Published March 11, 2021
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
NORTH READING — If you happened to be walking or driving by the Arthur J. Kenney Field on any given afternoon last week, you might have noticed a rather peculiar scene unfolding on the gridiron.
Encircled by heaping mounds of snow and under a brisk thirty-five degrees, the North Reading football coaching staff was putting nearly 50 players through their paces, practicing for the start of the 2020 football season, which was delayed for six months due to the ongoing pandemic.
MIAA officials and health experts deemed the current situation safe enough to move forward with an abbreviated seven-game season, which will officially get underway Saturday afternoon when North Reading hosts Manchester-Essex at 1 p.m.
The North Reading players and their coaching staff are pleased that the decision regarding football was made in their favor. According to head coach Ed Blum, the season ahead, while brief, will be greeted with enthusiasm. The participants are eager to get started, despite the oddity of playing in the spring.
“I think it’s clear that the kids are very happy that football is back,” said Blum, who wrapped up the 2019 season with an exemplary 8-3 mark. “It’s definitely a little weird and it takes a bit to wrap your head around it. But we’re all grateful for the opportunity to play football. You don’t realize how much you miss it until it’s gone.”
When asked how he thought the six-month interruption might impact the Hornets, Blum was confident that the layoff would have little effect. As he explained it, many of the athletes participated in alternate sports, including basketball and hockey. And during the sixteen-month gap, since the 2019 Cape Ann League champions put the finishing touches on a dramatic 21-19 win over archrival Lynnfield, the majority of the returning players found other methods to stay fit during the hiatus.
“I give credit to these kids,” said the coach. “They made good choices. Instead of sitting on the couch for the entire time, they sought other outlets, either by themselves or in small groups. Certainly, we missed the group lifts but the kids filled their idle time with workouts. We’re two weeks into this season and I’m generally happy with where we are in terms of strength preparation and being ready for the physicality of football.”
Blum agreed that while much has been said about playing football in March, where winter can be a dicey proposition weather-wise, this time of year can often be similar to some of the conditions faced during the fall season. A November snowstorm can never be ruled out and who could forget the Thanksgiving Day Ice Bowl three years ago, when prevailing temperatures were a wind-driven sub-5 degrees.
“Obviously, we’ll experience a number of cold days over the weeks ahead,” said Blum, who held practice in the school gym before moving outdoors last week. “We’re holding out hope that there are no more significant snowfalls. Until now, I never thought I would have so much interest in forecasting and weather history.”
When talk turns to the makeup of this year’s squad, Blum is optimistic about his prospects.
“Last season, we were very fortunate,” he said. “We had that big senior class and their contribution to our success was substantial. But we also had an outstanding junior class that complimented the seniors very well. A lot of them saw time on defense and now will be stepping into roles on the offensive side of the ball. We have athletes who are ready to answer the call and take on important playmaking spots on this team.”
Senior QB Brian Heffernan, for one, is expected to pick up where he left off which was leading the Hornets on impressive scoring drives. According to Blum, Heffernan will likely not suffer due to the loss of several high caliber wideouts.
“As a junior quarterback, Brian Heffernan bonded with some of the senior receivers in our lineup and things worked out well for him,” the coach explained. “Now that he’s a senior, we have several kids in the same grade so there’s a more natural connection based on friendships that have spanned many years. This will be beneficial, especially considering the limited amount of time they have to get on the same page.”
Coach Blum was quick to point out a number of established players who have already made their mark and are expected to contribute from the opening kickoff. Senior wide receivers Will Taylor, Robbie Tammaro, and Brayden Scribner will each be seeking their fair share of Heffernan throws while senior Will O’Leary hopes to render damage as tailback. Senior linebacker Zach Sampson will lead a sturdy defensive group.
There is ample opportunity for the next tier of Hornets to cement a position for September, when football hopefully resumes with a full docket of games and playoffs, which were axed for the condensed campaign ahead.
“Absolutely, this helps us evaluate our players for the future seasons,” Blum said. “If we didn’t have the benefit of this shortened season, it would have been nearly two years between chances to see what many of these kids can do. This will allow me to identify those players on the fringe who could be an asset when September rolls around.”
As far as COVID-19-related restrictions, the tried-and-true will be implemented. No locker room use between halves, adequate spacing on the sidelines, and upward adjustments made to the length of timeouts, along with a brief stoppage midway through each quarter. There are no variations to the game itself. There is one major change, however, which will be music to the ears of North Reading football parents. Two per player, home team only, will now be allowed to enter the stadium.
“It’s just adds a sense of normalcy for them,” responded Blum, when asked how this resumption of football impacts his players. “This will surely be a strange season and we’ll likely never see Massachusetts spring football again. But our number one goal is to make this a great experience for as many kids as possible, particularly the seniors.”
