The 89th meeting between the Athol football team and Mahar Regional will commence on Thanksgiving Day at O’Brien Field in Athol at 10 a.m.
In the rivalry that dates back to 1894, the Bears currently hold a 54-33-1 lead in the series.
The last Mahar win over Athol was on Thanksgiving in 2022, which was a 12-0 win for the Senators at the Woodward Complex. Mahar comes into the Turkey Day match up with a 2-7 record. The Senators are hoping for an end to the current losing streak to the Bears.
“Energy is remarkably high,” Mahar coach Percy Eady said. “We are really focused on identifying the things we were deficient in during the season. This last week gave us some time to be healthy. Focus on what makes us better. I am really happy with their energy the last four or five practices.
Eady took over in 2023 and hasn’t beaten the Bears during his tenure.
“The best thing about this team is they don’t have quit in them,” Eady said. “They just keep going after it. We need a super disciplined game plan. Really being intent on our match ups. I think we’ve been able to tighten up some of the things that really got away from us earlier this season. I think we will definitely be a lot more ready for the emotional weight of playing the rival from one town over.”
While most students from Athol and Mahar Regional are friendly off the field, the rivalry does come to fruition on the gridiron. The rivalry is the most fiery among adults in the neighboring towns.
“There’s a lot of rivalry brewing still,” Athol coach Josh Talbot said. “It is in some ways generational. There’s like a half generation gap right now. The rivalry is probably more alive right now in basketball than in other sports. They’re friends with kids over there. For the kids I don’t think it’s the same. But for the adults, there is still that competitive fire.”
Athol’s (1-9) lone victory of the year was a 28-8 win over the Senators at the Woodward Complex on Oct. 3. Athol has outscored Mahar 155-38 in its current five-game winning streak over the Senators.
“We’ve been successful the last couple years,” Talbot said. “But we aren’t the same team we have been the last couple years. It’s really a product of what you have in front of you.”
Talbot reassigned play calling duties on offense and defense, allowing some new opportunities for new players.
“I suspect our players will really play with some energy,” Talbot said.” As unsuccessful as we’ve been on the scoreboard our kids haven’t quit in games. They’ve continued to battle and fight. I expect them to want to close it out on a high note.
Athol quarterback Oliver Johnson has friends in Orange. For Johnson, there is still hunger for victory against his crosstown buddies. Athol has lost five straight games coming into Thanksgiving.
“We keep it on the field,” Johnson said. “Then we go back to being friends off the field. It’s all a game. Just to have fun. Nothing else. Just enjoy it. We’ve put in a lot of hard work. We want to make sure we are perfect. Coming off the losses we’ve had, we want to make sure we win another one.”
Johnson plans on keeping things simple going into the game.
“Just making sure your body is right in the moment,” Johnson said. “Making sure you are up early enough for the game. Make sure we are all right mentally and physically. So we can be ready for the game.”
Nick LeBlanc is a right guard and a defensive tackle for the Bears.
“We have a bunch of friends at Mahar,” LeBlanc said. “But the second we step on the field together, it’s completely different.”
LeBlanc prefers a Dunkin run on Thanksgiving morning. Last year he devoured a breakfast sandwich before the game. Notably, the Black Pepper Bacon sandwich which is infused with brown sugar. Sadly, the sandwich is unavailable this year.
“It might be something similar,” LeBlanc said. “It might just be donuts this year.”
After the game, LeBlanc will retreat to his house for a small gathering and the standard Thanksgiving fare.
Prior to 1957, the rivalry was Athol versus Orange. In the series’ first game in 1894, Orange defeated Athol, 7-0. Athol peeled off eight straight wins from 1944-1951.