One game remains for the Athol football team in non-tournment play before the showdown with rival Mahar on Thanksgiving.
Athol (3-6) travels to Szot Park to play Chicopee (1-8) on Friday at 6 p.m.
The Pacers are usually a competitive team, but they have struggled this season.
“I think they are good team,” Athol coach Bill LaRose said. “They play in a bigger conference than us so we will have to play good football to compete.”
With Athol missing some players on defense, linebackers Christian Casillas and Dylan Castine will need make some plays in Chicopee’s backfield.
Casillas had 12 tackles last week against Smith Vocational.
Mason Barrieau went over 1,000 yards rushing for Athol in a 46-14 win over Smith Vocational last week.
The running game got going overall as Barrieau had 123 yards on five carries with Keegan Lutz adding 89 yards with a 29-yard touchdowns.
Castine’s power running has helped opened up the edge for Lutz and Barrieau.
Quarterback Caleb Cox has developed some chemistry with receivers Joe Gray and Riley Paine.
The Pacers are mostly a running team with several different options at tailback.
Rielley Richards, an Athol graduate, finished a four-year career playing field hockey at Worcester State last Friday.
The Lancers (14-7) lost in the Little East conference semifinals to Castleton State, 2-1 in overtime.
Richards, a midfielder and defender, played in 40 games during her career with the Lancers. As a senior she played in 18 games with one start.
