Needham High's football home opener against St. John's Prep has been moved to a 7 p.m. start on Friday, Sept. 25, at Memorial Field.

Needham HS Athletics announced the change on X on Wednesday, Sept. 23, listing ticket prices at $5 for students and $7 for adults and seniors. The post did not state a reason for the schedule change.

The move comes as a nor'easter threatens the region. The Boston Herald's Week 3 schedule noted that multiple games across Massachusetts could be moved or rescheduled due to the weather forecast. As we reported Sept. 22, the National Weather Service forecast gusts up to 38 mph for Needham.

The Rockets enter the game at 0-2. They lost at Natick 41-0 in the season opener and fell 12-7 at Lincoln-Sudbury in Week 2, according to Needham Channel. Friday marks their first game on home turf this season.

St. John's Prep arrives at 2-0. The Eagles beat Central Catholic 21-17 on Sept. 18 in a game where five-star quarterback Christopher Vargas threw for multiple touchdowns. Running back Maxwell Parent added a 22-yard catch-and-run that led to a score, according to MassLive.

Eagles head coach Brian St. Pierre said after the Sept. 18 win that the result "says a lot about the team and the character they have."

The matchup carries recent history. The last time these two teams met, Needham upset St. John's Prep in the 2024 MIAA Division 1 Semifinals. The Rockets will look to recapture that form Friday night at Memorial Field. Gates open with tickets available on site.