It's a Massachusetts tradition that won't be experienced this year -- Thanksgiving Day high school football, in which traditional rivals do battle in games that grow larger than life in the memories of those that played in them.
In Attleboro and North Attleboro, this year's game (originally to be Thursday at Attleboro's Tozier-Cassidy Field) was to be the 100th holiday meeting of the two teams. Instead, the field will be empty and silent thanks to COVID-19 -- and it's not entirely certain if the two longest-tenured rivals in our area will be able to play once the "Fall II" season arrives in March.
I take a look at the reasons why and offer some informed speculation about what may be in store for the two schools' football teams. And I take a look back at the 2018 game, my first holiday outing as a member of the North TV telecasting team (before they gave me the play-by-play job for King Philip sports). While the temperature was never much higher than 10 degrees Fahrenheit and one of our crew's headset and microphone actually malfunctioned because of the cold, it was clear that even Mother Nature on her worst day could not stem the thrills and excitement provided by the North-AHS rivalry.
I also crow with pride over the 5-0 start to the football season for my college alma mater, Northwestern University, and at the other end of the spectrum, I review the Patriots' 27-20 loss in Houston, which may be a turning point in their season -- and not for the better.
The Force will also be with you in this video podcast, but I won't spoil the surprise.
Enjoy.
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