Thanksgiving High School football rivalries are a long standing American tradition dating back to the 1800s. Many of the oldest continuously played football games in the country take place on Thanksgiving morning, particularly in the Northeast. These games typically draw the largest crowds with returning alumni attending the games for the holiday. Junior on the Hingham Football Team, Grady Ward says, “One of the best things about this game is seeing all of the returning alumni players watch our Thanksgiving game.”
The games often feature neighboring towns whose rivalries have spanned decades. There are usually pre and post-game festivities. These games mean a lot as it ends the season for most teams and bragging rights last a whole year until the next Thanksgiving. For football programs, these games often mean as much as a playoff game. There are typically trophies or cups given out to both teams at the end of the game and there is a lot of importance during these games because it is usually the seniors’ last games, which leads to both teams leaving it all out on the field.
For many towns including Hingham and Scituate, Thanksgiving football is as much of the holiday as the Thanksgiving meal. The football game between The Hingham Harbormen and The Scituate Sailors is a classic South Shore rivalry game. Although it is not the oldest Massachusetts Thanksgiving rivalry matchup, it has become one of the region’s most popular matchups. The two towns are coastal neighbors creating a natural competitive edge. The Turkey Day game dates back to 1994 and as of 2024, the series is tied with 15 wins each. For both teams this game is a cherished tradition where players and alumni emphasize how much it means to finish the season with this intense Thanksgiving rivalry. Senior at Hingham High School, Quinn Allen talks about the rivalry saying, “The Thanksgiving day football game is a great way to end the season as Hingham and Scituate have two of the best football teams on the South Shore.” As Thanksgiving gets closer, Hingham and Scituate get ready to play this annual game for the 31st time.
