Everyone put on your best Jim Nantz at the Masters impersonation and say it with me.
Ready?
“A tradition like no other.”
Except in our parts, we’re not talking about a trip around Amen Corner.
We’re talking about Thanksgiving Day football, and two great rivalries that are set to be renewed tomorrow morning. Newburyport will make the trip over to Landry Memorial Stadium for its 102nd annual holiday clash against archrival Amesbury, while 15 minutes down route-113, Pentucket will look for its seventh victory in the last eight games over Triton.
History. Tradition. Pride.
It’s all on the table.
And for the seniors on three of these teams, it’ll most likely be the last time they get to throw on the shoulder pads. For the second time in the three years the Redhawks (11-0) have made the Division 7 Super Bowl, and they’ll play Cohasset at Gillette Stadium next Thursday night. But coach Colin McQueen has too much respect for both communities, the history of the rivalry, and for the game of football itself, so his starters will be on the field tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Triton senior Carl Lucy is 165 rushing yards away from hitting 2,000 on the year.
As always, it’s going to be a great morning.
Newburyport (4-6) at Amesbury (11-0), 10 a.m.
I for sure hear the arguments.
There’s no doubt that Newburyport is a completely different football team than it was two months ago.
The Clippers have won four of their last five, with their lone loss coming in a competitive battle against a North Reading team that was an overtime break away from playing in the Division 5 Super Bowl next week. Jack Miller, Paul Suozzo, Braydon Fowler, Owen Mongeau and the offense have found a new gear, averaging 23.4 points per game during this stretch. Then on the other side of the ball, TJ Skiba, Henry Thurston and the defense have held those five opponents to just 15.0 points per. You can throw in the emotion of the game, too, along with the Clippers also having an extra week to prepare.
But you know that I rely on narratives.
Saying that, “This is where it all fell apart” for Amesbury two years ago would be a bit strong.
But going back two years ago, Amesbury lost the historic 100th annual game between the storied rivals, then fell to Uxbridge in the Division 7 Super Bowl down at Gillette. Now, of course on mass when you look back at that 2023 season, it was still a smashing success for the Redhawks. Losing those last two games, though, left a sour taste.
A taste that the seniors on this year’s team still haven’t fully washed out.
This experienced Amesbury roster has been on a mission since Day 1, and the ability to complete an undefeated season with a Division 7 Super Bowl title is the primary driving factor. Now, the Redhawks may end up not accomplishing that goal — Cohasset is a great team, too. But I would be surprised if Justin Dube and the rest of that senior class let the start of what happened two years ago repeat itself.
Joe Celia, Joe Puelo and Connor Scialdone are just too dialed in right now running the ball behind a veteran offensive line, and Dube has seen it all as a three-year starting QB. Then defensively, Ben Wood, Evan Murphy, Ollie Peters, Ethan Kirby, Stacy Peck Jr. and that unit have held opponents to just 10.8 points per game all year.
Amesbury takes its fourth Thanksgiving Day game over the last five years.
Then it’ll be on to Gillette Stadium next week for its third game in 12 days.
PREDICTION: Amesbury 28, Newburyport 17.
Triton (4-6) at Pentucket (6-4), 10 a.m.
There are two main questions I have coming into this one.
1. Can Triton sustain long drives and keep the ball away from Pentucket?
2. Or will Carl Lucy break off multiple long runs again and end them quickly?
It’s well known by this point, but the Triton senior captain comes into this one 165 yards away from reaching 2,000 on the season. And based on his average per game this year (183.5), that lofty milestone is reachable. Lucy has already broken multiple Viking records this year — between single-game, single-season and all-time — and has dominated against everybody on the opposite sideline. Accolades that should be shared by junior captain Ben Woodfin and the offensive line, which came into the year an extremely young unit, but has improved drastically every game.
But can Triton sustain those possessions and get stops on defense?
We know that Pentucket (28.0 ppg) is going to put up points.
It would have been difficult for Steven Harper to maintain his record-setting pace from a year ago. But the senior QB has still put together a great season, having thrown for 1,461 yards and 14 TDs while completing 71.7% of his passes. Then, like we’ve said all year, you won’t find a better weapons duo in the CAL than what the Panthers have in Nick Carrion (734 total yds, 12 TDs) and Jackson Miller (1,205 total yds, 10 TDs).
Based on the season both teams have had, Pentucket should be the favorite.
But Triton hasn’t been blown out by anybody this fall.
These two rivals will play a close, high-powered classic.
PREDICTION: Pentucket 35, Triton 32.
LAST WEEK: 1-0.
OVERALL SEASON RECORD: 37-8.