Warde Crushes Ludlowe to Take 'Battle of Fairfield' and Series Lead in Thanksgiving Day Classic

T. J. Gallagher rushed for 313 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Warde Mustangs over the Ludlowe Falcons, 44-21, at Taft Field this morning. The victory was Warde's third in the last four games of the modern-day series and gives the Mustangs a 5-4 series lead since the Thanksgiving Day rivalry was resurrected in 2005.

I had the pleasure of being the public address announcer for the Ludlowe football games the past two years. Special thanks to Ludlowe athletic director Dave Schulz for inviting me to be a part of the Falcons' football program. I'll admit, as a graduate of Andrew Warde High School, I had mixed emotions this morning.

The Fairfield Lions Club presented the most valuable player awards to quarterback Matt White of Ludlowe and Gallagher of Warde.

Here is the year-by-year summary of the "Battle of Fairfield," dating back to the original series between the Andrew Warde Crimson Eagles and the Roger Ludlowe Flying Tigers:

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 2013

(Series: Warde 5 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 14

Cumulative series: Warde 12 wins, Ludlowe 7 wins

Paul