By Patrick O’Connor

Football practice for the East Boston High School football team got underway last Friday morning on August 23 at Sartori Stadium and a scrimmage with Winthrop took place on Wednesday afternoon, August 28.   The Jets will open the season at Sartori Stadium this Friday evening at 6 p.m.  The visiting team will be the Boston Latin Academy Dragons, led by Rocco Zizza.

Beginning his fifteenth season as headcoach is John Parziale with a record of 79-64.  Assisting him will be Coaches Patrick Aiken (2018), Shawn Torrici (2008), Juan Murcia (2011), Nathan Rivera (2016), Brandon Ciacio (2006) and Sean Curtis (2022).  All are East Boston High graduates and played for the team.  The team numbers about 30 with ten seniors.  Co-captains are seniors Chris Testa and Gio Angelico.        

Last year, the Jets ended the season at 6-4.  On Thanksgiving eve, the team was told the South Boston High football team would forfeit the 105th Thanksgiving Day game at White Stadium.  The Jets came to Sartori Stadium on Thanksgiving morning and played a scrimmage anyway.  This year, East Boston will clash with Chelsea on Thanksgiving Eve at Chelsea High School.   At a later time, the East Boston-South Boston High School football rivalry, dating from 1901 may resume.  

It’s year nine for an MIAA approved play-off system.  Schedules are set for September and October.  Games in November will be determined by a point system in which Eastern Massachusetts and Central Massachusetts schools will be split into two groups.