The 2024 high school football season is officially underway. As always, the campaign begins not with games, but practices. Camps opened for high school programs across the state on Friday.
The real fun begins in a couple weeks when the contests begin. But for now, teams are focused on taking stock of what they have and eyeing lofty expectations for the fall. Here are a few of the things I’m looking for when things really get rolling early next month.
Almost always a talented program, Leominster High’s schedule features few easy games, if any, this fall. With the regular season starting at St. John’s of Shrewsbury on Sept.
6 and ending at Algonquin Regional on Nov. 1, the Blue Devils will be tested week in and week out. Of course, that’s by design.
The tougher the schedule, the more battle-tested Leominster will be come playoff time. And head coach Devin Gates has a talented group to work with, led by dynamic quarterback Osiris Lopez, a junior who has several Division 1 offers on the table already. The Blue Devils play their first two games on the road before returning to the confines of Doyle Field for four straight.
Barring a spot in the Division 1 title game, Leominster’s schedule closes at home on Thanksgiving morning with archrival Fitchburg High coming to town. Monty Tech’s home slate is about as good as it gets for a sportswriter, with each game being played at Bulldog Field this fall set to start at 6 p.m.
With deadlines seeming to get earlier every year, t.