By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

Ashland’s Hugo Rossi began playing football with his friends when they were in second grade. Football was in his blood: not only did his father, John Rossi, play football for Ashland High School, but his grandfather, Hugo Augustus Rossi, played at Boston College and coached youth football. However, the younger Rossi soon found out that he was not enjoying playing on the gridiron as much as his father did, and he decided to step away so he could play basketball, a sport he truly loved.

“My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps and play football. He wasn’t upset when I stepped away,” Rossi said. “He just wanted me to be happy and enjoy myself, although he really wanted me to experience football.”

The eldest Rossi was beloved in Ashland, where he not only coached youth football, but was a town selectman. Over the years, HA Rossi had literally coached hundreds of young athletes and lived for them. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 42 when he was in a car accident; John Rossi was only nine years old when his father passed away on November 9th.

Although not living in Ashland at the time, John and Christine Rossi had a son born on the anniversary of Hugo Augustus’ fatal car accident 18 years later. Originally, the Rossis were not going to name their son Hugo, but when Christine almost died during that childbirth, having a near-death experience, she came out of it knowing she had to name their son Hugo.

When Hugo was eight years old, the Rossi Family moved to Ashland, and John would eventually begin coaching football, and although it was for only one season, 90% of the boys he coached are now playing for the Ashland High School team. Hugo decided to try football one more time and give it another shot, as all his friends were still playing the sport; this time, he stayed with it. By his freshman year, he had lost some weight, grown, and found himself to be much more athletic.

Following his sophomore campaign for the Clockers junior varsity team, Rossi started to really put in the work to become a better player on the field as well as on the court, and by his junior year, he was starting on both sides of the football (receiver and corner) for Ashland. That year, he received an honorable All-Star mention. 

When uniform numbers were handed out, Rossi grabbed the number four. He had no idea what that number would come to represent. According to his mother, Hugo was the fourth Hugo in their family tree, and here now he was wearing the number four.

“It was just a random pick,” he said. “I had no idea… it was just crazy!”

By playing football for Ashland, the young Rossi has walked in his predecessors' footsteps. Hugo would not only play on the same field that his dad played on, but also the same field that his grandfather coached on. 

“Walking onto that field is an amazing feeling each time that I do so,” he said, “Having my father play there and my grandfather coach, I had to work hard to live up to the name on the back of my jersey.”

Coming into his senior season, his final one with Ashland, Rossi not only wanted to become a Tri-Valley League All-Star, win the TVL Championship, and go deep into the State Tournament. He was able to accomplish all three goals he set before the season began. In addition to being named to the TVL All-Star team, the Clockers became TVL champions on November 9. After finishing 7-1 on the season, they advanced into the Division 4 State Tournament, where they defeated Danvers and then lost to Tewksbury Memorial in the Elite 8, who would eventually lose in the finals to Scituate. Ashland would also go on to defeat Hopkinton on Thanksgiving Day, 48-0, being the last time all the seniors would take to the field together.

“Winning the TVL on that date was an awesome moment, he (his grandfather) was really pushing and rooting for us,” Rossi said. “The Tournament was an amazing run. Sadly, we lost to a really good team that went to the Super Bowl. Overall, it was a great experience to finally get into a playoff game; it would have been really special if we could have won the Super Bowl.”

Having begun this miraculous journey ten plus years ago with all his friends by his side on the football field, Rossi never in his wildest dreams believed that everything would end this way.

“It was amazing that we are all here together this year, I couldn’t have ever imagined that as seniors we would be a group of guys that became a family,” Rossi said. “Playing football gave me a sense of pride, especially playing for my dad as well as my grandfather, who I believe was watching me every moment I was on the field.”

Having her son play the sport her husband and his father enjoyed so much gave Christine Rossi the firm belief that it was all meant to be.

“Seeing Hugo do something that he loves, his grandfather would have been proud,” she said. “The way the season turned out, it was like the Ashland team with Hugo had an angel on the field as they finished out their career. Ashland is all about family, football, and a small town with a legacy.”

With his football career gone by the wayside at Ashland, Rossi will now suit up for the Clockers basketball team this winter before turning his thoughts to college. The senior will definitely be heading off to college once he departs from high school, but at this time, he is unsure of where he will go and if he will play football. 

“I have been offered a chance to go to Worcester State, but I am also still talking to other schools. With my body aching and the injuries, I am not sure if I want to continue to play football in college,” Rossi said. “If I don’t get to play football and my career is over, it wouldn’t bother me. This year was the exclamation point on my football journey, and I will always remember this year playing with my brothers and what we were able to accomplish on the field.”

Ashland High School Football Team. Photo submitted by Christine Rossi