It's been a long time coming but there will finally be another athlete from the Donovan gene pool suiting up for the Concordia Stingers football team.
Jacob Filgate, the nephew of head coach Mickey Donovan and defensive co-ordinator Pat Donovan, has committed to the Stingers and will join the team at training camp in August.
Like his accomplished uncles, Filgate grew up in Laconia, N.H. and played high school football for the Laconia Sachems. He enjoyed a lot of success as a running back in high school, but will be slotted in as a wide receiver on the Concordia depth chart.
"I expect Jacob to come in and compete," said Mickey Donovan. "We expect a lot out of him. His hands are some of the best I've seen. He's very good at judging the ball in the air and catching it at its highest point. I guess the biggest question is - how fast can he adapt to the style of game we play?"
Filgate, who checks in at six foot two, 200 pounds, was Laconia's team MVP in 2016. In nine games, he carried the ball 130 times for 1112 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 10 passes for 167 yards.
He has been all-state in each of his four years of high school football. He was on the first team in 2014 and 2016. He was named to the second team in his freshman and junior years.Filgate has been invited to play in the New Hampshire East West All-Star High School at Saint Anselm College in June.
His great success on the football field comes under the direction of Laconia head coach Craig Kozens.
"Looking back at Pat and I when we played high school football, I think Jacob is a much better athlete," said Mickey Donovan. "I feel Jacob is going to be a great guy for our Stinger family. He's always willing to help. He's not selfish and puts other people in front."
Proud parents are Meghan Donovan Filgate and Peter Filgate. And is there going to be extra scrutiny because he's a member of the Donovan family?
"It's good for him," Mickey Donovan said. "It's good to have pressure."
