While the first day of MIAA football practice always brings optimism, BC High had plenty of reasons to carry an extra bit of excitement.

BC High took the field to begin the 2024 season on Friday afternoon with a talented roster and renewed excitement under the stewardship of first-year head coach Paul Zukauskas.

The Eagles are hoping the combination will allow them to compete for its first Div. 1 state title since 2011.

Zukauskas should take no time in receiving buy-in from his roster. He was a standout tackle while donning the BC High and Boston College uniforms before spending five seasons in the NFL.

If his playing days leave any doubt, his coaching track record certainly does not as Zukasas posted a 44-13 record with four ISL championships over seven seasons at Lawrence Academy.

“When BC High reached out I was a little hesitant at first but then I decided I really wanted to come back here and help,” said Zukauskas, a 1997 BC High graduate. “The first thing I did was meet with the returning guys and pick their brain on what they thought the football program did well and what it needed to do better.”

While the buzz surrounding Zukauskas is justified, the Eagles promise comes also due to the talent returning on the field. Senior quarterback Carter Carroll is capable of putting up eye-popping numbers and is bound for William and Mary.

Alongside Carroll in the backfield is running back Brenden Ryan. Eli Alcorn-Crowder will set the tone up front while Conrad Babka provides flexibility in the passing game.

“We now have the strongest and largest senior class that has been dedicated to learning and adjusting to Coach (Zukauskas’) system,” Carroll said. “After experiencing a playoff push last season, we’re primed and ready to bring back to the state championship conversation, which is where it belongs.”

When it comes to hardware, the Catholic Conference has never been better.

Over the last five seasons, three of the Eagles main rivals – St. John’s Prep, Xaverian and Catholic Memorial – have combined to bring home five Super Bowl titles. During that same span the Eagles have just a pair of postseason wins. Zukauskas, however, is no stranger to playing the best the region has to offer.

His previous success will be leaned on as a formula to follow on Morrissey Boulevard.

“Coaching at Lawrence Academy we played against kids going to Michigan and Notre Dame so I am pretty familiar with a competitive schedule,” Zukauskas said. “One thing I always think about is not the other teams, it is about who you are as a team. So I just focus on what we can do to be the best team we can be in that particular year. The foundation of the program is about identifying talent, putting them in the right position, and being a physical football team.”

Boston College High School players go through a drill during Friday’s season-opening football practice. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)