Ludlowe Nips Warde, 10-8, on Controversial Call & Game-Winning Field Goal in Closing Seconds Thanksgiving Morning at Tetreau-Davis Field

They came from all over and from every generation. Former coaches, players, and alumni of Andrew Warde High School returned "home" Thanksgiving Day and shared hugs, handshakes, smiles, laughter, and stories. But most of them left wondering whether the officials had stolen a football game from their team.

A capacity crowd of over 2,000 jammed Tetreau-Davis Field Thursday morning to watch the 14th renewal of the Thanksgiving Day football rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe high schools. It was only the fourth meeting of the modern-day series which began in 2005.

However, a questionable pass interference penalty against the Mustangs in the last minute eventually led to Ludlowe's game-winning field goal in the closing seconds as the Falcons posted a dramatic 10-8 victory, ending Warde's three-game winning streak.

"After five straight losses in its season, and two consecutive Thanksgiving Day losses to Fairfield Warde, the Fairfield Ludlowe football team was desperate for a win by any means necessary," wrote Pat Pickens of the Fairfield Citizen-News. "Even one that was laced with controversy."

Ludlowe's Sean Anderson drilled a 22-yard field goal with 20 seconds left to give the guests the two-point victory, only their second win in their last nine Thanksgiving Day games against Warde. Three Mustangs' penalties moved the ball to the Warde five yard line to set up the game-winning kick.

The Falcons' late drive was aided by the controversial pass interference call against Warde with under a minute to play. When the yellow flag appeared after the overthrown desperation pass by Ludlowe quarterback Rob Ferrara landed out of bounds, a Warde player was subsequently flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Then, Mustangs coach Tony Catapano was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that placed the ball at the Warde five. The Warde faithful, shocked at the calls, was furious.

"It's too well-played of a game to be decided like that," Catapano said. "It doesn't have to happen if the officials have any common sense of what their job is today." After three running plays, Anderson stepped up and drilled his second game-winning kick of the season.

Despite the disappointing ending to the game, it was a chance for the alumni to get together again. Joe Geisken (AWHS '77), the former Crimson Eagles' quarterback whose 25 yard-counter run in the closing minutes helped Warde to an exciting 20-13 victory over Ludlowe in the 1976 Thanksgiving game, proudly wore his high school jacket.

Frank Galletti, the star of Warde's 16-13 Turkey Day triumph over Ludlowe in 1984, gave his high school jacket to his middle school daughter as they mingled with new friends and old just outside the Warde press box. But, Galletti, who played in the last-ever football game for the Crimson Eagles, found himself on the edge of his seat in the closing minutes.

Former Crimson Eagles' players and coaches Dave Abraham, Mike Abraham, and Tom Davis, and coaching legend Ed Bengermino gathered to reminisce by the press box, too. And even a few veterans from past decades still referred to Ludlowe as the Flying Tigers and Warde as the Crimson Eagles.

Ludlowe got on the board first when junior signal-caller Ferrara dodged a rush on third-and-14, and scrambled 64 yards to the end zone to put the Falcons ahead 7-0. Ludlowe had a good opportunity to go ahead by two touchdowns, but senior Matt Tierno fumbled at the Warde one yard line, and the Mustangs recovered.

Warde countered and took the ball 99 yards to paydirt in 16 plays, capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by junior fullback Tommy McNamara with just 6:20 remaining. Catapano decided to go for the two-point conversion, and McNamara, who rushed for 131 yards and was named Warde's MVP of the game, carried the ball in to make the game 8-7.

But Ferrara and team-MVP running back Phil Tsopanides, who led the team with 91 yards rushing, led the Falcons down the field and into field goal range in the closing minutes, making Anderson the hero, and returning the Gallagher-Baryas Trophy to Ludlowe for only the second time in the teams' last nine meetings, stretching back to 1980.

"They (Ludlowe) haven't really won that (trophy) ever," Falcons' coach Matt McCloskey said. "It's huge for us to get our hands on that trophy."

Even if the officials helped carry it over to them.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".