The first week of the high school football season in the Fall River area is already generating buzz, as teams take the field for their opening contests.
Key Matchups to Watch
Durfee High School will open its campaign at home against visiting Attleboro, a matchup that pits a 5‑6 squad from the previous season against a program looking to rebound after a 2022 victory over the same opponent.
Just a short drive away, Joseph Case High School, returning after a 4‑7 campaign, will host Diman, a rivalry that has seen Diman dominate with a 12‑0 win last year, while new head coach Mike Cloutier takes the helm of the Cardinals.
Somerset Berkley, under new leadership from Chris Santos who replaces Nick Freitas, is set to test its mettle against defending Division 6 champions Fairhaven, a team that finished the prior season at 14‑2 and made two Super Bowl appearances.
Meanwhile, Atlantis Charter/Westport, coached by Kazeem Adediran, will host Rhode Island’s Hope in a Saturday matinee, adding a cross‑state dimension to the weekend slate.
The preseason schedule for the region has shifted, with games now concluding later in 2026 compared to the previous year, meaning teams will have a compressed window to fine‑tune before Week 1 kickoff.
Coaches and players alike are eager to see how early results will shape their trajectories, and the early games promise to set the tone for a competitive season across the Fall River community.