By KEN HAMWEY

Staff Sports Writer

Pierce Alachi and Brady Sweeney are key components for Holliston High’s football team and what makes the tandem so effective is their similarities.

The positions they play, however, are different — Alachi is a guard/defensive tackle and Sweeney is a wide receiver/safety. Where they align, however, is intriguing.

Both are senior captains who were Tri Valley League all-stars last year and both are two-way starters. They’re two of the Panthers’ top-notch leaders, their strengths coincide and both are being recruited by colleges at all three levels. Their goals for the season are the same — a Super Bowl title — and they’re both capable in the classroom. 

Todd Kiley, the Panthers’ head coach for the last 20 years, isn’t bashful when assessing their talent and ability.

“Pierce has improved his speed and quickness at both positions, he’s physical, strong and aggressive, and he’s got a high football IQ. His mental toughness is a major plus and he allows us to do things that we normally wouldn’t do. His motor is extremely high — he’s active for the entire play on both sides of the ball. Technically sound, his athleticism makes him the complete player that he is.’’

Kiley also likes what Sweeney brings to the table.

“Brady is not only mentally tough, but he’s also physically tough. He’s also got great speed. He’s athletic, instinctive and has a high football IQ. His work ethic is outstanding. If he needs to improve in a specific area, he commits 100 percent to that task. What makes Brady  top-notch is his competitive nature. He’s got a refuse-to-lose attitude.’’

The Panthers started their season by refusing to lose. They defeated Foxboro, 33-7, and Alachi and Sweeney played superbly. Alachi blocked effectively on offense, and on defense he had a sack, five tackles and applied constant pressure on Foxboro’s QB. Sweeney was 4-for-4 on receptions for 55 yards and he had a 56-yard TD on a pick-6 in the final quarter.

Here’s an up-close look at the duo, detailing their goals, their passion for football, where they may play collegiately, their philosophy of competing and the valuable life lessons they’re learning on the gridiron.

PIERCE ALACHI

The 6-foot, 215-pound Alachi’s top goal is a Super Bowl triumph.

“First, we want to improve on last year’s 6-5 record, win the TVL Large Division championship, advance to the Super Bowl and win it,’’ he said. “It’s a realistic goal because we’ve got the talent and experience. Eight players are back on defense and nine have returned on offense.’’

A captain, Alachi has two individual objectives he’ll be striving to fulfill. He wants to lead the squad effectively and he’s hoping to be named TVL Lineman of the Year. “Leading involves different styles and I want to lead by example,’’ he emphasized. “I also will be communicative and supportive and always willing to assist a teammate.’’

An offensive guard gets little notice and the same holds true for a defensive tackle. But Alachi likes both positions. “I love getting into open space at guard, hitting linebackers and seeing them on the ground,’’ he said. “On defense, it’s all about pursuit. I like hitting the guy with the ball and making tackles.’’

The high-motor lineman displayed the energy he has for both positions in games against Medfield and Ashland last year. “The Medfield game (35-6 victory) was my best,’’ he noted. “I had a sore knee but about 75 percent of my blocks at guard put my opponents on the ground. I had a lot of pancake blocks and got a sack on defense. We lost to Ashland in two overtimes but that game showed that, as underdogs, we rose to the occasion. We battled intensely.’’

A native of Millis, Alachi didn’t start playing football until the seventh grade. Now a captain and an all-star, he’s won the trust of his teammates and his coaches. “My philosophy is to reach my potential and enjoy competing,’’ he said. “When that happens, winning usually follows.

College recruiters have taken notice of Alachi’s aggressive style. He’s visited the campuses of Springfield College, Endicott (Beverly) and the University of New England (Portland, Me.). Whichever school he chooses, he wants to continue competing and major in criminal justice.

“Either of those three schools would be good choices,’’ he offered. “There’s no scholarships in Division 3 but financial aid is usually offered. The college atmosphere and the environment matter a lot. Recruiters have hinted that I’m a bit undersized for a lineman and may have to play linebacker or edge rusher. That’s one transition I’ll probably have to make along with sharpening my skills and technique and getting stronger and quicker.’’

A good student, Alachi firmly believes that Holliston’s non-league games help in preparation for college. “Last year, we played Franklin, Milton, Needham and Braintree,’’ he recalled. “Those are schools with higher enrollments. The TVL matchups are another plus. The league has some challenging opponents.’’

Alachi, who was second last year in tackles and had two fumble recoveries, has high praise for his coaches, especially Kiley, defensive coordinator Paul Athy and line coach Jim Perry. “Coach Kiley is a great motivator who’s smart, knows the game and has an open-door policy. Coaches Athy and Perry are also terrific. They keep me on my toes.’’

Lauding Sweeney for his contributions to the team, Alachi admires him “for his commitment to the program, his high energy and his work ethic.’’

The 17-year-old Alachi will be a dynamic catch for whichever college he chooses. Why that’s an easy prediction is because of the valuable life lessons he’s learned in his brief time playing football.

“I’ve learned to be persevering, to overcome adversity and to be resilient,’’ he emphasized. “I’ve also learned how to improve in terms of leadership and communication.’’

Pierce Alachi is all about desire, dedication and devotion to the task at hand.

BRADY SWEENEY

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Sweeney has an insatiable work ethic and his desire to improve is off the charts. Maybe that’s why he scored 10 touchdowns and had an interception in his first varsity season.

And, maybe that’s why he rates last year’s contest against Medway as his best outing. The Panthers were at Medway and they pulled out a 35-34 victory. “I was targeted twice and I caught both passes for touchdowns,’’ Sweeney recalled. “The TDs covered 50 and 34 yards.’’

That was his best game but his top thrill reveals that he’s a team player. “My top thrill  was finishing last year on a five-game winning streak,’’ he said. “We started 1-5 but after losing back-to-back games to Ashland and Norwood, we won five in a row. We all stuck together and developed into a cohesive unit.’’

Sweeney, like Alachi, is optimistic Holliston will keep the good times rolling. He also has his sights set on a Super Bowl trophy. “It’s realistic,’’ he offered. “We’ve got the talent, the team chemistry and experienced players and coaches.’’

Sweeney gave the Panthers lots to cheer about last year, both at wide receiver and safety. Nine of his touchdowns came on pass receptions. “I like both positions,’’ he said. “As a receiver, the challenge is to get open by figuring out the coverage. A wideout’s job can be exciting because one catch can turn a game around. Playing safety is where you can hit and tackle. The key is to be instinctive, to see the route before it develops.’’

The 17-year-old Holliston native has come a long way in a short period of time. He started playing football in the second grade but unfortunately suffered a concussion. The next time he touched a football was in his freshman year of high school. As a junior, he became a TVL all-star, and now he’s a strong leader who focuses on commitment.

An honor-roll student, Sweeney, who’ll major in health sciences or business, also ran track last year, competing in the sprints and the long and high jumps. Four colleges have shown interest in his abilities — Assumption, Pace, Ithaca and Stonehill.

“While TVL schools provide challenges, I’ve also sharpened my skills against non-league opponents,’’ he noted. “To be successful I’ll need to improve my technique, get stronger, be ready for the challenges ahead and be aware that every opponent probably was a high school all-star or MVP.’’

Relying on an instinctive style, Sweeney’s competitive philosophy mirrors Alachi’s. He’s all about working hard, competing relentlessly, reaching his potential and enjoying game action. He says that’s the formula for winning.

“Life lessons I’ve learned from sports are commitment, developing mental toughness and being resilient, a strong work ethic and to strive to be a quality teammate,’’ Sweeney noted.

Rating Kiley as a strong motivator, Sweeney labels his coach as “one who sacrifices for his team and also one who lives and breathes football.’’ He’s also upbeat on Alachi. “Pierce and I are a lot alike,’’ he said. “He’s a vocal leader, he’s got passion for football and he’s committed to improve his ability and to elevate the program.’’

Calling his parents (Bryan and Erin) role models for their support, encouragement and perseverance, Sweeney is acutely aware that before he and his teammates talk about their   future at Gillette Stadium for a Super Bowl appearance, they must take care of their day-to-day business.

“We also have another goal and that’s to win the TVL Large Division,’’ he offered. “Norwood and Ashland have talent and tradition, so we’ll need to be ready for those challenges. But, we’ve got strengths that should help us edge them out.’’

Sweeney’s favorite pro athlete is Tom Brady and the reasons he admires him might be the formula for Sweeney and his teammates to achieve their lofty goals. “He’s so competitive, so experienced and he’s got great perseverance,’’ Sweeney said.

Brady Sweeney knows the ingredients that lead to success.