Ludlowe Posts First Thanksgiving Football Victory Over Warde in Six Years, 34-33

The Ludlowe Falcons staged a late rally to erase a five-point deficit and defeat the host Warde Mustangs, 34-33, in the 14th renewal of the modern-day Thanksgiving Day football series between Fairfield's two public high schools last night.

The game was moved to Wednesday evening due to the weather forecast, which called for near-record cold temperatures and strong gusty winds. As it was, temperatures plummeted throughout the game, and snow began falling at halftime.

Warde came back from a 28-21 fourth-quarter deficit to score two touchdowns in the last six minutes of the game to take a 33-28 lead. However, the Mustangs failed on both two-point conversion opportunities, allowing the guests to post the dramatic victory in the waning minutes of the contest.

It was Ludlowe's first win in the Thanksgiving Day rivalry game since 2012 and snapped Warde's five-game winning streak. The Mustangs were bidding for a record sixth-straight triumph, which would have surpassed Andrew Warde's five-game winning streak over Roger Ludlowe (1980 through 1984) to close the original series.

Here are the Thanksgiving football results between Warde and Ludlowe, including the original series (1975 through 1984) and the modern-day series (2005 through 2018):
 

Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles vs. Roger Ludlowe Flying Tigers

1975 to 1984

(Series: Warde 7 wins, Ludlowe 3 wins)

1975: Warde Eagles 28, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1976: Warde Eagles 20, Ludlowe Tigers 13

1977: Ludlowe Tigers 20, Warde Eagles 13

1978: Ludlowe Tigers 35, Warde Eagles 6

1979: Ludlowe Tigers 41, Warde Eagles 25

1980: Warde Eagles 17, Ludlowe Tigers 14

1981: Warde Eagles 14, Ludlowe Tigers 8

1982: Warde Eagles 23, Ludlowe Tigers 0

1983: Warde Eagles 26, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1984: Warde Eagles 16, Ludlowe Tigers 13

Fairfield Warde Mustangs vs. Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons

2005 to 2018

(Series: Warde 9 wins, Ludlowe 5 wins)

2005: Ludlowe Falcons 20, Warde Mustangs 14

2006: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 12

2007: Warde Mustangs 28, Ludlowe Falcons 0

2008: Ludlowe Falcons 10, Warde Mustangs 8

2009: Ludlowe Falcons 24, Warde Mustangs 14

2010: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 16

2011: Warde Mustangs 52, Ludlowe Falcons 13

2012: Ludlowe Falcons 31, Warde Mustangs 13
2013: Warde Mustangs 44, Ludlowe Falcons 21
2014: Warde Mustangs 27, Ludlowe Falcons 12
2015: Warde Mustangs 35, Ludlowe Falcons 14
2016: Warde Mustangs 41, Ludlowe Falcons 20
2017: Warde Mustangs 55, Ludlowe Falcons 22
2018: Ludlowe Falcons 34, Warde Mustangs 33

Cumulative record: Warde 16 wins, Ludlowe 8 wins

Paul

Thanksgiving Football Game Between Warde & Ludlowe Moved Up One Day Due to Weather Forecast

Warde & Ludlowe to Renew Thanksgiving Day Rivalry for 24th Time

The Fairfield Warde High School football team will go for a record sixth straight Thanksgiving Day victory over cross-town rival Ludlowe this Thursday morning at the Mustangs' home gridiron. The current five-game winning streak matches Andrew Warde High School's five-game winning streak against Roger Ludlowe during the last five years of the original series (1980 through 1984).

Overall, Warde has won seven of the last eight Turkey Day contests against its outmatched rival. In fact, Warde has outscored Ludlowe, 131-56, in the last three matchups.

However, this year's confrontation is sure to be much more challenging. The Falcons have won six games this season and are playing consistently good football. Although I have been the public address announcer for Ludlowe's football team the last seven seasons, my heart will always be with my alma mater, Andrew Warde High School.

Here are the Thanksgiving Day football results between Warde and Ludlowe, including the original series (1975 through 1984) and the modern-day series (2005 through 2017):

Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles vs. Roger Ludlowe Flying Tigers

1975 to 1984

(Series: Warde 7 wins, Ludlowe 3 wins)

1975: Warde Eagles 28, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1976: Warde Eagles 20, Ludlowe Tigers 13

1977: Ludlowe Tigers 20, Warde Eagles 13

1978: Ludlowe Tigers 35, Warde Eagles 6

1979: Ludlowe Tigers 41, Warde Eagles 25

1980: Warde Eagles 17, Ludlowe Tigers 14

1981: Warde Eagles 14, Ludlowe Tigers 8

1982: Warde Eagles 23, Ludlowe Tigers 0

1983: Warde Eagles 26, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1984: Warde Eagles 16, Ludlowe Tigers 13

Fairfield Warde Mustangs vs. Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons

2005 to 2017

(Series: Warde 9 wins, Ludlowe 4 wins)

2005: Ludlowe Falcons 20, Warde Mustangs 14

2006: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 12

2007: Warde Mustangs 28, Ludlowe Falcons 0

2008: Ludlowe Falcons 10, Warde Mustangs 8

2009: Ludlowe Falcons 24, Warde Mustangs 14

2010: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 16

2011: Warde Mustangs 52, Ludlowe Falcons 13

2012: Ludlowe Falcons 31, Warde Mustangs 13
2013: Warde Mustangs 44, Ludlowe Falcons 21
2014: Warde Mustangs 27, Ludlowe Falcons 12
2015: Warde Mustangs 35, Ludlowe Falcons 14
2016: Warde Mustangs 41, Ludlowe Falcons 20
2017: Warde Mustangs 55, Ludlowe Falcons 22

Cumulative record: Warde 16 wins, Ludlowe 7 wins

Paul

Warde Seeks to Continue Dominance over Ludllowe in Thanksgiving Day Football Rivalry Game

The Fairfield Warde Mustangs' football team looks to continue its domination over Fairfield Ludlowe in the annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry game next Thursday at the home of the Mustangs. Warde cruised to an easy 55-22 victory over the host Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons in the 13th renewal of the modern-day Thanksgiving Day rivalry last year at Taft Field. As the "voice" of Ludlowe football for the last six years, I had the pleasure of serving as the public address announcer for the third time in the last five years.

Warde has won seven of the last eight Thanksgiving Day contests overall. Cumulatively, the Andrew Warde/Fairfield Warde Crimson Eagles/Mustangs lead the Roger Ludlowe/Fairfield Ludlowe Flying Tigers/Falcons on Turkey Day, 16 games to seven, dating back to the original Thanksgiving Day series, which lasted from 1975 through 1984.

Warde has outscored Ludlowe by a 202 to 89 margin over the last five games and now leads the modern-day Thanksgiving Day series, nine games to four. The Mustangs' victory tied the longest winning streak in the history of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry, which dates back to the last five games of the original series when Andrew Warde won every Thanksgiving Day game against Roger Ludlowe from 1980 through 1984.

Even more impressive is the fact that Warde is 23-7 in Thanksgiving Day games dating back to a 7-0 record against Kolbe High School of Bridgeport.

Thanksgiving Day football games between Warde & Ludlowe:

Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles vs. Roger Ludlowe Flying Tigers

1975 to 1984

(Series: Warde 7 wins, Ludlowe 3 wins)

1975: Warde Eagles 28, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1976: Warde Eagles 20, Ludlowe Tigers 13

1977: Ludlowe Tigers 20, Warde Eagles 13

1978: Ludlowe Tigers 35, Warde Eagles 6

1979: Ludlowe Tigers 41, Warde Eagles 25

1980: Warde Eagles 17, Ludlowe Tigers 14

1981: Warde Eagles 14, Ludlowe Tigers 8

1982: Warde Eagles 23, Ludlowe Tigers 0

1983: Warde Eagles 26, Ludlowe Tigers 6

1984: Warde Eagles 16, Ludlowe Tigers 13

Fairfield Warde Mustangs vs. Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons

2005 to 2017

(Series: Warde 9 wins, Ludlowe 4 wins)

2005: Ludlowe Falcons 20, Warde Mustangs 14

2006: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 12

2007: Warde Mustangs 28, Ludlowe Falcons 0

2008: Ludlowe Falcons 10, Warde Mustangs 8

2009: Ludlowe Falcons 24, Warde Mustangs 14

2010: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 16

2011: Warde Mustangs 52, Ludlowe Falcons 13

2012: Ludlowe Falcons 31, Warde Mustangs 13
2013: Warde Mustangs 44, Ludlowe Falcons 21
2014: Warde Mustangs 27, Ludlowe Falcons 12
2015: Warde Mustangs 35, Ludlowe Falcons 14
2016: Warde Mustangs 41, Ludlowe Falcons 20
2017: Warde Mustangs 55, Ludlowe Falcons 22

Cumulative record: Warde 16 wins, Ludlowe 7 wins

Paul