Assistant sports editor Kevin Pomeroy and I cover a lot of football over the course of a year. In addition to Johnston, we cover sports in Cranston and Warwick, too, so our Friday nights are pretty much booked up.
Last year, we started putting our football knowledge to good use in the Football Focus Podcast for the Warwick Beacon. We broke down the games, laid out our predictions and kept tabs on everything.
This year, we’re taking the show to Johnston, too. Every Thursday at johnstonsunrise.net, we’ll be breaking down all the action in Johnston, Cranston and Warwick. If you want to keep tabs on the Panthers, find out about their opponent and get geared up for the big game, the podcast is a pretty good place to start.
Tune in and turn it up.

Panthers ranked 20th

In the preseason edition of the Rhode Island Sports Media Football Poll, Johnston checks in at No. 20.
The Panthers, who finished last season ranked 16th, are rated as the ninth-best team in Division II, according to the poll. Defending champion Woonsocket, ranked seventh, is the highest-rated Division II team.
La Salle is No. 1 in the poll, while defending D-I champion Hendricken is No. 2.

Fall seasons getting underway

Preseason Injury Fund games are in the books, and though rain is having an impact, the fall sports season is officially getting underway this week.
Johnston’s girls’ soccer team is scheduled to play on Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Shea, while the boys are opening up today at 5 p.m. at St. Raphael.
The volleyball squad will start its regular season on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant, and the football team also plays on Friday, with a home game against Smithfield.