths of the players available.
“If we have a kid who can’t throw at quarterback but can run the ball, we’re going to adjust our personnel and offense accordingly,” he said. “Every other position, it’s next man up. We try to prep everyone in our depth chart accordingly.”
The Beavers will face a demanding schedule, particularly during an October stretch that includes league matchups with Millbury, Bay Path, Northbridge and Uxbridge. Landini said the schedule has become more difficult in recent years as the program has adjusted to the statewide playoff system and the importance of strength of schedule.
“There’s no laydowns,” Landini said. “You have to be ready. You’ve got to play four quarters. You’ve got to play a whole year.”
BVT experienced that firsthand last season. After opening the year 1-4, the Beavers battled back to finish 6-6, giving a young roster valuable experience and confidence heading into 2026.
“We had a really good stretch towards the end of the year with the young kids,” Landini said. “Hopefully, we can just carry that over to this year.”
Beyond wins and losses, Landini said the program continues to emphasize the identity that has defined Blackstone Valley Tech football for years.
“We focus on a tough-man mentality,” he said. “We want to be tough mentally and physically between the whistles.”
That mindset, Landini said, fits naturally with a vocational school where many students are preparing to enter the workforce or military after graduation. The coaching staff also draws from the many coaches who have passed through the BVT program over the years, incorporating different philosophies and schemes into its current system.
The season will eventually culminate with the annual Thanksgiving rivalry against neighboring Nipmuc Regional, located just across the street from BVT. The two teams will meet Thursday, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m.
Landini and Nipmuc head coach James Royster have a long history together, including Royster’s previous time coaching at BVT, making the rivalry competitive but friendly away from the field.
“We talk a lot of smack, but it’s all in good fun,” Landini said. “The business is done on the field.”
Before Thanksgiving arrives, however, the Beavers have an entire season ahead of them, beginning Sept. 12 against Auburn.
Landini’s message to the BVT community is simple: come out and support the team.
“Come on down to the Beaver Dome,” he said, “and grab a bite to eat from the best snack shack in the land.”
For the full interview with BVT Football Head Coach, Anthony Landini, click here: The Zone – Anthony Landini
