photo by: http://stevearonson.zenfolio.com
By Stephen Geller
Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and relax. The holiday for Westborough residents also has a special tradition that brings the town together: The Thanksgiving Day football game between Westborough High School and Algonquin Regional High School. The traditional game is always a thriller and has been a major spark in the rivalry between the two schools year after year.
For years, the football teams have met on Thanksgiving Day to close out the long and exhausting season. The team that comes away victorious earns the Thanksgiving game trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
This year, the Westborough Rangers hosted the event, and the attendance at the game was breathtaking. There wasn’t a single empty seat or parking space available. The atmosphere was incredible, and the spirit of both schools was heavily displayed.
The first half of the game was a defensive battle as both teams’ defenses gave up very few big plays resulting in a half time score of 0-0.
The Rangers knew that some big changes needed to be made going into the second half if they had any hopes of winning the game. At the midpoint of the 3rd quarter, the Rangers finally got on the scoreboard.
Senior co-captain Brian Orlando had a short run and got into the end zone to give the Rangers a 7-0 lead. Westborough carried this momentum with them into the 4th quarter and continued to have success defensively. Early in the final quarter, Orlando again had a short run and got into the end zone. With his second touchdown of the game, he gave the Rangers a 14-0 lead, and ensured Westborough’s victory.
The Rangers defense was most impressive in the game. Led by seniors Richard Sterndale, Tucker McKinnon and Andrew Grant, the defense managed to shutout a dangerous Algonquin offense. They also forced a turnover in the first half by intercepting a pass thrown by the T-Hawks quarterback.
For the seniors on the team, it was a game that they will never forget. The looks on the players faces as they held the Thanksgiving game trophy in the air expressed an incredible amount of pride. After a tough and difficult season, winning the last game of the season meant a lot to the Rangers.
The Thanksgiving football game between the Westborough Rangers and the Algonquin T-Hawks is always battle. It is a tradition that will continue to fuel the rivalry between the two schools for many years to come. The 2010 Rangers’ victory over the T-Hawks will be boasted about for the rest of the year and will always be remembered by the 2011 Westborough High School senior class.
