If you were saddened by the lack of a Fall Classic for the Red Sox at Fenway Park this year, take heart. Plymouth’s two high school football teams are readying to help fill the void.
On the day before Thanksgiving, Plymouth North and South will continue a nearly 30-year rivalry with a game at Fenway.
“We’re really excited,” said Darren Fruzzetti, head coach of the Plymouth South’s varsity team. “It’s such a historic venue with so many great memories.”
The two teams will square off at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, in one of four high school football games that will be played at Fenway over two days. They were selected by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association – the state’s governing board of school sports – to participate in the annual holiday ritual because of the intense rivalry between the two high schools.
Traditionally, North and South meet on Thanksgiving morning – alternating between the two campuses – before people sit down for turkey dinner. Last year, South bested North, 19-7. Overall, North has dominated the 29-year series with a 19-9 record.
“It’s just been cool listening to the whole community on both sides of the game,” said Chris Whidden, Plymouth North’s head coach. “There’s so much excitement that surrounds it.”
While better known for baseball, Fenway has hosted its share of football over the decades. Games were played there in the fall of 1912, the first year the ballpark opened. And before moving to Foxborough and claiming all of New England, the old Boston Patriots played many of its home games at Fenway.
It’s not a surprise that both coaches expect their squads to be pumped up for the game.
“The kids on both teams are friends,” Fruzzetti said. “They all know each other because they played youth football together. They will all play hard for this game.”
Whidden said his players have been talking about the Fenway matchup since it was announced. They have been working diligently toward this game – both athletically and academically.
“For kids who might need to get their grades up, this is an extra motivator,” he said. He added that he has “ever really thought about the opportunity to play at Fenway, but it’s historic and exciting.”
This year, Plymouth South completed the regular season with a 5-3 record while North finished with at 4-4. They both play in the Patriot League, but in different divisions. South is in Fisher while North plays in Keenan.
Both teams qualified for the MIAA football tournament (North in Division 2, South in Division 3) but ran into tough opponents. On Friday, Plymouth South was beaten by Mansfield, 23-15, while Plymouth North lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Wellesley, 27-21.
To get ready for the big game, Plymouth South players will be doing some reading – to elementary school students. On Monday, Nov. 24, the squad will scrimmage with books across Plymouth as part of a Thanksgiving week tradition that includes student-athletes from other sports reading to youngsters.
“We will be going to all eight elementary schools,” Fruzzetti said. “It’s a special day.”
Tickets to the South-North showdown at Fenway Park are $20. A portion of proceeds goes to each school. For more information, go here.
Dave Kindy, a self-described history geek, is a longtime Plymouth resident who writes for the Washington Post, Boston Globe, National Geographic, Smithsonian and other publications. He can be reached at davidkindy1832@gmail.com.