The Thanksgiving schedule is getting thinner every year, but there are still plenty of great rivalry games on Turkey Day. Check back throughout the day/night as the highlights roll in.
Phillipsburg 35 Easton (PA) 14
Phillipsburg defeated Easton (PA) 35-14 in the 115th Thanksgiving Day matchup between the two. The Stateliners held onto a 14-7 lead at halftime when sophomore quarterback Jett Genovese found Matt Scerbo Jr. in the end zone for a 16 yard touchdown to make it a two possession game in the third quarter. Caleb Rivera already with a first half score added two more. This is P-Burg’s first Thanksgiving victory since 2014.
JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights and postgame reaction from Lafayette College (PA):
Thank you to the Garnet Booster Club for sponsoring our Phillipsburg coverage.
Long Branch 35 Red Bank Regional 28
Akeel Gaines 32-yard touchdown run on a reverse broke a 28-28 tie in the fourth quarter and gave Long Branch a second straight win over its rival in the 99th edition of this Thanksgiving tradition. Earnest Reevey threw three touchdown passes with Gaines finishing with a TD run and TD catch and Shamar Williams scoring two TD catches to go along with an interception. Sekou Kamau’s 91-yard kickoff return in the closing seconds of the first half gave Long Branch a 21-14 lead. Gunnar Eckerstrom had two touchdown runs for the Bucs and senior QB Pierce Olsen threw a pair of TD’s to help RBR rally from a 28-14 deficit to tie the game. Both teams finish the season with 7-4 records.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Little Silver:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Long Branch and Red Bank Regional is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center
Pleasantville 40 Ocean City 21
The Greyhounds trailed 14-6 at halftime, but surged in front in the second half to beat the Red Raiders for the first time since 2018. Xander Roberts-Bogin returned a punt for a touchdown in the win. MJ Leslie threw a TD pass and rushed for a score in the victory for Pleasantville (7-3). Riley Gunnels threw a TD pass to Jon Moyer for OC (3-8) in the loss. This was the 100th meeting between these rivals, and the final meeting on Thanksgiving. Pleasantville and Ocean City will play at the Battle at the Beach to open the 2023 season.
JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights:
Holy Spirit 63 Atlantic City 34
Holy Spirit’s Gavin Roman set the NJ single-season receptions record as the Spartans keep the Boyd-Marczyk Memorial Trophy for the fifth-straight season. Sean Burns threw for five touchdowns to pace the Spirit offense in the win (9-2). Allen Packard scored three total touchdowns in the loss for Atlantic City (7-3).
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from the 94th edition of this Thanksgiving rivalry:
Midd South 27 Midd North 10
In the 48th meeting between crosstown rivals, the Eagles of Middletown South (9-2) cruised to a final win of the season. Colin Gallagher had three rushing touchdowns on the day for South. Morgan Acker of North (3-6) had a rushing touchdown on the opening drive of the game for the Lions.
JSZ’s Ken Bradley has the highlights from Middletown:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Middletown South and Middletown North is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center
