Reading To Host Peabody In Playoff Opener

One year after limping into the MIAA playoffs and getting blasted in the first round, Reading will return to the postseason but this time with a realistic shot at returning to Gillette Stadium.

Reading (6-1) earned the No. 3 seed in Division 2 North and will host No. 6 seed Peabody (3-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. The pairings were released Sunday afternoon.

Five of the eight teams in the sectional come in with losing records. If the higher seeds advance, Reading would get a rematch with Lincoln-Sudbury in the semifinals. Last fall L-S beat Reading, 35-0.

The complete Division 2 North field with records and final ratings:

1. North Andover (7-0) 19.57; 2. Lincoln-Sudbury (6-1) 18.77; 3. Reading (6-1) 18.20; 4. Woburn (3-4) 10.71; 5. Waltham (2-4) 8.83; 6. Peabody (3-4) 8.71; 7. Masconomet (3-4) 8.71; 8. Westford Academy (3-4) 8.57.

And RMHS wasn't the only team in town to earn a playoff berth. Austin Prep will compete in the Division 6 North tournament as the No. 7 seed. The Cougars (4-3) will travel to No. 2 seed Hamilton-Wenham (5-2) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

The complete Division 6 North field with records and final ratings:

1. Stoneham (7-0) 20.29; 2. Hamilton-Wenham (5-2) 16.57; 3. Northeast Regional (16.29) 16.29; 4. Bishop Fenwick (6-1) 16.00; 5. Greater Lowell (6-1) 15.86; 6. Ipswich (6-1) 15.17; 7. Austin Prep (4-3) 12.57; 8. Essex Tech (4-3) 12.00.