When high school football teams have a 10-day layoff between games, it?s easy to get complacent and lose focus. But the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl, kicking off for the 87th year at 10 a.m. today at M&T Bank Stadium, is something that private-school rivals Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield have no difficulty preparing for.
“This is a great game, and I love the way it brings our alumni, student body and fans together,” said fifth-year Loyola coach Brian Abbott, who is 3-1 against Calvert Hall. “The Turkey Bowl is kind of a season in itself and you look forward to it. Ten days is pretty great. It really gives us a chance to rest and plan.”
A force in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference this season, Loyola (9-1 overall, 3-1 league) can lock up a share of the conference title with current co-champions Gilman and McDonogh with a win, which would be the Dons? fourth straight over the Cardinals (1-7, 0-4). Sparked by senior leadership, the Dons, who lead the all-time series, 45-33-8, sport a strong offense that has averaged 23.7 points a game this season.
“It means a lot, probably the most important game as a senior,” Loyola senior offensive lineman Alex Boddiford said. “You want to go out with a bang. It?s like a legacy, kind of a start of our own dynasty to leave a mark on the school. We still have our mindset on a championship, so it is a big game for us.”
For Calvert Hall, a win would make their season. Having struggled to put points on the board (116 points scored) or stop the opposition (175 points against), the Cardinals need a whopping effort to pull of an upset that would be remembered for generations.
“We are a good enough team to win this game,” said eighth-year Calvert Hall coach Jay Robinson, who is 3-4 against Loyola. “This is not like a good A Conference team playing a poor E Conference school. We are a capable A Conference school.”
Sometimes belief can be enough, and with a huge fan base coming out to support the Cardinals on Thanksgiving, anything can happen.
“We just want to knock these guys off and get another win and bring it back to the school and try to win a traditional game between our heated rival,” senior offensive lineman Matt Lease said. “We need to get one.”
