After a forgettable season in the 2020s, the Massachusetts High School Football League is back in business for the 2022 season. And that’s great news for Red Raiders everywhere! The 2022 season will give teams the chance to showcase their skills, sharpen their execution, and advance together as a group towards championship potential. Six Massachusetts teams will field senior squads in this year’s high school football season. The number of teams may not look all that impressive on paper, but when you consider that they had only six teams competing at one point last season—that’s an improvement! In case you haven’t been following our blog lately to keep up with all things Red Raiders: we have some good news—the team is back! Our writing staff has been hard at work compiling comprehensive information on every player on the roster, along with videos and other media of Red Raider talent playing elsewhere (if applicable), scouting reports written by our own staff members who are more than capable of assessing talent level and future pros/cons of players at specific positions, etc. If you want to keep abreast of everything happening with your favorite team throughout this upcoming campaign and beyond (and if not, why not?), stay tuned! We’ll be regularly updating this post as we get closer to kickoff.
| Event: | Massachusetts School Football |
| Start Date: | August 2022 |
| Broadcast: | NFHS Network |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Live Stream: | Watch Here |
Team Strengths
The Red Raiders will enter the 2022 campaign with a highly motivated group of players who’ve had a full offseason to train together and improve their skills. With the addition of a varsity squad in the last two years, the team’s roster will be deeper and more experienced than ever before. The team will also be full of young, talented players in the 2022 season who’ll benefit from having a full season to hone their skills and grow as players together. The Red Raiders should do well in Class D, where the top-ranked player in the state, Evan Niepold, will be taking on a new team. The team will also have a great chance to play for a state championship as the team is in a very competitive pool for the state’s top spot. While the Red Raiders certainly have the talent to win a championship, don’t let their chance at a state title distract you from the fact that the team’s focus should be on winning a state championship, one game at a time.
Team Weaknesses
The Red Raiders suffered from a number of offensive and defensive weaknesses in the last two seasons. On offense, they struggled to consistently move the ball against good teams. They were able to generate some points, but a lot of their points came in blowouts where they had little to no challenge on the field. Defensively, the team often had trouble stopping teams that were not as talented as Massachusettes teams had to face in recent years. The offensive line will be a major concern for the team. The team is likely to lose a few linemen who graduated in 2021. Replacing them will be a challenge. The Red Raiders will also be challenged to stop teams with talented quarterbacks who can break out of the pocket and make plays with their feet.
Player To Watch
We can’t start a list of team strengths without mentioning Evan Niepold, who finished as the state’s number one player in 2020. Niepold, who will be a senior in the 2022 season, is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. He can take the ball the distance, run between defenders, and make plays with his feet. Niepold has elite speed and is capable of making plays with the ball in his hands from anywhere on the field. He’s a threat to score any time he touches the ball and his speed makes him a legitimate threat to break out of the pocket and make plays with his feet. As a receiver, Niepold will help open up the offense and send the ball downfield where he can take advantage of his speed to make big plays. Niepold will also be a key player on the defense. The Red Raiders will need him to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and to make plays with the ball in his hands to keep the defense off the field and help keep opponents off the scoreboard
Key Players to Watch
– Evan Niepold: There’s no doubt that the state’s number one player in 2020 will be the main attraction for the 2022 Red Raiders. Like every state-ranked player, he’ll be a great player to watch and get excited about, but his presence will be a major boost for the team. – Kyier Walker: The 2020 state champion has a long and productive football career ahead of him. He’s committed to Dartmouth College, a Division I program. In the last two years, Walker has given the Red Raiders a hard time with his talent and playmaking ability. He’s a force to contend with at running back and will be a major offensive threat for the team in the 2022 season. – Travis Shilstone: Shilstone, who will be a junior in 2022, is a dynamic playmaker who’s capable of making big plays with his feet at any time. He’s an explosive athlete with the ball in his hands and will be a major threat for the team in 2022.
Final Word: The 2022 Massachusetts High School Football Season Will Be A Force To Be Reckoned With
We’re excited to see what the Red Raiders are capable of in the 2022 season. If they can get some of their losses (such as their quarterback) back, they’ll be in a good position to challenge for a state championship. The Red Raiders will have to make sure they can stay healthy and focused throughout the season and make sure they don’t miss any practice time due to injuries. If they can do that, they’ll be in good position to challenge for a state championship. The 2022 season will be a great season to get excited about the state’s high school football. We can’t wait to see what happens!
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