Wellesley Dethrones Needham in Annual Thanksgiving Game

The Wellesley High School varsity football team broke Needham’s streak in the annual Thanksgiving game, winning 22-6.

According to Boston.com, Wellesley took an early lead with a touchdown by John Fadule in the first and second quarters. Cosimo Ferrante made both field goal kicks. Needham’s Joe Gowetski made a 50-yard interception return in the third, but it was not enough to overcome the Raiders. Wellesley scored once more in the fourth with a 4-yard run by T.J. Noonan.

According to USA Today, Wellesley has won the most Thanksgiving games with a 59-57-9 record. The first game was in 1882.

Being one of the oldest matches, it is no wonder they have won the best rivalry in Massachusetts in an online poll. In the latest round, Needham vs. Wellesley won with 8,429 votes. Salem vs. Beverly had 3,479 votes and St. John’s Prep vs. Xaverian had 975.

This year's contest started with a list of 255 rivalries. Fifty one state winners have been chosen to advance to one of eight regionals. The winners of the eight regions, along with two wild cards, move onto a final round of 10. The regional round runs Dec. 2-10, and the national finals run Dec. 11-18.