Start The Countdown, Reading Football Is On The Clock

READING, MA. - If you haven't flipped the calendar ahead to August just yet, it's time. All those good summer traditions still hold, with one addition. Football. NFL practices have already started, colleges start this week, and in a few weeks your local high school team gets back to work.

When last we saw John Fiore and Reading, the Rockets were handing Stoneham its only loss of the year on a freezing cold Thanksgiving. Coming off an 8-3 season in which they scored 35-plus points on five occasions, Reading must replace All-Scholastic Patrick Conroy as well as quarterback Matt Sannella.

The preseason calendar seems complicated but practice can start Fri., Aug. 16 and there must five five days of conditioning or limited contact before a full contact practice. There are no Sunday practices allowed before Labor Day.

With eight weekends between the season's start and the playoffs, expect your team to have a bye week. The MIAA allows for a maximum of seven games. The power rating system is back and seeding for those schools that qualify for the MIAA tournament takes place Oct. 27. If your team is in Division 2 or 7 and you make the Super Bowl, it's your turn to play somewhere other than Gillette Stadium. Unless of course, Gillette allows two games on Friday as it did last year. And if your team is in Division 4 or 6, you don't have to play a state semifinal. The North Sectional winner gets a bye directly into the Super Bowl.

Another thing you should know ... the rules have changed. You may never notice the changes, or you be screaming bloody murder in the first quarter of the first game. Before the season starts a wise fan should do his/her homework. You'll be the smart one in the stands. In brief, the MIAA is changing from NCAA rules to National Federation rules. You can check out the differences here. Coaches aren't happy about this and neither are the officials. Expect to see a few delays as officials gather to discuss what just happened. If it's cold/rainy, you won't be happy.

So with all that said, remember to be a good sport, support your team through good and bad, and enjoy the season. It all starts soon.

2019 Reading Football Schedule

Fri., Sept. 13 - Lincoln-Sudbury at Reading, 7

Fri., Sept. 20 - Reading at Acton-Boxboro, 7

Fri., Sept. 27 - Reading at Belmont, 6

Fri., Oct. 4 - Woburn at Reading, 7

Fri., Oct. 11 - Arlington at Reading, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 18 - Reading at Winchester, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 25 - Reading at Lexington, 6

Thur., Nov. 28 - Stoneham at Reading, 10:15 a.m.