The RMHS Football team clinched their spot in the 2025 MIAA Division III playoff, going into the tournament with a 4-4 regular season record. They look to make some noise this year as the #14 seed in the sixteen team tournament.
A year ago, the Rockets headed into the playoffs at 8-0 and ultimately reached the semifinals. This year’s squad improved over the course of the year and will travel to face the #3 seed, Milton High School (7-1).
The 2025 Regular Season
On September 12th, the RMHS football team kicked off their season in their home opener against Melrose. They were able to beat Melrose, blowing them out 36-12. Unfortunately, they faced some close losses in the following weeks.
Their next game was on the road against Danvers on September 19th. They lost in an extremely tight game, 34-32. The next three contests would be a struggle for the RMHS football team: a 15-13 loss away to Cumberland High School on September 26th, a 36-28 loss to Arlington on October 3rd, and a 42-14 defeat to Winchester on October 10th.
“We lost three games by a total of 12 points in there. And, it’s one of those things where we hope, moving forward, that experience will serve us well. It’s in terms of learning how to practice, in terms of learning how to communicate during a game, so we can kind of win those situations, sense those situations, and be aware of them,” Coach Fiore said.
Heading into November, the Rockets were able to string together a winning streak. On October 17th, RMHS faced Lexington High School on the road. That did not stop them from breaking out on the offensive side of the ball, streamrolling Lexington 48-12.
On October 21st, the defense complimented strong offensive efforts at an away game against Belmont. RMHS won comfortably 48-0, shutting out their Liberty division rivals. “You know, we always try to put our best tacklers in a position where they’re going to make tackles, put our best pass rushers in a position where they rush the passer, and so on,” Coach Fiore said. “So, I think as the season has unfolded, we have been able to identify some real strengths that kids have, and then change our defense around to amplify those.”
The RMHS football team evened their regular season record at a home matchup against Woburn High School. On Halloween, the Reading Rockets were treated to a 34-14 win, after going up 20-0 in the first half.
The regular season was a bit rocky, but the Rockets will go into the MIAA Division III playoff on a three game winning streak.
Hopes for the Playoffs
Even though the statistics are against them, the football team still has their head held high for their first playoff game against #3 Milton. “Offensively, I love our plan,” said Coach Fiore. All members of the team have been working their hardest to do their best for the next game.” As kickoff approaches, the Reading Rockets are determined to prove that teamwork and perseverance is enough to beat the odds.
The football team needs to continue to produce efficiently on offense. In the last three games alone, they have scored 130 points. This success derived from quarterback Will Chute (‘26) and his ability to complete passes. “You just look at his completion percentage–he has been hovering in the mid 60s all year long. I think he’s at 62% on the year, but he has been very quietly making a lot of great decisions with the ball,” Coach Fiore said.
In addition, there are playmakers on offense that can make explosive plays and move the chains. Ryan Pulpi (‘26), a star receiver on the team, can catch the ball with ease and create gains after a target. “He’s made some plays, and defenses have to account for him,” Coach Fiore added.
The offensive line has delivered in the last few games. They continue to protect Chute at quarterback, allowing him to make big plays. “I think also, [it] starts with our offensive line. I mean, we’ve got some unselfish athletes up there,” Coach Fiore noted. Specifically, he mentioned that offensive linemen Brandon LaMontagne (‘27), Sean DuRoss (‘26), Brandon Boutiette (‘27), Barrington Anderson (‘26), and Zach Bateman (‘27) are coming together as a strong offensive line group.
If the team can go into Friday’s matchup against Milton with a strong offensive plan, they may be able to keep the game close. “And you know, certainly the tournament this weekend gives us an opportunity to put that to the test against a great opponent,” Coach Fiore said.
