Jeff Bennett's Blog

There are some great public schoolboy football rivalries that date back to the 1800’s.  Wellesley MA vs Needham MA in 1882.   Boston Latin MA vs. Boston English in 1887.  Medford MA vs Malden MA in 1889.  Beverly MA vs Salem MA in 1891.  Newburyport MA vs Amesbury MA also in 1891.  And my most favorite rivalry Fitchburg MA vs Leominster MA which started in 1894.  All of these rivalries are played out each Thanksgiving morning…sometimes in snow.  And there are many more as well.

Fitchburg vs. Leominster is a little different in that these two schools also lined up more than once during several seasons so the total games played in the series is now 125, with the Red & Gray from Fitchburg leading the series 59-57-9.  Due to the number of games played it has been long said Fitchburg vs. Leominster is the second longest running rivalvry.  Incredible how balanced this rivalry is considering how many games have been played.

Yesterday the two communities reenacted the first Thanksgiving Day football game between Fitchburg and Leominster schools. The rosters were comprised of former Leominster High School and Fitchburg High School football players gutting it out in the rain.  The game was held at the Doyle Reservation on Lindell Avenue, which was the original site for the rivalry.  Fitchburg came out on top yesterday 6-0.

The teams were required to play according to the rules of the game in 1894, right down to period clothing for themselves, the referees and the coaches.  Other period-specific rules included no wearing of pads, no forward passing, and three downs to go five yards. Once a team scored a touchdown, instead of kicking the ball away, it retained possession. Failure to secure a first down in three downs pushed a team back 20 yards while it still maintained possession. An offside penalty resulted in loss of the ball.

Great to see the continued pride in this rivalry with all the Boston media outlets picking up the significance of the event.  A book has been written about the Rivalry.

Will yesterdays Fitchburg victory foreshadow what will happen this Thanksgiving?  Time will tell.