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…

By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent CRANSTON – Landon Husereau fought through pain and showed why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the state, leading Westerly to its first Division II championship since 2001 on Sunday. “This has been a goal since last year,” Husereau said. “We fought through adversity all year, and we proved it here.” The matchup against reigning champ South Kingstown was as advertised, quickly becoming…

By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent CRANSTON – Classical was not going to be on the losing side of the Division III Super Bowl for a second straight year, stunning Mt. Hope with a 22-point comeback and a 40-28 on Sunday. “They never stressed out, they never faltered, they never freaked out,” Classical coach Kris McCall said. “They came back, it was just one play at a time. I’m elated because…

By Charlie Adams NEFJ Correspondent CRANSTON – Two teams had a chance to compete for a championship on Saturday in what would have otherwise been a lost season. Central faced an uphill climb this year for a variety of reasons, finishing the regular season with just two wins. The Knights showed what they were capable of in one of their best performances, shutting out Cumberland 27-0 for the Division I…