By Michael Letendre 

BRISTOL – The Bristol Eastern football program has some big plans for the 2023 campaign and if the squad can remain healthy, the Lancers are going to cause a little havoc on the gridiron in the coming months. 

The Kingstreeters are looking to improve upon their 3-7 ledger (2-5 CCC Tier 3 games) from 2022. 

In terms of class size, Eastern remains in Class MM and a member of the Central Connecticut Conference, Tier 3 division. 

Now, some expected players will return to the fold at Eastern while a few others have transferred out and will be playing elsewhere.

However, don’t sleep on Eastern this year.

The Lancers are in the same boat in terms of their 10-pack of games as last season with one non-conference opponent to tackle. 

And for the second year in a row, the Lancers will hit the road for their CT Connecticut Alliance Football challenge – needing a little extra gas money to get to that exotic destination. 

Unlike last season, Eastern will get plenty of time on its home field in September, squaring off against opponents on Thursday, Friday and Saturday showdowns this year. 

All of Eastern’s home games take place from Alumni Field on the campus of Bristol Eastern High School, commencing at 6:30 p.m. 

Weeks 1 and 2 will feature games from Bristol as the locals debut against Farmington on September 9 and exactly one week later, Hartford Public comes to town. 

Eastern’s 2023 CT Alliance Football game commences at Hillhouse High School in New Haven on September 22 (6 p.m.). 

The Academics finished last season at 3-7 overall, losing its crossover game at Middletown by a 34-6 final on September 23.

The Lancers end the month with a showdown against always competitive South Windsor from home (Friday, September 29). 

Eastern plays three times in October, starting with a quick trip to Rocky Hill High School on Thursday, October 5 (6:30 p.m.) before the bye week (October 12) gives the program a midseason break. 

On October 20, Eastern hosts Platt of Meriden in a CCC challenge and then the Lancers hit the road eight days later on Saturday, October 28 for a trip to RHAM in Hebron (the lights have not been installed on its football field yet?). 

And since the CCC schedule maker hadn’t already spent all of Eastern’s fuel budget to that point of the season, a trip to Edwin O. Smith is in order on Friday, November 3 at 6 p.m. – using any remaining drops of gas that program cobbled together for the 2023 school year. 

The Lancers have their final ‘home’ game of the season on Friday, November 10 – hosting Avon in another CCC clash. 

Finally, on November 23, Eastern and Central commence on-field warfare in what should be another memorable clash between the rival programs.    

Eastern is looking for a little Thanksgiving Day payback as the program fell to the Rams 13-6 last year over another nip-and-tuck affair. 

Central has won seven straight games against Eastern on Turkey Day. 

The Kingstreeters last won on Thanksgiving back in 2014 over a 20-18 triumph but have been looking to get back to the pay window against the Rams ever since. 

Here is the complete schedule for the Bristol Eastern football team this year: 

Sept. 8 – vs. Farmington at BE; Sept. 15 – vs. Hartford Public at BE; Sept. 22 – at Hillhouse; Sept 29 – vs. South Windsor; Oct. 5 – at Rocky Hill; Oct. 12 – Bye Week; Oct. 20 – vs. Platt; Oct. 28 – at RHAM (Hebron); Nov. 3 – at E.O. Smith; Nov. 10 – vs. Avon; Nov. 23 – at Bristol Central (Muzzy Field).