Whiz Kid: Sam Gold

senior Sam Gold goes about his business leading the Big Blue football team as one of the 2011 co-captains, working the trenches on the offensive line.

If Gold and his fellow linemen don’t do their jobs, the Big Blue backs can’t do their jobs and the team won’t be successful on the field.

Gold and his teammates are doing just fine this season, the Big Blue has raced out to a 7-1 record and they sit atop the NEC/CAL League 2 Tier at 3-0 after Saturday’s very impressive win over Beverly.

“I’m on the field for the offensive series, I just try to give it my all and do my best, make holes and protect the quarterback,” Gold said.

Gold began playing football in third grade and has been with the high school program since his freshman season. He plays lacrosse in the spring and may go out for the SHS swim team this coming winter.

Gold has his eyes on a prize that his older brother Max has that he’d like to add to his collection this season, a Super Bowl win. Max’s team took home the title during his sophomore season.

The Gold family lives on Bradlee Avenue and are members of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead.

“It’s great to be an athlete in Swampscott, people in town recognize you, it’s a really good feeling, sports keep me busy, it’s a lot of fun,” Gold said.

“You don’t succeed as a team without players like Sam,” Big Blue coach Steve Dembowski said. “Sam’s a great captain, a great leader, he’s at all the football events, leading the team, he’s really one of the guys we count on.”

“The offensive line doesn’t get the headlines, but if they’re not getting it done, we don’t get it done,” Dembowski said.

Sam’s favorite class at SHS is math, “I love to work with numbers,” he said.

Gold is mulling over his college choices, checking out Miami of Ohio, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

“I’ve put my name on the prospects list to play football in school, but this might be my last real year of football, so I really try to enjoy the games and practices every time I get on the field,” Gold said.

When Sam’s not busy staying in shape to block onrushing linebackers or working on his lacrosse stick work, he enjoys hanging out with his friends in and out of town.

“I was shocked when coach called and told me I was one of the captains before the season, he talked and I just listened, it really was one of the best feelings I ever had when coach told me I’d be a captain my senior year,” Sam said.

Gold and the Big Blue are 3-0 in league play and take on Gloucester next Saturday at Blocksidge Field at noon.

“We have to be ready for every game we play,” Gold said. “Teams are going to give us their best efforts so we have to do the same, we’ve got a really great team this year, it’s exciting to be a part of Big Blue football.”

“Sam’s a great kid, he’s well rounded, does well in the classroom, he respects his teammates and his teammates respect him,” Dembowski said.