So Stoneham, Do Starters Play On Thanksgiving?

Leave it to the annoying media to ruin a perfectly good post-game celebration. So coach ... now that you've secured a Super Bowl berth, what are you going to do on Thanksgiving? Do your starters play?

When the MIAA went to the current format in 2013, it also created a question that's been asked of coaches across the state. Stoneham coach Bob Almeida isn't the first to be asked whether he plans to use his starters, and he's certainly not the last. Stoneham faces Old Rochester in the Division 6 Super Bowl Dec. 1 at Gillette Stadium at 3:30. Almeida wants a healthy team that day. He also wants to beat Reading.

"Ya, if they're keeping score we've got to play them, right," said Almeida on the field at Hormel Stadium after beating Littleton. "We'll see what happens. I've tried not to think about any of that stuff because we just wanted to get through this game. With respect to the Reading players, we're going to give them our guys. We'll see how long that goes. We're going to play our starters."

But for how long ... that's another question. Here's a look around the area at the Thanksgiving football games. And consider yourself warned ... it's going to be very, very cold.

Reading (7-3) at Stoneham (11-0), 10 a.m. -- The current Rockets don't care that their school holds a 62-17-4 advantage in their rivalry. They only know Stoneham has won the last two years. If it wasn't for the Super Bowl, this one could be an entertaining game. With the Dec. 1 game, however, it's doubtful how much Reading will see of Seth Russell, Christos Argyropoulos and Deshaun Chase. Another factor ... Reading hasn't played on natural grass all season.

North Reading (5-5) at Lynnfield (3-7), 10 a.m. -- The Hornets have lost three straight while Lynnfield has won its last two. The Pioneers hold a 35-24 edge over North Reading all-time. Can Matt Solecki throw in near zero temps? We'll find out Thursday.

Winchester (5-5) at Woburn (5-5), 10:30 a.m. -- The Sachems hold a 53-48-12 edge over Woburn but really the goal here for each team is to finish with a winning record. Winchester likes to throw the ball with quarterback Tony Fiorentino (11 TD passes) but freezing temps will limit what the Sachems can do.

Melrose (6-4) at Wakefield (3-7), Wednesday, 5:30 -- Melrose, which is up 56-40-6 in the series, has won three of its last four games and should be able to run the ball on the Warriors.

Northeast (8-3) at Essex Tech (4-6), Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. -- The Golden Knights' Zach Sanderson and Connor Joseph should be able to do what they do best, run for daylight. Sanderson comes into the game with 21 touchdowns and 146 points while Joseph is at 11 TDs and 92 points.

Shawsheen (4-6) at Austin Prep (4-6) , 10:15 a.m. -- Bill Maradei's last game on the AP sidelines and it should be competitive. The Cougars have lost their last three but would like nothing more than sending their coach out a winner.