New High School Football Playoff Format Brings Major Schedule Changes

A-B will play Westford Academy twice this season - once on Sept. 27 (the home opener) and once on Thanksgiving. The Colonials will travel to Westford on Thanksgiving. The rest of November is unclear.

Rather than the usual Super Bowl structure that featured teams playing in playoff games after Thanksgiving, the playoffs will start at the beginning of November.

Teams that don’t make the playoffs will play other non-playoff teams in the weeks leading up to the annual Thanksgiving game. The six state championship games will take place after Thanksgiving.

Confused – and just want to know the A-B schedule? Here’s the schedule for the upcoming varsity football season (please note that A-B will play three football games between Oct. 25 and Thanksgiving, but they won’t find out who they're playing until after the playoff teams are announced at the end of October). 

Thu 09/12, 7:00pm, @ Cambridge Rindge & Latin

Fri 09/20, 7:00pm, @ Natick High School

Fri 09/27, 7:00pm, vs Westford Academy, Leary Field

October 

Fri 10/04, 7:00pm, vs Newton South High School, Leary Field

Fri 10/11, 7:00pm, vs Chelmsford High School, Leary Field

Fri 10/18, 7:00pm, vs Lincoln-Sudbury Reg High School, Leary Field

Sat 10/26, 1:00pm, @ Waltham High School

November

Thu 11/28, 10:00am, @ Westford Academy