By Trevor Hass, Duxbury Clipper

In 2011, Duxbury cruised to a 35-0 win over Tewksbury in the EMass Division 2 final, and ever since that day the Dragons have been clawing their way closer to another championship.

Now, that chance is here, and McCarthy has some advice for the players who will get to play at Gillette Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Shrewsbury.

“Take a mental picture,” he said. “That was probably one of the coolest experiences of my career. Once they get in there, they’ll realize how cool it is and how lucky they are to be where they are.”

McCarthy was a standout for the Dragons, and he recently wrapped up a stellar football career for Division III Massachusetts Maritime Academy, earning Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference defensive player of the year honors. He became the first player in school history to register back-to-back 100 tackle seasons, including a 20-tackle performance in game against UMass Dartmouth this October.

Buccaneer head coach Jeremy Cameron has marveled at McCarthy’s dependability and consistency, and he’s seen him blossom into a leader and a star over the past couple seasons.

“He leads by example, but at the same time he’s not afraid to tell people how to do something,” Cameron said. “He always does it the right way.”

Before McCarthy was making plays at MMA, he was doing the same at Duxbury High. He had several individual highlights in high school, but being a part of that most recent championship team is something he’ll always cherish.

He remembers joking around with his teammates in the locker room at halftime. By that point, the team was already up big, and the game was just about out of reach. They knew they were on their way to yet another Super Bowl.

McCarthy has kept tabs on this year’s team, and Bobby Maimaron, Ryan Reagan and the rest of the Dragons have impressed him.

“I’m really proud of this team and what they’ve done,” he said.

McCarthy’s time in high school was the beginning of an arc that ultimately sent him into the upper echelon of all Division III players nationwide. He said the key to his success has been his work in the offseason and his desire to get better.

Cameron said McCarthy eased into a leadership role. At first, when he transferred to MMA, he was getting his bearings and getting more comfortable. This season, he made the jump to a true leader. Other players listened when he spoke, and they began to model their approach to the game after his.

McCarthy played inside linebacker and was a rock on defense. Some highlights of his career included returning an interception for a touchdown against Plymouth State, anchoring the team to a Chowder Bowl win against SUNY-Maritime and becoming the Bucs’ first defensive player of the year since 2011.

“He plays a position that we funnel everything to him,” Cameron said. “He’s just a wonderful kid and he’ll do great things. We were blessed to have him.”