The fueling process for Ryan Duclos on game day starts early.
Think protein, lots of protein — in preparation to play on the defensive line for the Mohawk Trail Regional football team.
“I wake up at five in the morning,” Duclos said. “I’ll make myself a six-egg omelet with onions and peppers.”
From there, Duclos consumes chicken and rice for lunch, then a Subway steak and cheese grinder after school.
But that’s not all.
“Sometimes I’ll have a protein bar,” Duclos said. “And a protein shake in the morning and then after the game.”
Duclos’ hunger to attack the football and get in the opposing backfield matches his pregame intake of protein and carbohydrates.
“I need to do it,” he said. “I need to go full strength for the ball. I guess it works. It’s a combination of strength and speed. I’m usually one of the strongest people on the field. Working hard in the offseason gives me that extra advantage.”
Now a junior who attends Turners Falls High School, the 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound Duclos is a two-way lineman for the Warriors. There was a fear that he would lose his junior season when the Turners Falls program announced it was suspending operations for the 2019 season. But when the programs combined for a one-year hardship cooperative, Duclos & Co. were given a new lease on life.
“The first game I was fired up,” Duclos said. “It fired me up when I knew we were going to have football. It felt the same because it’s the game of football and I love it.”
As a bigger kid growing up, Duclos started playing in the trenches early on. In many youth football leagues, there are rules regarding ball carriers not exceeding a certain weight limit.
“My whole life I have been playing offensive and defensive line,” Duclos said.
Defensive line is where his preference lies.
“Defense, I love,” Duclos said. “It hypes me up. It’s so fun, being able to hit kids. Just knowing the feeling that someone can’t block me. I’ll just beat them the entire game.”
The Warriors are 3-0 to start the season, sitting tied with Ware atop the Tri-County League standings. In the season opener against Franklin Tech, Duclos had as much of an impact as anyone on the field in helping Mohawk Trail snag a close victory over the Eagles.
“He is a solid football player,” Franklin Tech football coach Joe Gamache said of Duclos. “He basically took over that game.”
A key block by Duclos helped spring Mohawk Trail tailback Evan Shippee for a 5-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Eagles that proved to be the game-winner.
“He created havoc,” Gamache said. “He’s a complete football player. Physically strong. He created tough matchups for our offensive line.”
The Mohawk Trail coaching staff welcomed Duclos’ skills after the MIAA officially approved the hardship co-op with Turners Falls.
“He’s a (expletive) beast,” Mohawk Trail coach Doug McCloud said. “He’s a tough kid.”
Duclos sees spot duty at multiple positions on the offensive line for the Warriors. But his real impact during the current season for Mohawk Trail has come on the defensive line.
The extra rest on offense allows Duclos to play at one gear on defense. With the combination of quickness and power, he can get in opposing backfields almost instantaneously.
McCloud uses Duclos on the interior of the defensive line in addition playing end.
“He’s a hell of player,” McCloud said. “He wants to make every play. I love that. When he is in there on defense, they don’t run to his side much. If it’s a pass play, he is all over them. On offense, he can play tackle, play guard and he’d play center if we asked him to.”
Duclos has already blocked two punts so far this season.
“He is set up to be a very, very good football player,” McCloud said. “He makes a ton of plays. He’s going to be a force.”
The Warriors host McCann Tech tonight in Duclos’ backyard of Turners Falls High School. Kickoff at the Bourdeau Fields Complex in the Powertown is 7 p.m.
