Victory never tasted so good
Restaurant keeps Quincy-N. Quincy rivalry alive with no Turkey Day game
For the first time in nearly 90 years, Quincy and North Quincy won’t convene Thanksgiving morning on the gridiron due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the city has still found a way to continue the ageold rivalry even without football.
Both schools are partaking in a “virtual” Turkey Day game this year as the longtime rivals bring their competitiveness to Boardwalk Pizza in Marina Bay, where Quincy and North Quincy will try to outduel one another in the purchase of pizza.
The event is a fundraiser for both Quincy and North Quincy athletics, as Boardwalk Pizza is donating a dollar for every pizza sold to supporters of the schools with the Boston Cannons, who call Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy home, and the Pigskin Gala Fund matching the donation.
“Things are different, but we want kids in the community to realize that there are a lot of people still trying to keep the spirit of the rivalry around,” said Kerry Byrne, co-founder of the Pigskin Gala Fund, which organizes a pre-game fundraiser for both schools each Thanksgiving.
From alumni to past and current players to anyone in between, supporters of the schools have until Nov. 30 to buy pizzas from Boardwalk Pizza, who will track the total number of orders from each side before declaring a champion. It isn’t the only initiative drumming up support for the players as Scott Campbell has organized a home-decorating competition with community members proudly displaying their respective school colors.
Even though the endeavors can’t fully replace Thanksgiving football, it helps both teams from focusing on a season that didn’t occur this fall and instead will start in late February.
“The kids are disappointed (about the season), no doubt.
When they got the word of what was happening they were devastated,” said Quincy coach Kevin Carey. “People are doing whatever they can to lift their spirits.”
Carey added: “They really have banded together and made something happen here, which is fantastic.”
While most Thanksgiving matchups involve neighboring towns, having two schools hailing from the same city adds to the unique character of the rivalry. Quincy and North Quincy have faced off on the holiday every year since 1933, with the Presidents holding the all-time series advantage with a 48-34-5 record.
“These kids have grown up playing on the same team in some of the youth leagues and then when you split off into the high schools, the rivalry becomes real,” said North Quincy coach Ryan Craig. “It’s a very intense rivalry and everybody in the city loves it.”
And with that comes a competitive spirit that won’t diminish even with pizza replacing football this year.
“We don’t want to lose to Quincy in anything,” Craig said.