When Salem heads to Beverly for the teams’ Thanksgiving Day clash, two teams who have enjoyed very contrasting seasons will be taking the field for the final time in 2008.But although Beverly was in playoff contention until late in the season and Salem has struggled down the stretch run, both squads expect the 110th annual match-up in the rivalry to be as heated as ever.Beverly leads the all-time series, 53-49-7, after last season’s 28-14 victory. Beverly also enters winners of five straight over Salem.Beverly, which enters the game 7-3 (3-2 Northeastern Conference/South), was alive for a possible playoff spot until a Nov. 14 loss at Winthrop, 22-14.The Panthers’ offense operates behind the strong running of captain Rashad Sims, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards, and quarterback Mark Hannable, who was thrown for over 1,000 yards.Beverly runs a spread offense, operating out of a shotgun formation with three to four wide receivers in each package, Bauer said.”We throw it when we need to and we run it when we need to,” Bauer said.”We’re as balanced as we can be.”On the defensive side, linebacker Nick Kozlowski leads the Panthers in tackles, while Bauer said tackle Ben Comeau and defensive back Dylan Terry also had strong seasons.Among the high points for Beverly this season were a 20-16 victory over Swampscott on Nov. 8, in which Hannable scored the winning touchdown late in the game.Beverly scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to come back to win.The victory over Swampscott was a big win, and we won our opener over Lynn English and our next game against Lynn Classical,” Bauer said.”There were big games for us spread throughout the year, but the victory over Swampscott was a very big win for us.”However, the Panthers also had some tough losses. The loss to Winthrop ended the tea’s playoff dreams, while a 33-30 loss to Marblehead gave the Panthers their only other NEC/South loss.”They were close, good games, but we came out on the short end,” Bauer said. “The NEC/South has been stronger this year.”By giving his players a few days off and resuming practice on Nov. 20, Bauer said he hopes his troops will be ready for the Thanksgiving Day showdown.The Thanksgiving Day game has a life of its own,” Bauer said.”It’s always a big thing to play a cross-town rival and send the seniors out on a high note, so it’s always a big game.”The Witches had a rockier road this season. The Witches enter the game 3-7 (0-5 NEC/North). The Witches have lost seven straight games after starting the season 3-0.Salem coach Scott Connolly, in his fifth season with the Witches, is also looking for his first win over Beverly.Offensively, the Witches are led by running back Melikke Van Alstyne, who has scored 13 touchdowns this season. Van Alstyne’s 86 total points are good for fifth in Division 2A this year.Eugene Dela Cruz has also been strong running the football, while quarterback T.J. Larivee has directed the offense.Defensively, Salem has been strong, keeping itself in games by allowing over 32 points only twice this season-and those were to offensive powerhouses Swampscott and Gloucester.Salem’s season reached its high point in the first three games-victories over Danvers, Bishop Fenwick and Marblehead.Since then, the Witches have been unable to catch a break against its NEC/North opponents, and head into the final game coming out on the short end of seven straight.Along the way, though, the Witches dropped a few close contests, including a 13-6 loss at Revere on Oct. 17 and a 32-28 decision to Peabody on Nov. 1.