Thanksgiving Game Primer

Are you ready for some football? I hope so. It looks like we'll have a decent turnout for the first Thanksgiving Day football game between Warde and Ludlowe at Melville Avenue since 1984. However, a couple of things have changed since then.

First of all, the Crimson Eagles haven't existed since Andrew Warde became Fairfield High School in 1986. That's when the school adopted the nickname "Mustangs." When Ludlowe reopened a few years ago, Fairfield High School was renamed Fairfield Warde and kept the Mustangs logo and nickname.

Fairfield Ludlowe, which is located in what used to be Roger Ludlowe High School on Unquowa Road, is now known as the home of the Falcons.

I know it will be tempting to cheer for the Crimson Eagles, or to even chant "Eagles Eat Tiger Meat." But that doesn't mean anything anymore.

The football field now has synthetic turf and all new aluminum bleachers. It was completely remodeled a few years ago, and it looks better than ever. I think you'll be impressed with the field. Parent and student volunteers even operate a souvenir shop completely stocked with Mustangs gear. The refreshment stand is located nearby, too.

Both the Mustangs and Falcons are at the bottom of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference standings. The teams still play in the FCIAC, but since the split, they've had a tough time competing against the high-calibre competition from the likes of Greenwich, which won the league title Friday night, New Canaan, and Bridgeport Central.

The Mustangs and Falcons are both 1-8 and tied with Harding for next-to-last in the conference. Both teams defeated the Bassick Tigers (0-9) this year. Bassick hasn't won a game in over five years.

The Falcons won the first renewal of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry last year, 20-14. The hosts from Unquowa Road jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead at the half, but Warde stormed back with a pair of touchdowns in the second-half to make it a close game. As an eyewitness to the game, it appeared as though 90 percent of the crowd was rooting for Ludlowe. We'll have to change that this year.

Game time is slated for 10:30, and the halftime festivities will be memorable. I'll have an update on our tailgate plans and the history of the Warde/Ludlowe football rivalry tomorrow.

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Fairfield Warde Mustang football photos from this season are courtesy of Tim Parry, author of fciacfootball.blogspot.com. The above photos are from Warde's home victory against Bassick High School.

Paul