Photo: Jared Brosnan/WBZ NewsRadio
NEEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — High school football teams across the state will be working up an appetite on Thanksgiving morning.
Almost every team in the state will face off against their biggest rival on Thursday morning, including Needham High School and Wellesley High School. Their match-up is regarded as the oldest public high school football rivalry in the history of the sport.
The rivalry dates back to 1882 and this year will be the 137th time the two schools will meet on the gridiron. Head Coach Doug Kopsco is one of almost a dozen coaches on the Needham coaching staff to play in this historic rivalry.
“It means so much to us, it means so much to the town. We just want to see our kids go out and be able to experience that tradition and be a part of that and make their own mark on it,” said Kopsco.
This year’s game will be played at Wellesley, but Coach Kopsco knows Needham will make the trip.
“The whole town comes out and that’s what’s so great about it. No matter where it’s played, you get everyone from Needham, you get everyone from Needham,” said Kopsco.
Wellesley has gotten the better of Needham in recent years, ahead in the all-time series by six games.
“They’ve beat us for the past couple of years and it would be amazing to get back at them and get revenge,” said Sean Murphey, a senior at Needham High.
WBZ’s Jared Brosnan reports.
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