The Tauntonian Page 3 urkey Day Rivalry ‘Alana Santos Graphic Designer The Thanksgiving Taunton- Coyle football game dates back to the 1930s. The very first game was held in 1934, and the battle took place behind TCMS at old Woodley Field. For 24 hours on Thanksgiv- ing Day, families and friends were divided-rooting for the ferocious Tigers or the Warrior men. “You go to the game and there are generations of family members who attend and it is a special time of bonding. No matter how good the teams are, win or lose, this is a tradition that goes back many years and it is something that as a student or family member of either school, you will keep with you for the rest of your life,” said treasurer of the Taunton Lodge of Elks James F Strojny, Jr At 10:00 am. on Thanksgiv- ing morn, the battle begins and the teams fight for bragging rights. A Silver City tradition that will be carried on forever. The game was played for 28 years until it was ceased when| Taunton High School commit- ted to playing in the Old Colony League where THS played Bridgewater- Raynham and Coyle played Bishop Feehan. After a 15- year break, in 1997, the Silver City tradition was brought back to the new THS thanks to two dedicated athletic directors-~ Taunton’s Jack Morrissey and Coyle & Cassidy's Bill Tranter. The tradition continued from that day on. The Taunton-Coyle Thanksgiving Day game is the only non-Hockomock league Thanksgiving mateh up. The first game held at Stadium was in 1975. An interesting story from a game played after the completion of the new Taunton High School vas an incident that ‘was merely a mistake but will always be remembered. One of the groundskeepers Jaid the wrong kind of lime on the field. THS cheerleaders nan undated photo ‘Thanksgiving Day game ld at Hopewell Park 1960 Photo courtesy of Chaves Crowley After a rainstorm, the lime mixed with the rain causing several play- ers from both Taunton and Coyle to be rushed to the emergency room at Morton Hospital with burns from the lime. “Itis an honor to be part of a tradition that has been carried on since the 1930s. There is no greater feeling than playing the cross town rival in front of everyone who resides in Taunton,” said senior and center for Taunton High’s football team Mark Rogers, Jr. The crowd is like no other. Ev- eryone from Taunton gathers and supports their team, rain or shine. This is a tradition that everyone in the city upholds. In 1967, THS had an undefeated season that was completed with Thanksgiving Day in the down pouring rain.