SOMERSET — When the game between Somerset Berkley and Rhode Island Central High ended on Thanksgiving eve last season, players from both teams were grateful for the opportunity of the holiday.
The Raiders won their first game against the visiting Knights, 26-22.
SBR and Central High School, a Division I public school, did not have an opponent until mid-August last season, when both teams had an agreement to play the day before Turkey Day for the first time.
The Knights are the third Rhode Island school to play a Massachusetts high school team on Thanksgiving. The first was in 1977 at North Smithfield, where they played against Bellingham for one year. Uxbridge had a long rivalry with North Smithfield from 1979 to 1997. Bishop Feehan faced off against St. Raphael's from 2002 to 2005, leading to victories for the Shamrocks on each occasion.
Raiders athletic director Joseph Francis said the following when signing the agreement with Central High School last August: community. “
When asked if he had had any luck finding an opponent for Massachusetts recently, Francis did not comment. He said SBR football will play against Central High as scheduled on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 5 p.m.
Case ended his long-standing Thanksgiving tradition with Somerset-Berkeley in January 2023. Cardinals Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Anthony Palladino announced that the Division 7 team will play the Division 8 Atlantis Charter/Westport Co-op football team. Instead of the Raiders, it's a Division 3 school. Our 90-year tradition dates back to 1930.
SBR was awarded the first unnamed trophy in its latest rivalry with Central High after last season's game.
Steven Sanchez, sports editor for the Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette, can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Chezsports.
