North Reading Football Will Play in Division 4 This Fall

While New England fans celebrate another Super Bowl title, there was football news a little closer to home. North Reading High School was denied its appeal to drop down a division and will instead play in Division 4 next fall.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association finalized the division alignments for football for 2017 thru 2020-12. A number of schools appealed their placement before the Football Committee Jan. 31, including North Reading. But the committee denied the Hornets appeal.

Last fall North Reading competed in Division 2A North and finished 9-2. The Hornets advanced to the sectional final before losing to Marblehead.

North Reading was in Division 4 in 2000 and stayed there until moving to Division 2A in 2004. In 2006 the Hornets moved to the Cape Ann Small and Division 3A. In 2013 it was back to Division 4. And last fall the Hornets were in Division 2A. Other teams joining North Reading in the new Division 4 North are Revere, Boston Latin, Marblehead, Burlington, Wakefield, Melrose, Gloucester, Wayland, Wilmington, and Dracut.