The rivalry might be heated, but the weather certainly will not be on Thursday.
When the Athol and Mahar football teams take the field for the 61st meeting on Thanksgiving, both teams will have to deal with the elements that include possible record-low temperatures.
“The team that wants it the most under the conditions we are playing in is the team that wins the ball game,” Athol coach Bill LaRose said.
The forecast calls for a high of 20 degrees, although it will be sunny.
The field will have remaining snow from the dusting the area received on Tuesday.
“Hopefully the field won’t be a factor,” Mahar coach Jim Woodward said. “But it probably will be.”
The Senators (3-7) practiced all week on the grass field behind the Woodward Complex. The Senators have won three straight games coming into Thanksgiving.
“We hope to play good solid defense and see what happens,” Woodward said. “Fundamentally we are a lot better. We have the nuances of the offense down.”
Running back Jon Gariepy battled a shoulder injury all year, but is playing his best football heading into the game against Athol (3-7).
“I’m gonna play my heart out,” Gariepy said. “For my team. Toward the end of the season we have much better mental toughness.”
The Red Raiders got some good news when defensive tackle Manny O’Lari was cleared to play after suffering a concussion earlier in the season.
“Manny is good to go,” LaRose said.
Mason Barrieau, Athol’s 1,000-yard rusher is ready for the Senators in his final game playing football.
“It’s such a weird rivalry in football,” Barrieau said. “On the football field when you are playing, you want to kill them. After the play is over they are your next door neighbors again. I love it.”
The Red Raiders have won four straight meetings on Thanksgiving. The regular season meeting was a 16-0 win for the Red Raiders.
“That’s a close game,” Barrieau said. “It’s going to be anyone’s game on Thursday.”
Two fake punts by Barrieau were the difference in that game.
“The fake punt is not happening,” Barrieau said. “But we’ll see.”
The Red Raiders have won four straight meetings on Thanksgiving and lead the overall series 51-30-1.
The first contest between the two teams was in 1894, when Orange defeated Athol 18-4.
Orange became Mahar in 1957.
