Reading Blanks Medford, 34-0

Mustang Football Falls Short in Tough Home Opener Friday Night

Story Updated 10:24AM, Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Medford High School football team was shut out by non-leaguer Reading in a disappointing home-opening loss at Hormel Stadium Friday night.

Reading, ranked 18th in a recent Boston.com sports poll,  was a tough opponent for a team struggling to fill a season schedule in a league that has dwindled to five teams- Medford, Cambridge, Malden, Somerville, and Everett.

The loss leaves Medford 0-2 on the season heading into next Friday night’s home game against Bishop Fenwick.  The ‘Stangs have a chance to make a statement here against another non-league team and fans should hopefully see a more even match- up next week.

Medford also faces Austin Prep later in the season, a team they beat last year that is in the same league as Bishop Fenwick.

Medford will play a slew of non-league games before heading to Somerville on October 24 for its first Greater Boston League game.  Everett follows a week later on the 31st in what should be a packed Hormel Stadium.  Cambridge comes to Medford on November 7, and the Mustangs head to Malden for the infamous T-Day match-up.  The Mustangs also sneak Malden Catholic in at home on November 14.

Below, Mustang Football Head Coach Jim Atkins talks about the team and its goals for the season in an interview before Friday’s game against Reading.  Coach Atkins said he is looking for “continual improvement” each week and that the team needs to pick up both its offense and defense.

“Realistically, we know we have some work to do,” said Atkins.

Coach Atkins encouraged the community to come out and support the team and said in time the Mustangs will be competing for the GBL title.  Atkins said he is not just building a team for the season but is “building a team for the future.”

Video courtesy of MHS-TV 15: