In the annual Thanksgiving football game, the Tomahawks soared past the Westborough Rangers in the final match-up of the season, marking the last time the 22 seniors on the team will represent T-hawk football.

Every Thanksgiving the two schools renew their rivalry on the field as a part of this long standing tradition. Algonquin has won the last three turkey-day contests, taking the most recent victory by a score of 35-14 on November 24.

“This game with Westborough has been played since the 1950s back when we were Northborough High School,” head coach Justin McKay said. “It’s a special game and I think that Thanksgiving represents an opportunity for this group [of players] to make their mark as to what football means here at Algonquin, but also to make their mark on an important rivalry between the two schools.”

McKay believes the game is special because the seniors leave their hearts on the field, representing their school for the last time.

“For the seniors there’s usually a tremendous amount of anxiety because this is the last time that many of them will get the opportunity to play an organized game of football,” McKay said. “High school football is one of the few sports that you can’t replicate when you get older, so when it’s over it’s over, and for the kids the finality of it really begins to hit them on Thanksgiving morning.”

According to the players, the team loves having the opportunity to play on this American holiday where family, friends, fans, and alumni return to watch their home team.

“This game is very important,” senior quarterback Ryan Barry said. “We want to go out with people remembering us as a great football team that went through Algonquin.”

“My favorite part [about this game] is the fact that a lot of the alum who have played in the past years get to watch us play and see what we have done this year,” senior corner-back Brett Sherman said.

The Tomahawks ended their season with a devastating 21-14 loss against Shrewsbury in the CMass District final game on November 12. They ended with a successful 9-4 record overall.

According to McKay, the team’s success was majorly impacted by the senior players who have changed the culture of Algonquin football throughout their participation in the program.

“It’s been a great year and a great career for these seniors,” senior fan Michael Scorzelli said. “They’ve got a lot to be proud of.”