LEOMINSTER, MA– As the Leominster Blue Devil football seniors prepare for their game against rival Fitchburg High School at Historic Doyle Field on Thanksgiving Day, their thoughts before this – their last and biggest game — had many of the seniors sharing their emotions regarding the big game.
Senior Jaidis Delgado, WR/CB
“I’m have very mixed feelings about this game. I’m very sad, but also very happy. Sad to see my high school football days are over but happy to say I got to be a part of it. I couldn’t be happier to end it with this team. The game will definitely be sad, but it will feel great to beat them for my final game.”
Senior Captain Xavier Cora, RB, MLB
“We feel great coming into this game. It’s one of the oldest rivalries in the country and it means a lot to the team, community, city, and everyone who’s put on the Blue Devil jersey before us. With that being said, we know we have to put on a show for them as nothing else that happened during the season matters except for Thanksgiving Day. Especially us seniors knowing this will be our last-ever game playing on historic Doyle field with the brothers we have made on this field. There will be no better feeling than going out your senior year with a win against Fitchburg.”
Senior John “Jack” Reed IV, TE,DE
“I feel great for this upcoming game against Fitchburg. This is my chance to finally get to play them on Thanksgiving. Growing up I always dreamed of playing Fitchburg at Doyle my senior year and now that it’s finally happening, it feels amazing. Especially when I’m doing it with the kids that I’ve grown up with, playing this game and now that it is all finally coming to an end, I’m glad I’m doing it with my closest friends.”
Senior Nate Hankins, DT, G
“I am really excited about this Thanksgiving game. It’s probably the most meaningful game of the season and it’s the last game of our high school careers. So, we are going to go out and leave it all on the line; not just for us, but for the city and the people that wore the jerseys before us. Being in Leominster gear allows us to carry a ton of pride that we will use during this game to beat Fitchburg.”
Senior Captain Giovanni “Gio” DiMarzio, C, DE, MLB
“I feel that it is sad that the end of a journey is coming in just a few days in a sport you have played for over ten years, all culminating to this moment. This game is not just monumental as our final game as a Leominster football player, but is also about how we represent our city. This rivalry game is what spurs your love for the city of Leominster and allows you to appreciate the rivalry. In terms of the game, we are getting prepared day by day to face a tough opponent who we feel confident against.”
Senior Richard “RJ” Salomon, WR, CB, SS
“I feel great about this upcoming Thanksgiving game because even though we aren’t in the playoffs anymore, I still get one last game to go out and play with my brothers and teammates in a meaningful game for both the cities of Leominster and Fitchburg.”
RJ played for Fitchburg before he joined Leominster this year, so this game may be a little controversial for him, but he is proud to be in blue.
He says, “I don’t have any shame in playing against my old team because I’ve been trying to come back to Leominster since my freshman year and now that I am back, I feel at home with our team and this season I’m confident we can win and end the season off on a high note.”
The Thanksgiving Rivalry game will kick off at Doyle Field at 10 AM. Tickets are available online and at the gate. This will be the 144th meeting between the 2 teams, making it one of the oldest rivalries in the country. The Blue Devils lead the series 72-62-9. Last year, the teams played at Historic Fenway Park with Leominster winning.
