Countdown Begins For Start Of Northeast Football Season

WAKEFIELD, Ma. - If you haven't flipped the calendar ahead to August just yet, what's keeping you? 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.

Northeast Voke had one of the highest scoring teams in the state last fall led by All-Scholastic back Zach Sanderson. His school rushing record of 2,220 yards was a huge reason Northeast finished 9-4. With three of the first four games on the road, the Golden Knights will need to be good right the start.

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 Football Schedule

Fri., Sept. 6 - North Reading at Northeast Voke, 6 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 13 - Northeast at Amesbury, 6

Fri., Sept. 20 - Northeast at Greater Lawrence, 7

Sat., Sept. 28 - Northeast at Whittier, 10:30 a.m.

Fri., Oct. 4 - Shawsheen at Northeast, 6

Fri., Oct. 18 - Northeast at Greater Lowell, 6

Sat., Oct. 26 - Lynn Tech at Northeast, 10:30 a.m.

Thur., Nov. 28 - Essex Tech at Northeast, 10 a.m.