New Hampshire Football Report

Yukica Profile: Keith Albergo

NOTE: The 2020 Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar/Athlete banquet was cancelled this year because of COVID-19. Each Scholar/Athlete will be recognized with a commemorative program, a plaque and a personal profile that will appear in the program, on the New Hampshire Football Report, the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter web site (joeyukicafootballfoundation.org) and the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter Facebook page. This is one in a series of 39 profiles:

KEITH ALBERGO
Winnacunnet High School

In the second half of Winnacunnet High School’s final game of the 2019 season a Winnacunnet running back wiggled free for a long run in what turned out to be a 49-28 loss to Merrimack. There was offensive lineman Keith Albergo making a block downfield to ensure his teammate made it to the end zone.

“He probably made that block 40 yards downfield when most people weren’t running in the play any more,” Winnacunnet coach Ryan Francoeur recalled. “And that kind of freed us for that touchdown. The whistle hadn’t blown and he was still going.”

Albergo, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound guard/defensive end, displayed a similar effort in the classroom. Because of his hard work on the field and in school, Albergo is one of 39 NHIAA football players selected to receive the Scholar/Athlete Award by the Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Albergo, who is planning to join the Marines, was also selected to play in this year’s CHaD New Hampshire East/West All-Star Game. In addition, the Winnacunnet coaching staff honored him with the Ultimate Warrior Award, which is given annually to the player who best represents what it means to be a Winnacunnet football player.

“He’s an ROTC kid,” Francoeur said. “Very disciplined. Respectful. Coachable. It was easy to make him a captain going into last season just because he’s that type of all-around great kid. 

“He has that military personality. He was very much a ‘yes sir, yes coach’ player. He would help other kids with community service — tons of community service hours. Very respectful. All his teachers spoke highly of him. Not necessarily a natural student, but he worked hard. Smart kid.”

Albergo was a back-up on the 2017 Winnacunnet team that went undefeated and won the Division I championship. He contributed significantly to a Winnacunnet team that made the playoffs in 2018, and he then had to assume a leadership role for a young team that finished 1-8 last season.

According to Francoeur, Albergo played through a back injury in 2019. Nevertheless, Albergo led the Warriors in tackles (98), tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (six).

“We kind of managed him as much as we could, but he played hurt all year long with back strains and stuff,” Francoeur said. “Defensively, he was probably our best player. There were parts of the year when his back felt better so he was himself. Even hurt he was one of our best players.

“We never had to worry about Keith out there. There was never a question of lack of effort or desire.”

Q and A with Keith Albergo

Q: Please describe the most memorable moment of your high school football career. 

A: This is a very hard question to answer because I’ve had so many good memories while playing high school football. That being said, if I had to pick one memory I would choose the night during my sophomore year when our team won the Division 1 championship. It was an amazing experience for everyone involved and I loved seeing everyone so happy. Additionally, that experience gave me a lot of motivation for the seasons to come. 

Q: Tell us about someone who has had a significant influence on your life.

A: The person in my life that had the most significant influence on me was my mom. From my first day of football in third grade to my last day of football this year she supported and encouraged me. She also made sure I focused on my school work when I was not playing sports, which helped me stay on track. I owe everything to her and I will always look back and thank her for her major contribution to my success in high school. 

Q: What is your favorite subject in school and why?

A: My favorite subject in school was social studies. I really enjoyed learning about history, government, and economics while in those classes. I also took multiple social studies electives over the course of my high school career, which developed my love for social studies even more.  

Q: What life lessons have you learned from football? 

A: I am very thankful to have learned many life lessons over the course of my football career. Some of those being, hard work, determination, practice, resilience, and teamwork. Those are just a few of the many lessons I have learned. I am so thankful for my coaches, teammates and the game itself for instilling these values in me. 

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream job is something in the first responders line of work. I would love to be a state or local police officer in New Hampshire after I complete my time in the US Marine Corps. I am also open to being a firefighter or paramedic.

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2020 Scholar/Athletes: Keith Albergo (Winnacunnet), Thatcher Allen (Exeter), Cole Ames (Lebanon), Mason Belsky (Windham), Patrick Brust (Bishop Brady), Jaedon Cliche (Exeter), Riley Desmarais (Windham), Bobby DiCicco (Windham), Jared Dyer (Merrimack), Casey Gladu (Portsmouth), Owen Gormley (Salem), Jack Grogan (Bedford), Steven Guerette (Bow), Evan Haskins (Pelham), Samson Hodges (Milford), Ethan Holt (Bishop Guertin), Jack Jones (Bedford), Charlie Kneissl-Williams (Bedford), Hunter Lassard (St. Thomas), Joseph Lupo (Bishop Guertin), Jake MacInnis (Pinkerton), Braden McDonnell (Nashua South), Will MacLean (St. Thomas), Hayden Moses (Bishop Guertin), Riley Mulvey (Salem), Kyle O’Connor (Nashua South), Nolan Pafford (Portsmouth), Wade Rainey (Lebanon), Ismael Rivera (Bishop Brady), Oceanne Skoog (Newfound), Caleb Smith (Lebanon), Rolando Sylvain-Stott (Newfound), John Thibault (Trinity), Zach Twardosky (Merrimack), Gavin Urda (Milford), Carter Vedrani (Campbell), Jacob Wenger (Trinity), Jon Willeman (Lebanon) and Devin Wood (Merrimack).

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