The first games of the 2024 high school football season are less than two weeks away in the Greater Taunton area.
With new coaches at Bridgewater-Raynham and Bristol-Plymouth, a new co-op for Dighton-Rehoboth/Bristol Aggie and 10 of the 12 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Football All-Scholastics having graduated, there are plenty of new faces and challenges on local gridirons this fall.
Ahead of the opening kickoff, the Taunton Daily Gazette is taking a look at 12 of the most intriguing matchups involving each of the four Greater Taunton area teams to mark down on your calendars.
From rivalries showdowns and rematches to tough non-league opponents and newcomers, here are 12 Greater Taunton area high school football games to watch out for this fall.
Week 1A- Dighton-Rehoboth/Bristol Aggie vs. Nauset (Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m.)
The first game of the co-op era has the Falcons facing one of the three teams they beat last year in the Warriors. While all of the D-R scorers from last year’s 35-26 non-league win have graduated, the Falcons looked solid as a unit in the win and won’t have to contend with a 170-mile round trip as Nauset does this time around. A win here is well within reach for D-R/BA and would make for the ideal start for the new era of Falcon football.
Week 2- Bristol-Plymouth vs. South Shore Tech (Sept. 19, 7 p.m. at Southeastern)
In this matchup last year, the Craftsmen came out on top in a 20-18 overtime thriller, with running back Thaniel LaBrie scoring the game-winning 2-point conversion. B-P should again be pretty evenly matched with the Vikings in this Thursday night home away from home away from home game, as the Craftsmen’s temporary home of Aleixo “Tiger” Stadium will be hosting a Taunton-Durfee matchup the same night. Despite that, an early non-league win here is key for B-P in creating momentum for the Mayflower Large opponents ahead.
Week 2- Taunton at North Attleboro (Sept. 20, 7 p.m.)
With the Red Rocketeers having moved back to the Hockomock Davenport from the Hockomock Kelley-Rex, this isn’t a league game like it was last year, but still is a good test for the Tigers. Taunton earned its first win over North Attleboro of the Hockomock era last fall and will be eager to return to Big Red country and come back with the win again before heading into a bye week.
Week 3- Bridgewater-Raynham at Middleboro (Sept. 27, 7 p.m.)
An interesting showdown between two solid local programs that rarely face each other, the Trojans travel to the Sachems for a third straight road game. Last year in this week, Middleboro had a come-from-behind win over Taunton thanks to a strong run game. Expect a real ground-and-pound game that could prove a solid win for the Trojans.
Week 4- Taunton at Everett (Oct. 4, 7 p.m.)
The Tigers are in for a big non-league test with this trip to the Crimson Tide. Despite a 7-1 regular season last fall, Everett just missed out on a Division 1 playoff spot due to power rankings, so a win over a Hockomock Kelley-Rex opponent could prove crucial in securing a tournament spot. The Crimson Tide came out victorious in their last matchup in Taunton in the 2022 playoffs, but with league foes Franklin and Division 2 Super Bowl champions King Philip to follow, a Tiger win here would truly be a statement.
Week 5- Bristol-Plymouth vs. Tri-County (Oct. 10, 6 p.m.)
The annual Homecoming game for the Craftsmen is on a Thursday rather than a Saturday this year, with their longtime Mayflower Large foes the Cougars this year’s opponent. B-P and TC have split this contest the past two years, with both taking their respective wins at home. That should favor the Craftsmen, who would love to secure a league win after being blanked last season.
Week 7- Bridgewater-Raynham vs. Dartmouth (Oct. 25, 6 p.m.)
This game is the effectively Southeast Conference championship, as the two schools are the only ones left in the league after Brockton, Durfee and New Bedford reformed the Big 3 Conference. The Trojans fell last year, but won the year before that, and if there’s a potential to make the tournament especially, expect B-R to stand up and pull through for the win.
Week 8- Dighton-Rehoboth/Bristol Aggie at Greater New Bedford (Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.)
The Falcons came their closest to an SCC Blue win in this matchup last year, narrowly falling 24-21 to the Bears. Once again, this should be another win within reach for D-R/BA in what should be a competitive, back-and-forth showdown.
Week 12- Taunton vs. Milford (Nov. 28, 10 a.m.)
The Tigers and Scarlet Hawks face off for the fourth time on Thanksgiving, and while all of the games have been close and competitive, Taunton is still winless against its new holiday rival. The player responsible for 23 of the Scarlet Hawks’ 31 points last year has graduated, and with the game in the Silver City this time, the Tigers could be poised to return to winning ways on Turkey Day.
Week 12- Bridgewater-Raynham at Brockton (Nov. 28, 10 a.m.)
This might now be a non-league matchup, but don’t expect that to take any intensity away from the Trojans’ and Boxers’ annual showdown. Both programs have new coaches who would love to get a Thanksgiving rivalry win under their belt, and expect B-R to give its all to defend the Turkey Day trophy.
Week 12- Bristol-Plymouth at Blue Hills (Nov. 28, 10 a.m.)
Usually a Thanksgiving Eve showdown, this Mayflower Large matchup has been shifted to the Turkey Day 10 a.m. time slot that most teams play. Despite being on opposite ends of the league standings last year, the Craftsmen kept pace with the Warriors for much of last year’s game, before the visitors pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 22-6 win. If B-P can hold on and finish the job this year, it’d be a huge confidence booster for a young Craftsman squad to carry into 2025.
Week 12- Dighton-Rehoboth/Bristol Aggie at Seekonk (Nov. 28, 10 a.m.)
The longest Thanksgiving rivalry in the Greater Taunton area, dating back to 1966, the Falcons had their biggest win of the season over their longtime rivals with a strong 42-16 showing. D-R/BA should once again be the favorites in a series its largely led, and it would be a solid way to cap off the inaugural co-op season.