RIVALRY: MHS football seniors look ahead to Thanksgiving game

With the playoff run (and thePowderpuff game) over, the eyes of Marblehead sports fans will turn to the gridiron Thanksgiving morning when Marblehead and Swampscott clash for the 116th time.

After a series of pandemic-related schedule changes and a trip to hallowed Fenway Park last season, Marblehead returns to hosting the game in odd-numbered years, as was tradition prior to the 110th Thanksgiving meeting played in April 2021.

Marblehead holds a 12-game winning streak over the Big Blue, last relinquishing the Rotary Cup in 2012 in a 25-16 upset. Marblehead has since taken a commanding 60-49-6 lead in the Thanksgiving series, including a 42-6 victory at Fenway Park last November. While the Magicians’ playoff run was cut short by the Canton Bulldogs, the importance of the Thanksgiving rivalry game is not lost on anyone, especially those players ending their high school football careers on Thursday.

“Playing a home game against [Swampscott] is just about the best way I could have thought to end my senior season, of course other than at Gillette,” said Declan Gibson, senior captain. “I mean, this is what you dream about as a young kid from Marblehead and to be able to live out that dream is awesome.”

Captain Owen Dulac added: “I’m really pumped we get to finish off our season, and I get to finish my career, on our home turf. We have the best fans in the world and it’s just awesome that the entire community comes out every year for this game. Getting to play at Fenway last year was a real treat, but I’m feeling very fortunate we get to finish it off at home this year.”

While the playoff loss stings, senior running back Breydan Callahan, who has committed to play for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays next fall, was very clear when discussing the team’s mindset heading into the final game: “We learned from Canton and now we’re focused on Swampscott.”

The annual Marblehead-Swampscott game always sees passionate, aggressive play from both teams. However, the Magicians seem to have found extra motivation in their playoff loss as they hope to finish the season with a win.
“The players understand the importance of the rivalry,” said Coach Jim Rudloff. “They showed up on their day off as a group and did their own practice. They have continued to lift as if we still had 10 more games. I think the coaches, the players and the entire staff would like to play today just to get the ‘bad taste’ of the Canton game out of our system.”

“The Swampscott game doesn’t typically need any extra motivation, but coming off a close loss will definitely add a little extra fuel to the fire,” said senior defensive captain, John Schieffer. “Swampscott has a great team this year and it will take every single player’s best effort to get
one last victory.”

Rylan Golden’s season ended prematurely due to an injury, but he’s still looking forward to the turkey day showdown. “The loss (to Canton) definitely motivated everyone to work harder now, knowing that we only have one more game left this season. I’m not playing, but having our last game against our rivals means a lot to us and will be something we all will work very hard for.”

When the final whistle blows, likely just after noon on Thursday, the high school football careers of 15 sons of Marblehead, will end just as quickly as they began. But the memories they and many others will take with them will last a lifetime.

“My favorite memory of this year is just being able to get out there everyday with everybody and play football,” said quarterback Finn Gallup. “Being around these guys makes everyone better and just being able to do something we all love together is special.”

Schieffer shared his favorite memories. “All the great moments I shared with my teammates,” he said. “I’m stoked to have had this group of guys for my senior season and I can’t wait to see all of my guys put on a show these next few years.”

Kickoff for the Marblehead-Swampscott contest will be at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning at Piper Field.