The 49th annual Harry Agganis Football Classic will take place Wednesday, July 14 at Manning Field in Lynn, featuring two standout football players from Chelsea High. Daniel Martinez and David Cortez, who were instrumental members of last fall’s Red Devil football team that came one game short of capturing the Commonwealth Conference championship, started practicing with the North squad on Monday. The game honors legendary Lynn Classical and Boston University star Harry Agganis, who drew top graduating senior football players from the region to participate. After his success as the BU quarterback, Agganis pursued professional baseball and became the Boston Red Sox’s starting first baseman before dying unexpectedly at age 26 in 1955.
Martinez served as a standout running back for the Red Devils, whose offense led the Commonwealth Conference last season under head coach Mike Stellato. He also demonstrated defensive prowess. “It’s an honor to be representing Chelsea High in the game,” said Martinez, who plans to continue his football career at Framingham State College. As a two-way starter for the Red Devils, Cortez strengthened the CHS running game alongside quarterback Nelson Molina. Cortez will pursue culinary arts school beginning in the fall.
An unusual moment occurred during the North’s first practice when Cortez, shirtless while stretching and conditioning, encountered North head coach Don Heres of Northeast Regional. Heres offered Cortez a gold Northeast jersey, which the CHS graduate initially refused. Eventually, Cortez put on the jersey but wore it inside out, a gesture Chelsea High fans will recognize as loyalty to the Red and Black. Think of Bobby Fee or Anthony “Chubby” Tiro wearing an Everett High football jersey and you know what we mean. It was chief rival Northeast Regional that bested Chelsea in a conference showdown last fall, denying the Red Devils the CAC title and a berth in the playoffs. The following week Northeast went on to clinch the title with a 55-20 win over North Shore. The Golden Knights won their semifinal playoff game and ultimately captured the school’s first-ever Super Bowl title. Heres, who also coached in the Shriners Classic and was recently named athletic director at Northeast Regional, handled the Cortez shirt situation admirably. “He [Cortez] is showing a lot of passion and I like that,” said Heres.