Nov 23rd, 2009
When Thanksgiving Meets High School Football
SportsPower.com
This week, millions will gather together in a celebration of family, friendship, food, and of course, football.
Over the past 120 years, football is one of many traditions formed around Thanksgiving. Today, the two go hand-in-hand as amateurs, high school athletes, collegiate athletes and professional athletes all participate or gather for action on the gridiron each year.
But some of the most historic and cherished Thanksgiving football rivalries revolve around the high school level, where some epic clashes have been occurring since the late 19th century. The tradition typically finds many Northeastern teams playing on the holiday, but teams from California and Missouri are bucking that trend.
Meanwhile, Turkey Day matchups often pit two rivals together from the same conference or schools that are a few miles apart. Other times, championships are on the line or regional bragging rights can be earned with a win, making the games even more significant and noteworthy. And with Thanksgiving matchups occurring late in the fall season, weather can also play a key role in the outcome.
Add all of these factors together and one has the perfect recipe for exciting holiday football.
Here are some of the best Thanksgiving rivalries across the country:
Norwich Free Academy Wildcats (CT) vs. New London Whalers (CT)
This traditional Thanksgiving Day game is the oldest high school football rivalry in the country and commenced in 1875. Both teams are very familiar with each other, seeing that the programs are just 12 miles apart in Southeast Connecticut. Bragging rights are always on the line in this historic battle.
The series – which Norwich leads 77-59-11 -- has certainly seen some colossal matchups in years gone by. In 1891, the game was halted after the ball was lost during a punt when a strong wind and snowfall sent it sailing. Unfortunately, that was the only football the teams had.
Calvert Hall (MD) vs. Loyola Blakefield (MD)
These two Maryland private schools have been playing this annual football game for 89 years on Thanksgiving Day. The matchup -- more formerly known as the “Turkey Bowl” -- is one of the oldest ongoing Catholic prep school football rivalries in the country.
Thousands of high school fans in the Baltimore area pack into M&T Bank Stadium every year to see these storied programs do battle on the gridiron. The series has been relatively even, although Loyola has taken control in recent years and now enjoys a 48-33-8 all-time record.
In a series of streaks, Calvert Hall is hoping to stop Loyola’s run and begin its own. Looking back on the rivalry, Loyola won seven in a row from ’57-’63 before Calvert Hall took seven consecutive games from ’78-’84.
Fordham Prep Rams (NY) vs. Xavier Knights (NY)
While both of these teams first met in 1905, this New York City rivalry has been pulsing for 85 years, making it the city’s oldest high school football clash. The matchup has occurred on Thanksgiving Day ever since 1923.
“Big Bone”
One of the few games to be played on Thanksgiving on the West Coast is San Jose High Academy versus Lincoln High of San Jose. These two teams meet every year in the “Big Bone” game which features the winner receiving a cow femur. The game is the longest continuing Thanksgiving Day rivalry in California.
Rumor has it that the first Big Bone game was played in 1943 and the winner received the femur. Supposedly a San Jose High student found a large femur in his father’s butcher shop and claimed it as the trophy. Now the 18-inch femur sits upon a three-tiered base and is painted in the colors of both schools.
With over 5,000 attending each year, the contest has become a must-see rivalry in California.
This week, millions will gather together in a celebration of family, friendship, food, and of course, football.
Over the past 120 years, football is one of many traditions formed around Thanksgiving. Today, the two go hand-in-hand as amateurs, high school athletes, collegiate athletes and professional athletes all participate or gather for action on the gridiron each year.
But some of the most historic and cherished Thanksgiving football rivalries revolve around the high school level, where some epic clashes have been occurring since the late 19th century. The tradition typically finds many Northeastern teams playing on the holiday, but teams from California and Missouri are bucking that trend.
Meanwhile, Turkey Day matchups often pit two rivals together from the same conference or schools that are a few miles apart. Other times, championships are on the line or regional bragging rights can be earned with a win, making the games even more significant and noteworthy. And with Thanksgiving matchups occurring late in the fall season, weather can also play a key role in the outcome.
Add all of these factors together and one has the perfect recipe for exciting holiday football.
Here are some of the best Thanksgiving rivalries across the country:
Norwich Free Academy Wildcats (CT) vs. New London Whalers (CT)
This traditional Thanksgiving Day game is the oldest high school football rivalry in the country and commenced in 1875. Both teams are very familiar with each other, seeing that the programs are just 12 miles apart in Southeast Connecticut. Bragging rights are always on the line in this historic battle.
The series – which Norwich leads 77-59-11 -- has certainly seen some colossal matchups in years gone by. In 1891, the game was halted after the ball was lost during a punt when a strong wind and snowfall sent it sailing. Unfortunately, that was the only football the teams had.
Calvert Hall (MD) vs. Loyola Blakefield (MD)
These two Maryland private schools have been playing this annual football game for 89 years on Thanksgiving Day. The matchup -- more formerly known as the “Turkey Bowl” -- is one of the oldest ongoing Catholic prep school football rivalries in the country.
Thousands of high school fans in the Baltimore area pack into M&T Bank Stadium every year to see these storied programs do battle on the gridiron. The series has been relatively even, although Loyola has taken control in recent years and now enjoys a 48-33-8 all-time record.
In a series of streaks, Calvert Hall is hoping to stop Loyola’s run and begin its own. Looking back on the rivalry, Loyola won seven in a row from ’57-’63 before Calvert Hall took seven consecutive games from ’78-’84.
Fordham Prep Rams (NY) vs. Xavier Knights (NY)
While both of these teams first met in 1905, this New York City rivalry has been pulsing for 85 years, making it the city’s oldest high school football clash. The matchup has occurred on Thanksgiving Day ever since 1923.
“Big Bone”
One of the few games to be played on Thanksgiving on the West Coast is San Jose High Academy versus Lincoln High of San Jose. These two teams meet every year in the “Big Bone” game which features the winner receiving a cow femur. The game is the longest continuing Thanksgiving Day rivalry in California.
Rumor has it that the first Big Bone game was played in 1943 and the winner received the femur. Supposedly a San Jose High student found a large femur in his father’s butcher shop and claimed it as the trophy. Now the 18-inch femur sits upon a three-tiered base and is painted in the colors of both schools.
With over 5,000 attending each year, the contest has become a must-see rivalry in California.
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