Thanksgiving high school football preview highlights rivalries
Nov 27, 2024
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)--There are ten high school football games on the schedule across western Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day.
For most schools, the Thanksgiving Day game is the biggest game on their schedule, usually against an arch rival like Longmeadow versus East Longmeadow, Palmer versus Ludlow, or Agawam and West Springfield.
Weather Alert issued for Thanksgiving in western Massachusetts
Back in 1989 there was a Thanksgiving snowstorm that canceled all the games that day, except for one: Agawam hosting West Springfield, with eight inches of snow on the ground. It was so wet and cold the video shot by then 22News sports anchor/reporter Rich Tettemer was unusable, but he was able to salvage some snapshots from the tape, and that's how 22News showed the highlights that night.
Here's a look at this year's Thanksgiving schedule:
BELCHERTOWN AND PATHFINDER HAS THE EARLY START AT 9 IN PALMER.
QUABOAG AT WARE AT 10AM
FRANKLIN TECH AT SMITH VOC KICKOFFS AT 10AM
THE ANNUAL "BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE" BETWEEN HOLYOKE AND SOUTH HADLEY STARTS AT 10 IN SOUTH HADLEY.
WEST SIDE AND AGAWAM ALSO KICKS OFF AT 10 IN AGAWAM, WITH NO SNOW EXPECTED. THAT RIVALRY STARTED IN 1924.
THE OLDEST RIVALRY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS IS ATHOL AND MAHAR,THAT STARTED BACK IN 1894. GAME TIME IS AT 10AM AT MAHAR.
EAST LONGMEADOW AT LONGMEADOW STARTS AT 10AM.
PALMER PLAYS LUDLOW AT LUDLOW BEGINNING AT 10AM.
THE CHICOPEE HIGH SCHOOL PACERS WILL VISIT THEIR CROSS-TOWN RIVALS THE CHICOPEE COMP COLTS FOR THE ANNUAL "SWORD GAME." THAT KICKS OFF AT 10:15
EASTHAMPTON PLAYS AT NORTHAMPTON WITH A 10:30 KICK OFF.
Enjoy the games! Dress for the weather, and most of all, have a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at 22News.