Thanksgiving Day Football: Jr. Marauders Preparing Next Crop of Belmont High Players [VIDEO]

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Photo: The 2016 Junior Marauders.

In the three years since he started the football program at the Chenery Middle School, James MacIsaac said this year’s crop of Belmont Junior Marauders were a bit on the small size.

“You never know who will come out for the team and this year many of the boys are still growing,” he said.

Not that there are that many giants among the approximately 43 Chenery 7th and 8th graders who suited up to play tackle football, said MacIsaac, the town’s assistant police chief who played for Belmont High School a few years back.

This season, the Marauders – which was made up of equal numbers of 7th and 8th graders – faced teams made up of mostly 8th graders, so there were some games that Belmont was starting out with a disadvantage.

“It was at times a bit overwhelming for some of the players,” said MacIsaac in late October facing a strong Saugus team at Harris Field.

While winning and losing, and at times just being competitive, is why the game is played, MacIsaac and his coaching staff are more interested in teaching the skills to play football but also to love the game.

“We want them to have fun and learn about football,” said MacIsaac

The team has had its moments, shutting out Bedford and winning the season’s finale, 28-20 against Sharon which defeated the Junior Marauders in September.

The program’s secondary objective is as a conduit for the high school team.

“Hopefully, they will continue [playing] at Belmont High and that’s what we are trying to get is to develop [that] program,” said Assistant Coach Robert Walker.

That particular goal is paying off at Belmont High School as the Marauders prepare for its annual showdown with Watertown on Thanksgiving with leading receiver Jared Edwards starting his football career as a Junior Marauder during its inaugural season.

“We want this to be an enjoyable time for the kids and I think they understand [that] since we have not had a player drop out of the program ever since we started three years ago,” said MacIsaac.

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Registration for Belmont Jr. Marauder Football Now Open ‘Til April 30

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Photo: Belmont Junior Marauder Football players who played on Harris Field.

The Belmont Junior Marauder Football Program is holding its registration period for the fall 2016 season. The registration period ends April 30, and the program will not accept players after that date.

The Belmont Junior Marauders were created to provide Belmont’s 7th and 8th graders with the opportunity to play grade-based NO weight limit football. The team participates in the Eastern Massachusetts Middle School Football League and will play teams from Winchester, Arlington, Bedford, Melrose and Saugus among other regional middle school teams.

Preseason will begin on Aug. 22 and games are played on Wednesday afternoons. Practice will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Bus transportation to and from away games will be provided. There will be a mandatory parent informational meeting April 14 at 7 p.m. at the Belmont Lions Club, 1 Common St.

Registration forms are available on or website and in the main office at the Chenery Middle School. You can also request a registration form by sending an email to jrmarauderfootball@gmail.com

All Registration Forms  are due on or before April 30, 2016.