While the COVID-19 pandemic took away Thanksgiving football last year, the football gods seem to be trying to make up for it this fall. This year’s slate of games has absolutely everything, from undefeated Super Bowl teams matching up to teams looking for their first win, and there will be no shortage of action across the North Shore.
It all got started Wednesday evening, when three Lynn teams closed out their seasons on the turf at Manning Field.
St. Mary’s (10-2) got the day started with a dominant 42-12 win over Austin Prep, winning the Catholic Central League Large Division in the process.
Next up was the second game in the budding rivalry between KIPP (9-2) and Lynn Tech (3-7), where the Panthers took home a 38-12 win over the Tigers.
All of that leads into Thursday, where without a doubt the biggest game in the area is the matchup between rivals Swampscott (11-0) and Marblehead (10-0) ― both of whom are undefeated and heading to their respective Super Bowls next week, which is a first in the history of the 111-year-old rivalry.
In addition to the usual bragging rights, the teams will be playing for the Northeastern Conference Dunn Division title and, of course, to remain undefeated.
The two teams will meet at Blocksidge Field Thursday morning (10).
In another rivalry game that’s gone on for more than 100 years, Lynn Classical (4-6) and Lynn English (5-4) will meet at Manning Field Thursday morning (10) for their annual battle. The two teams are headed in different directions coming into the game, as the Bulldogs have rattled off five straight wins and the Rams have suffered four straight losses.
Over at Coley Lee Field, Peabody (6-4) will try to close out the season on a six-game winning streak, which would be its longest since 2004. The Tanners will, as always, take on perennial rival Saugus (0-10), which is looking for its first win of the season. Kickoff between the Tanners and Sachems is set for 10 a.m.
In Lynnfield, the Pioneers (4-5) have a tall task in front of them with top-ranked North Reading, which will be playing in next week’s Division 5 Super Bowl against Swampscott. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday morning (10:30) at Pioneer Stadium.
Foes Revere (7-2) and Winthrop (5-5) will also meet Thursday morning (10) at Harry Della Russo Stadium, where the Patriots will look to grab their fifth straight win in the rivalry game.
After suffering a tough defeat in the Division 5 semifinal against Swampscott, Bishop Fenwick (8-3) will look to end the season with a victory when it returns home to Donaldson Stadium Thursday morning (10) for its bout with Malden Catholic. The two sides started up the new Thanksgiving rivalry back in 2019.
Another team that saw its season come to an end in the state semifinal round was St. John’s Prep (8-3), which had been hunting for its third straight Div. 1 Super Bowl title. The Eagles will go on the road Thursday morning (10) to take on rival Xaverian.
Rounding out the locals in action on Thanksgiving morning are Salem (6-4) and Beverly (4-7), who will meet at Hurd Stadium Thursday morning (10).
