BY Bruce Darrow/CNBNews
Gloucester City, NJ (November 21, 2007)—This Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game between Gloucester Catholic and Gloucester High will renew an old rivalry that began almost 60 years ago, in 1948, on the field at the Charles Street Stadium. Although that stadium may be gone, the tradition lives on. The game was briefly stopped for a period but was renewed again in 1993.
There is an ongoing debate within the City of Gloucester over whether the Rams recruit players from surrounding areas, which many believe gives them an unfair advantage. However, this year, that advantage doesn’t seem to be as significant.
The Gloucester Catholic Rams enter the Turkey Day game with a record of 7-2, while the Gloucester Lions come in with a 6-3 record. Both teams are coming off playoff games with different outcomes: the Lions lost a heartbreaker in the final 53 seconds when Woodbury scored the decisive touchdown, while the Rams pulled off a dramatic upset against #1 St. Joe’s of Hammonton, thanks to a thrilling touchdown run by quarterback Mike Calzonetti with just 2 seconds remaining.
Regardless of their records, both teams bring with them a key intangible: DESIRE. This desire is to win the City Title and claim the bragging rights that come with it. Over the years, many GCHS players have grown up in Gloucester or Brooklawn, often playing together on the Mustangs, and this year is no different—except for the number of former teammates on each side.
The Rams, led by local residents QB Mike Calzonetti, Running Back Ryan Alcott, and Lineman Harry Amwake, will face off against former teammates on the Lions: Safety Mike Becker, Defensive Back Jeremy Collins, and Defensive End Steve Crank. Other Rams players from Gloucester City include WR George Spingler, Safety Mike Gartland, and Guard Matt Glassman, who have teamed up with Lions QB Steve Goad, DE Brett Darrow, and LB Frank Heitman. When they were 10 years old, Rams players Spingler and Gartland, along with Lions players Darrow and Heitman, competed together on the Colonial All-Star team, where Frank Heitman won the All-Star MVP award.
Husbands and wives who have married into the rival schools will show their school spirit, and some locals may even be labeled as traitors on this day. Old friendships will be rekindled in the stands as these former teammates battle it out on the field, pledging their loyalty to their respective schools for just one day.
For one day, Gloucester City transforms into a divided city based on alma mater. It showcases a unique love-hate relationship, with neighbors pitted against each other. On Thursday, you are either one of us or one of them. There will be no love lost between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
At 0:00, we will celebrate the players for their competitiveness and sportsmanship. As these former players cross the field to shake hands, the mutual respect and talents forged in battle will be restored, and they will once again become good friends.
After the game, when we gather for Thanksgiving dinner, we will all give thanks for our Lion or Ram friends.