Dominic Lagone has played three positions during his four years at Providence: free safety as a freshman, running back as a sophomore and senior and quarterback as a junior.
Switching positions didn’t bother Lagone. As long as the moves benefitted the team and afforded him the opportunity to play, he was all in.
“If it helps the team win, that’s all that really matters,” he said. “I want to play and if switching positions meant me getting on the field, I was OK with that.”
Make no mistake, though. Lagone is happy to be back at his natural position, running back.
The numbers reflect it. Lagone has rushed for 993 yards and scored 16 touchdowns on 145 carries, ranking in the Top 5 locally.
His 138 yards rushing Saturday were a big reason Providence was able to hand Fenwick its first loss of the season, 21-13. He also added five catches for 56 yards and a score. Saturday’s win also brought the Celtics, 4-3, one step closer to qualifying for the playoffs.
“We had to get that win,” said Lagone, 5-feet-11, 190 pounds. “We had a great week of practice and it showed during the game.”
The performance on Saturday was even more impressive considering Providence had lost the week before to St. Rita, 37-14.
“We came out flat against St. Rita and didn’t play our game,” he said. “We made a lot of mistakes. But we learned from that game.”
The Celtics need to win one of their final two games to likely qualify for the postseason. A clean sweep the next two weeks assures entry into the playoff party.
It will be a tough task. Providence travels Friday to Gately Stadium to face No. 1 Mount Carmel and then ends the regular season with a home game against Brother Rice.
But it’s these type of challenges the elusive and speedy Lagone relishes.
“The next couple of Catholic Blue games are going to be tough,” said Lagone, who played his youth football for the Mokena Burros. “Mt. Carmel is a good team, but we’re a good team, too. It should be a fun game.”
Lagone admits that, while he enjoyed playing safety and quarterback,
his passion is running with the football.
“Once you get the ball, it’s really up to you at that point to make something happen,” Lagone said. “I like that. You get it and go and make the most of that opportunity.”
Lagone hopes to receive an opportunity to play at the college level. He scored 28 on the ACT, which will afford him entry into most colleges.
However, his preference is to remain in the Midwest.
“I’m still looking around,” said Lagone, who has three sisters. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to get into some of the better colleges.”
The fact that he’s at this stage of his high school career is surprising, he admitted. Lagone remembers his father, Dan, providing some words of wisdom to him when he was a freshman.
“My dad told me to take full advantage of high school,” Lagone said. “He told me it was going to fly by and it has.”
