WESTWOOD- Xaverian and St. John’s Prep know each other well. So well in fact, that this is the second time in three years that the two schools are playing on Thanksgiving and the following week for a Division One state title.
NORTHBRIDGE- After 50 years of coaching, 411 wins and 10 Super Bowl wins, legendary Northbridge Coach Ken LaChappelle coached in his final game on Thursday and retired a winner as his Rams beat rival Uxbridge 48-13.
By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent CRANSTON – West head coach Tom Milewski continued his Thanksgiving tradition of beating cross-town rival East on Thursday. Since taking over as head coach in 2018, the Falcons had not lost a game in the rivalry matchup. The streak continued for a seventh straight Thanksgiving win, with West taking a 34-8 victory. “This is a great rivalry; it’s one of the best rivalries, in my……
By Rob Gullo NEFJ Correspondent SOUTHINGTON — Hosting the No. 10 Cheshire Rams in the 29th Apple Valley Classic Thanksgiving Day game, the Southington Blue Knights football team broke a two-game skid against Cheshire with a dominant 31-0 shutout victory. The Blue Knights were led on offense by running back Ben Beaulieu, who scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) and quarterback Luke Prozzo, who threw a pair of touchdown…
By Tom O’Brien NEFJ Correspondent FRANKLIN – With the Hockomock League title on the line, it was all King Philip as they routed Franklin 49-19 on Thanksgiving Day to take the Hockomock League Kelley-Rex division title. “It’s such a hard grind. You got three days rest. To be able to come back and be physical and be able to make plays to win the game is huge,” said King Philip…
By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent BOSTON – The night ended with the renewed rivalry between Lexington and Concord-Carlisle. In the fifth year since the Thanksgiving tradition was revived, the Patriots continued to dominate the series. Lexington will have to wait another year to try for its first win since the return of the rivalry, as Concord-Carlisle took a shutout 32-0 win. “It’s surreal,” Concord-Carlisle head coach Josh Reed said. “They…
By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent BOSTON – Crosstown rivals came to Boston for Wednesday’s second game. Plymouth South took down Plymouth North in the 29th Battle of The Rock in overtime behind Timmy Durocher’s dual-threat ability under center, 27-21. “Great players win you games,” Plymouth South head coach Darren Fruzzetti said. “I’ve got a whole sideline of them, so credit to them. They played their hearts out today.” South started…
By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent BOSTON – A tripleheader of high school Thanksgiving football at Fenway kicked off with one of the oldest rivalries of the day on Wednesday. In what was nearly a home game for both schools, Newton North and Brookline battled for their 131st annual Thanksgiving matchup. The teams traded shutout halves, with the difference being a failed two-point conversion as Newton North came from behind to…
Image courtesy of Wakefield Athletics By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent BOSTON – High school football returned to Fenway Park on Tuesday for the first of four Thanksgiving rivalries, with Wakefield winning for a fifth straight year over Melrose. “It’s a fantastic environment, it’s just beautiful,” Wakefield coach John Rafferty said. “It’s a great venue, and it’s a great opportunity and I’m glad we made the most of it.” With the…
CIAC Sports By Andy Close and Rob Gullo NEFJ Correspondents The last week of the regular season has finally arrived in Connecticut. Most teams were on a bye last week, as they prepare for Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day games across the state. The quarterfinal round of the CIAC playoffs in all six classifications begins on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Here are this week’s rankings: 1. New Canaan (9-0): New Canaan was ranked…