TEWKSBURY — Beneath a rivalry coated with ardour and an eternal aggressive edge lies one thing that maybe will outlive the wins and losses.
Whereas Tewksbury ran away with a 41-0 blanking over Wilmington within the ninetieth version of the historic conflict on Thanksgiving, even a decisive victory received’t dissipate the utmost respect between the 2 cities separated by Silver Lake.
Whereas the Redmen had been offered with the Turkey Day trophy for the 14th consecutive 12 months, enhancing their all-time document within the matchup to 55-27-8, head coach Brian Aylward made a pit cease on the Wilmington huddle. Representing your city transcends any field rating.
“It’s about the kids who are willing to step up and fight for their town,” mentioned Aylward. “Those kids deserve an awful lot of credit. They’re the ones who step up for their town and wear their town on their chest, and I just wanted to tell them that I appreciate that. They fought hard out there today.”
The sensation was mutual between each side on Thursday.
“It’s important,” mentioned Wilmington head coach Craig Turner. “It’s important to them and it’s important to us. It means a lot to both communities. What he said to our kids, I couldn’t echo anymore. I feel the exact same way.”
And Turner’s Wildcats definitely put forth a valiant effort, forcing the hosts at Doucette Stadium to beat an preliminary jolt from their rivals to maintain the streak alive. Tewksbury had no hassle opening the scoring just below three minutes into motion as Manny Mengata (six carries, 71 yards) discovered the top zone on a three-yard jaunt to take a 7-0 lead following a profitable additional level from Jackson Fuedo.
However Wilmington wouldn’t succumb to the early momentum — not on Thanksgiving. Regardless of punting on the following drive, the Wilmington protection made an announcement on Tewksbury’s subsequent try. Luke DeProfio sacked Vincent Ciancio for a lack of 28 yards earlier than the ‘Cats stood strong on a fourth down try from the Redmen.
Wilmington then pieced together a lengthy drive that leaked into the second quarter, extending the stanza on a 10-yard connection from Mark Holleran to Pasquale DeLucia. Wilmington ultimately turned the ball over on downs. Holleran (7-for-17, 66 passing yards) is only a sophomore and has a bright future for the ‘Cats.
“He’s solely going to get higher,” mentioned Turner. “He’s got a lot of talent, and in his second year of varsity football, everything is going to slow down for him. We’ve got high expectations for him, and he puts in a lot of work.”
From there, Tewksbury didn’t depart its Thanksgiving dominance to probability. Ciancio ignited that effort, breaking free from the pocket for a 26-yard trek into the top zone. The signal-caller trucked by means of a gauntlet of defenders earlier than pushing himself over the objective line to double the Redmen result in 14-0.
Nonetheless, the stingy Wilmington protection didn’t cave. A sack by Kyle Gabaree late within the first half poked the ball free earlier than Kenny Branley recovered the fumble to supply the Wildcat offense with one other bid. Nonetheless, a Joe Barletta sack on the redemption drive ended the menace, opening the door for Ben Christopher to internet a 14-yard landing run with 5 seconds left within the half to enter the break with a 21-0 cushion.
A Jason Lavoie interception to open the half was the catalyst for one more Redmen rating. Mengata’s 20-yard dash was good for his second landing of the morning and a 27-0 lead with 5:25 to play within the third. Tewksbury’s Lincoln Crane hauled in one other interception earlier than the conclusion of the quarter.
A 76-yard landing run from Olu (six carries, 138 yards) adopted by a strike from Lavoie put the ending touches on yet one more Turkey Day victory for the Redmen.
