By Ryan Mooney, Globe Correspondent
Everett football fans will have to wait another year to see their golden-armed native son, Jonathan DiBiaso, play at the college level.
The record-shattering quarterback made a verbal commitment to Dartmouth College during a luncheon at Everett High School, but also announced his plan to attend a year of post-grad school at Philips Exeter in New Hampshire first.
"Going into an Ivy League school I know the academics will be very tough," DiBiaso explained. "Going to a prep school like Exeter, which is known for their academics, I think it will prepare me very well...it's just another year of playing football, which I like."
Jonathan had narrowed his choices for college to Harvard and Dartmouth, and according to his dad -- Everett coach John DiBiaso -- the highly anticipated decision came down to minutes prior to the scheduled announcement, specifically the car ride to the ceremony.
"It was tough," the elder DiBiaso said. "He was talking to coaches last night, he was talking to different schools last night...it was an ordeal and a half."
DiBiaso owns the state record for career touchdown passes (103) and touchdown passes in a season (44). He will continue playing quarterback at Dartmouth, where he hopes to make an early impact on the Big Green.
“[...] I have plans to work my hardest and be the best that I possibly can," he said. "So that I can play early, win early, and hopefully just be successful as a quarterback for them.”
DiBiaso, the 2011-12 Gatorade Massachusetts Football Player of the Year, ended his high school career by leading the Crimson Tide to consecutive Super Bowl wins. They rattled off 24 straight victories with DiBiaso under center since losing the Division 1 Super Bowl to Xaverian on December 5, 2009.
In 12 games last season DiBiaso threw for 2,731 yards and 44 touchdowns—giving him 87 in the last two years—while completing 59 percent of his passes (162-of-273).
What are the chances we see another 44-touchdown performance in the near future?
"Anything's possible," DiBiaso said with a grin. "My goal is always just to win, so I plan on winning Ivy League championships there, and I know they feel the same way...I'm really excited at that opportunity."
