Jay Resha’s Westword Sports: The Tales of November Remembered

Attempting to rhyme “November” and “remember” feels like ripping off Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” so I typically avoid it. However, with the 50th anniversary of that tragic Great Lakes shipwreck in the news recently, let’s give this local scribe a pass.
 
Yeah, a pass. Or a run. Or a QB sneak. Anything to score touchdowns, bring the turkey home and stuff the hated Holliston Panthers next Thursday in the annual Thanksgiving game – a chance to show once again that the Wolverines are Superior, by sinking those clawless reds from that eerie H-Town.
 
Sure, many of you know that this is an important game. But honestly, it would be hard to overstate just how big this rivalry became in the 1980’s. In that decade alone, the winner of the Westwood-Holliston game went on to the Super Bowl seven times. Five more times in the 1990’s. Since then, both teams have continued their success, if somewhat less frequently. And it is true that due to the playoff format instituted in 2013, the Thanksgiving matchup no longer carries any postseason implications; but make no mistake, these two teams still matter. In fact, 25 percent of all our division’s Super Bowls have been claimed by one town or the other.
 
Let me put that another way – there are schools (looking at you, here, Brockton, Everett, Catholic Conference titans) that have won more championships than Westwood and Holliston. But if you look at the Tri-Valley League and the divisions we’ve played in, no one has won more than these two.
 
Oh, and the Wolverines lead, seven to six. Take that, pussycats!
 
But back to this year. Now, both teams exited the playoff picture weeks ago. The winner could claim a shared Tri-Valley championship, but that would require a monumental upset by Hopkinton over Ashland, an exceedingly unlikely result. Which means that there is truly only one thing left to play for:
 
Pride. And pride is more than enough reason to leave it all out on the field and beat those itty bitty kitties.
 
Listen – this rivalry has been part of my life, for all of my life. I’ve attended most of the fifty-something contests that have been played – as a player, as a fan, or up in the broadcast booth. Losses sting more when they occur in this game, and the wins are somehow sweeter. And I’ve found these emotions have intensified lately, having a kid in the program.
 
On the gridiron, the tales of Novembers remembered start with Thanksgiving. Generations of students, families and alumni remember the pivotal plays, the thrilling victories and the agonizing defeats. Like the mariners on the water, stories of the bravery and accomplishments of those who came before are told and retold, down through the years. Whether a formidable opponent like Holliston or a blizzard with hurricane-force winds – preparation, resilience, skill and maybe a dash of luck are needed every time.
 
Of course, the tragic loss of life in a shipwreck doesn’t compare to a high school football game, but (stop me if you’ve heard this before) the lessons learned in youth sports help set the tone for the adults those players will become. They will face gales along the way. They are learning how to navigate.
 
So at this time of year, when that “Edmund Fitzgerald” song pops up, and another Turkey Day showdown with the Panthers looms, I again remember November.
 
See you at the Flahive on Thanksgiving morning. Remember, this one is for pride. And here’s a not-so-secret secret – they are ALL for pride. Good luck, boys.
 
Questions, comments, mistakes caught? Any and all feedback is welcomed! You can reach me at jayresha@comcast.net any time!