By Norah Jewett ‘25
The 126th annual Beverly High Panthers versus the Salem High Witches Thanksgiving Game kicked off on the rainy morning of November 28th. This long-standing tradition has been happening since at least 1891, and has become a staple of both cities’ Thanksgiving celebrations. Each year, Beverly and Salem switch which city hosts the game, and this year, it was once again Salem’s turn to hold the game at Bertram Field.
While Beverly has won 64 of these iconic games in the past (with Salem winning 54 as well as 7 ties), the past two years have resulted in back-to-back losses for the Panthers. This year, the BHS football team’s regular season record was 3-7. While marginally better than the past two years of Beverly football, things were not looking promising for the Panthers. Especially when considering that last year, Salem’s football team made it to the MIAA State High School Football Championship at Gillette Stadium, and taking into account that Beverly just came off of a several week teacher strike, which prevented the team from practicing with their coaches.
However, the Panthers weren’t content to take yet another Thanksgiving loss. A minute and thirty seconds into the game, Beverly’s #5 Callan McCay ran the ball twenty yards to secure a touchdown for the Panthers. After another touchdown from Beverly and two from Salem and with fifteen seconds in the second quarter, #1 Xavier Auk ran an 85 yard touchdown. With a field goal kick from #2 Maverick Genest, the game went to halftime with the Panthers leading 21-14.
Several more touchdowns from both schools and a missed field goal kick from Salem brought the final score to 35-33, with Beverly snatching a narrow victory. After two years of losses, Beverly managed to secure the Veterans Memorial Bridge Trophy once more, and Beverly residents’ turkey that afternoon tasted a whole lot better because of it.
Image credit: Sylvie Pasquarelli
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