New London (Conn.) at Norwich Free Academy (Conn.)
Jose Garcia, New London
File photo by Todd Kalif
The oldest rivalry in high school football. It's the 152nd renewal of this traditional Thanksgiving Day matchup, which was first played in 1875, and
is featured along with other famous holiday traditional matchups. The winner earns the outright title in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division and secures home-field advantage for a first-round playoff game. After a 1-2 start, New London has won seven in a row. Senior
Jose Garcia returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the Whalers' 44-24 win against East Lyme last week. Norwich Free Academy (8-1) rolled over Stonington, 63-35, for its sixth-consecutive win. Boston College commit
Marcus Outlow ran for 228 yards – his second-straight game with more than 200 yards on the ground.
Just the facts: New London has won four of the last six games in this uber-rivalry, but NFA still has a 74-66-11 edge overall. …
According to author Brian Girasoli's book chronicling the rivalry, the teams actually stopped playing each other for two years after a brawl broke out in the 1951 game.
Mitch Stephens: Norwich Free Academy 28, New London 27
Kevin Askeland: Norwich Free Academy 32, New London 31
Jamie DeMoney: Norwich Free Academy 28, New London 27
Stephen Spiewak: Norwich Free Academy 35, New London 21
Leland Gordon: Norwich Free Academy 41, New London 31
Colin Ward-Henninger: New London 35, Norwich Free Academy 21
