LYNN — The St. Mary’s football team had an up-and-down season coming off their 2022 Super Bowl win.

Full of new faces, the Spartans put six wins on the board, but wouldn’t have been half the team they were without middle linebacker and fullback Joel Maggs.

Head coach Sean Driscoll and the rest of his coaching staff were looking forward to having their senior lead the young defense this year. However, one week before the start of the season, Maggs fractured a bone in his wrist during a scrimmage.

“I needed to get surgery on it, so I missed the first 10 weeks of the season,” said Maggs, who made 127 tackles and picked off two passes his junior season.

After all of the offseason workouts and late nights in the gym, it all came crashing down in one play.

Maggs admitted it was a big mental hurdle, and that he “felt numb.”

“I know it affected the team – more on a mental status than how much I contributed to the team because I was a leader and knew players looked up to me,” he said. “I was the leader of the defense and I think that’s what hurt me the most: not being able to lead the guys on the field.”

“It was heartbreaking because I put so much effort into myself with training, lifting, speed work, and field work – all for football and for the team. It was heartbreaking knowing that a lot of opportunities would go away since I couldn’t play,” Maggs said. “It was a tough mental battle, but I learned a lot about myself. I was there for every practice except for Mondays since I had my wrist appointments on those days. I just tried to be there for the team and help out the guys wherever they needed.”

However, just like his work ethic preparing for the season, Maggs made it his mission to return to the gridiron – even if the doctor told him he would miss a year, initially.

“But I was able to convince my doctor to play on Senior Night and in the first round of the playoffs. I couldn’t go the whole year without playing with my guys,” Maggs said.

As he got treatment on his wrist, Maggs made sure to be there for his team – both at practice and games.

“As a middle linebacker, I was the leader of the defense last year and, this year, we had a freshman and sophomore playing as linebackers, so I did my best to try and teach them the mental part of the game,” he said. “They have the physical part of the game, so I was just trying to help them with the reads and plays.”

“I wanted to be the type of leader where if a young player had a question or wanted to go over film with me, I would always be there for them,” Maggs said.

When Senior Night against Archbishop Williams came around – like he predicted – Maggs was ready to strap on the old helmet.

He made several key tackles, including a crucial third down stop against Luke Charlton of the Bishops in the second quarter. St. Mary’s won the game, 40-28, which allowed Maggs to leave Manning Field – for the last time – a winner.

“It was such a relief being able to be back out there. It was a euphoric feeling that I haven’t felt in a while,” Maggs said. “It definitely made my family proud. I wanted to walk out there with my family in my pads and not sweatpants.”

Driscoll praised his work ethic, despite all of the adversity.

“Joel is a tough and physical player on both sides of the ball. [He showed] outstanding work ethic during the offseason the last few years,” Driscoll said. “His ability and leadership on defense really stood out and he always seemed to make the big play when needed. He is what I like to call an old-school football player, and played the game like it should be played. His toughness and grit are off the charts.”

Maggs had to agree with the “grit” part.

“I’m a gritty player out on the field. I may not be the fastest or most agile, but I’m pretty strong. I never let off the gas and I’ll run sideline to sideline,” he said.

Although he played in just two games this fall, Maggs’ presence was felt both on and off the turf.