Rivalry remains ‘main thing around here’ for Interboro, Ridley
GLENOLDEN >> Ricky Neill’s family bleeds Interboro black and gold.
“I grew up hearing all about Interboro football,” the senior lineman said. “My dad (Rick) played for Interboro and he played in this game. Class of ‘88. Obviously, the one thing he always says is we’re tough. And we are. That’s what he told me as a kid.”
Neill and fellow Interboro cocaptains Jared Dellipriscoli, Andrew Grieb and Mike Moore have similar stories about their earliest memories attending the Thanksgiving game against Ridley.
“It was the main thing around here when you were little,” Neill said. “It was awesome seeing all of the older kids play in that game and seeing all the people in the stands. It’s a big reason why I wanted to be a Buc.”
This year’s affair marks the
50th anniversary edition of the game.
“It’s always the best game to play,” said Dellipriscoli, the Bucs’ second-year starting quarterback. “You always wanted to play when you were a kid. Most our team is kids from (Prospect Park) Termites and Glenolden, things like that. It’s a crazy atmosphere. It’s something we’re going to remember for a long time.”
Interboro hosts Ridley at the South Avenue Athletic Complex. Kick off is 10 a.m.
Ridley is riding a four-game winning streak in the series. Interboro’s last win was six years ago, in 2012. The teams did not play in one of those years since
(2013) due to Interboro’s run to a District One Class AAA title.
Ridley leads the all-time series, 37-12.
“This is huge,” said Grieb, Interboro’s running back, receiver and defensive back. “It’s my last game as an Interboro Buc. It’s great to be at home. We want to go out with a win and get it done on our field.”
Moore, the Bucs’ top running back and defensive lineman, was a youngster when he moved from Springfield to the Interboro School District.
“Me and my grandfather would come to this game a few times when I was young,” Moore said, “and that’s why it’s kind of nostalgic to me. I’m going to have maybe my entire family here for this one.”
There is also the element of bragging rights. Ridley, a 38-20 winner in last season’s affair, has been the dominant team in the rivalry. However, it’s worth noting, since longtime Bucs coach Steve Lennox has been at the helm, Interboro holds a one-game lead on Ridley, 11-10.
“The best part of it is playing the Ridley kids, we’re going to see most of them for the rest of our lives,” said Moore, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards. “We’re probably going to be living in the same area. We’re going to run into each other and talk to each. So it’s stuff like that why I really want to win the game.”
For an old-school coach such as Lennox, the Ridley-Interboro rivalry is still the creme de la creme. Short of winning a district or state title, nothing matters more to him than beating Ridley.
“For me, it still means a lot,” he said. “I grew up with a Thanksgiving game, Collingdale and Sharon Hill. It’s big for the communities. You know what’s funny? I go to a sports club and see Colin Wright, the old Ridley quarterback from a few years ago. He’s going to be a cop and is in classes with Nicky Rentos, my old quarterback. It’s funny. Now they’re buddies.
“This is a special game. I know (the PIAA) wants to try and do away with it. The playoffs have taken some of the luster off of it. It still means a lot to us.”
Jack Bakey was born to be a quarterback at Ridley. His grandfather, Joe McNicholas, coached at Ridley from 1973-96 and won 226 games, the most in school history.
“My uncles played in the game and of course my grandpop coached a lot of the games, I don’t even know how many,” Bakey said. “It’s just great getting my own opportunity to leave my mark on the rivalry.”
Senior running back/defensive back Elijah Yakpasuo transferred from Penn Wood to Ridley after his sophomore year, so unlike Bakey and many other Green Raiders, he hasn’t been around the rivalry his entire life.
“But I knew about it. I even heard of the rivalry when I was at Penn Wood,” said Yakpasuo, who has run for 1,133 yards and 11 TDs. “I always knew it was a big game and I was excited to play in it.”
Ridley (6-5) and Interboro (66) have taken similar paths in
2018. Each team began the season searching for answers and were performing well below expectations. After starting 0-4, the Green Raiders won their final six regular season contests to qualify for the District 1 Class 6A playoffs. They were ousted in the first round to No. 1 North Penn.
Interboro (6-6) owned a 2-5 record before claiming three straight wins to earn a spot in the Class 5A tourney. The Bucs won a first-round game at Upper Merion before falling to Penn Wood in the quarterfinals.
“We’ve had time to prepare, even more than (Interboro),” Ridley tackle Tom Bramwell said. “We had some injuries and things, we had time to get healthy and ready, so that’s been good for us.”
Neill admits it took some time to get over the playoff loss. Interboro held a 21-0 advantage and had No. 1 Penn Wood on the ropes. The Bucs failed to hang on and beat the Del Val League champions. It was a bitter defeat, but not enough to deter their hopes of winning the Turkey Day Bowl.
“We definitely wanted to win that game,” he said. “We were hurt. But ... it took like one day and then we turned the page. We knew we had to put it all-out for this one.”
Neill, taking a break from drills at practice Monday, pointed to his teammates and praised them for their determination, focus and preparation. As a captain he was assured everyone was on the same page. Anything less than full effort is inexcusable.
“You can see that today, we’re out here working hard. It’s about the loyalty to the team,” he said. “For us seniors, it’s our last game and it means a lot to us. We’re definitely going to put our hearts on that field on Thursday and give it everything we have. Because that’s the Buc Way.”