Warde Crimson Eagles/Mustangs Hope to Continue Domination of Ludlowe Flying Tigers/Falcons in Longtime Thanksgiving Day Football Series

The Warde football team is bidding for its eighth victory in the last nine Thanksgiving Day contests against arch-rival Ludlowe when the teams face each other this Thursday morning at Tetreau-Davis Field. Kickoff is slated for 10:30 in the fourth renewal of the modern-day series.

The Mustangs have won the last two Thanksgiving Day games, including a 28-0 romp one year ago at Ludlowe. Two years ago, Warde celebrated the 50th anniversary of the school's opening and its field dedication ceremony with a come-from-behind 21-12 win in nearly two inches of rain and strong winds. It was Warde's first home football game since 1984.

Ludlowe won the initial Thanksgiving matchup between the two schools in over two decades by posting a 20-14 win at Taft Field in 2005. The Falcons jumped out to a 20-0 lead at halftime, but hung on after the Mustangs mounted a strong second-half comeback bid. Warde leads the modern-day series, two games to one.

The Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles won the last five games of the original Thanksgiving Day series, which took place between 1975 and 1984. Roger Ludlowe High School posted a three-game winning streak from 1977 through 1979, marking the only times the Flying Tigers won against the Eagles on Thanksgiving Day. Warde won seven of the ten games in the original series.

Warde won all seven of its Thanksgiving Day games against Kolbe from 1968 through 1974. The Eagles posted impressive back-to-back shutouts against the Friars in 1971 (34-0) and 1972 (40-0). In fact, Warde outscored its Bridgeport neighbors, 166-20, over the course of the first five games of the series.

Here is a look at Warde High School's Thanksgiving Day football history. Special thanks to the Fairfield Citizen-News for allowing me to research the games from their historical archives:

Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles vs. Kolbe Friars

1968 to 1974

(Series: Warde 7 Wins, Kolbe 0 Wins)

1968: Warde Eagles 32, Kolbe Friars 8

1969: Warde Eagles 40, Kolbe Friars 6

1970: Warde Eagles 20, Kolbe Friars 6

1971: Warde Eagles 34, Kolbe Friars 0

1972: Warde Eagles 40, Kolbe Friars 0

1973: Warde Eagles 28, Kolbe Friars 18

1974: Warde Eagles 20, Kolbe Friars 6

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 2008

(Series: Warde 2 Wins, Ludlowe 1 Win)

2005: Ludlowe Falcons 20, Warde Mustangs 14

2006: Warde Mustangs 21, Ludlowe Falcons 12

2007: Warde Mustangs 28, Ludlowe Falcons 0

Warde's overall record in Thanksgiving Day football games is 16-4, good for an .800 winning percentage. In addition, Warde has outscored Ludlowe, 63-32, in the three games since the rivalry was resurrected in 2005.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film".