GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE NOTEBOOK: Can you believe it? High School Fall Sports are here with Football heading up the list

Long, hot summer will blend into a busy new school sports year for Everett HS, Malden HS and Revere HS

  The time-honored phrase “Long, hot summer” comes to mind this week as we come to realize that the high school Fall Season is upon us. We know it has definitely been hot out there most of the past 10 weeks of summer, but we might have to scratch the word “long.” It seems like yesterday that the teams were finishing double-plays on the baseball and softball fields, scoring goals in lacrosse or spiking volleyballs. How did the calendar flip so quickly?

  But they are tossing footballs and running sprints starting today as the fall sports season officially gets underway.

  Football kicked it off with two days of extra conditioning under MIAA guidelines. Golf was also allowed to begin its preseason today under newly adopted MIAA guidelines. All fall sports followed with their official starts on Monday, August 22, as boys’ and girls’ soccer, cross-country, field hockey, golf and girls’ volleyball all got underway.

  That means that the whistles will be blowing, the cones will be positioned and the drills will be percolating at Everett Memorial Stadium for the Everett High Crimson Tide, Malden High’s Macdonald Stadium and Revere High’s Della Russo Stadium today.

  The full pads went on Wednesday for the first time, and the first regular season game is just three short weeks away.

Football Opening Day just three short weeks away

  Everett High Head Coach Rob DiLoreto will be embarking on his third year at the helm for the Crimson Tide. DiLoreto came aboard for the COVID-shortened season of spring 2021, then guided Everett to its 25th Greater Boston League (GBL) Championship in the past 27 seasons and a 10-1 overall record last fall 2021 season, its only blemish a first-round, 25-22 loss to Methuen in the opening round of the Division 1 North playoffs.

  Everett High football opens its 10-game, 2022 regular season with a highly anticipated game with Xaverian Bros. from the Catholic Conference on Friday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Everett Stadium.

  In addition to Xaverian, Everett has also added BC High to its non-league slate and will take on the Eagles on the road on Friday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.

  After just a one-year series, Everett will not be playing St. John’s Shrewsbury again this season on Thanksgiving Day. It was anticipated that the series would be lasting, but St. John’s officials announced in June it would now play a different opponent on Thanksgiving, and Everett, at this time, once again, is sitting out Turkey Day.

Coach Exilhomme’s second season at Malden helm

  Malden High Head Coach Witche Exilhomme will be guiding his second full season for the Golden Tornados football squad. Malden will open the season with a pair of non-league home games. On Thursday, September 8, Malden will host Whittier Tech at 6:00 p.m. On Friday, September 16, Malden will host Melrose at 6:00 p.m. Both games will be at Macdonald Stadium in Malden.

  The Golden Tornados squad and second-year Head Coach Exilhomme will then take on Chelsea High in a regular season game for the first time since the 1980s, as Malden opens its Greater Boston League slate against the Red Devils at 6:00 p.m. at Chelsea Stadium on Friday, September 23.

  Malden plays Medford for the 138th time for its Thanksgiving matchup.

Cicatelli’s 21st season leading Revere HS Football

  The longest-standing head coach in the GBL, entering his 21st season, is Revere High’s Lou Cicatelli. He and the Revere Patriots will embark on the 2022 campaign with two consecutive non-league games: Opening the season will be two straight road games, at Peabody on Friday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. and then hosting Plymouth North on September 16 at 6:00 p.m. Revere opens its GBL schedule on Thursday, September 22 versus Medford at 6:00 p.m.

Read the Advocate each week for game results, schedules and updates of ALL the GBL teams!