MALDEN-MEDFORD GAME #138 ON THANKSGIVING DAY

Malden football puts it all on the line in Holiday Classic this week

Throw out the Records! This is ‘The Game of the Year’ for these two ancient rivals, dating back to 1889

By Steve Freker

In most years, including this one, Malden High football brings the dawgs out on Thanksgiving morning. For the first time in recent memory, for the past two Thanksgiving Day games, the Golden Tornado team WAS the dog — the underdog, that is.

Not so this year. This year’s Game #138 of the longest continuous high school matchup in national history is truly a “throw out the records” dead even matchup. Though Medford does hold the better overall record (5-5) than Malden (3-7) this time around, both teams have identical Greater Boston League marks with similar outcomes against the same opponents. Both teams also come into this week’s game with some momentum — with Malden claiming an exciting, 28-26 win over visiting Watertown that came down to a conversion attempt with time expired in regulation. It took sophomore star Jayden McGuffie’s game-saving tackle in the Watertown backfield to seal the deal.

McGuffie, in the midst of a record-setting year, also ran for over 200 yards for the fourth time this season and scored 4 more touchdowns, giving him 24 for the season.

Medford is also coming off a big win, exploding for the most points it has scored in a game since well, no one remembers when, in a 54-34 wild affair over next-door Arlington Catholic. Guillerme Martins led the way for the Mustangs with a career-high 252 yards on 26 carries and 3 touchdowns.

But despite Medford having a better overall record and the fact the Mustangs are playing at home, the two teams are clearly evenly matched. Even if they were not? This is Thanksgiving Day. It is the final game of the season — last high school game ever for the seniors on both squads — and it’s time to “throw out the records.”

“This is the game that everyone waits for, every year,” said third-year Head Coach Witche Exilhomme, himself a former Golden Tornado three-sport standout and football captain (football, basketball, track). “No matter how the season has gone, everyone puts everything on the line for the Thanksgiving game against Medford.”

There is other history in this game as well. With a victory, Coach Exilhomme would be only the third Malden High Hall of Famer to coach on Thanksgiving, following former Head Coach Paul Finn and another. Also with a win on Thanksgiving Day, it would be three in a row for Medford, which it has not done since 1999, when it finished off a streak of eight holiday classic wins in a row, from 1994-2001. Malden has dominated since 2000, going 18-7 in the third century of this ancient game.

Heading into Thanksgiving Day, Malden is led by sophomore running back and team captain McGuffie, who has rewritten the Golden Tornado record books with a season for the ages individually, with single-season records in scoring (168 points), touchdowns (24), 2-pt. conversions (15) and yards rushing (1,727 on 184 carries). The offense is led by senior captain and quarterback Billy Gavin, in his first year as a starter, who has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards. His favorite receiver has been fellow senior captain Manny Perez, who has caught 21 passes for 507 yards and 4 TDs.

Malden’s defense is spearheaded by linebackers senior Johnathan Ventura and freshman Arthur Sewell. Defensive ends 6-4 Waslin Etienne and 6-3 Colin Okoth, both seniors, have had strong seasons for Malden.

Malden Coach Exilhomme said the game plan for Thanksgiving is to keep possession of the ball offensively and lock down any “big play” potential for Head Coach John Curley’s Mustangs. “If we have possession of the ball, they can’t run any plays, it’s as simple as that,” Coach Exilhomme said. “We expect them to rely on their running game and know we have to tackle and not let them have that big run or other big play.”

Malden is coming off perhaps its best game of the year, a 28-26 win over visiting Boston Latin School at home on Nov. 9. The Tornados had no turnovers and played well in all three phases of the game. It also cut down on penalties, only four all game, which had been a crusher in several losses this year.

“We have to repeat that type of effort and more,” Coach Exilhomme said. “We are expecting a solid effort from our players and we will be giving it everything we have to get the win.”

Defensively is where Malden has been subpar and has had trouble stopping opponents consistently at times. The preseason loss of its top defender, 6-5, 310 lineman and junior captain Noah Granderson, has hurt immensely.

“We want to win the game mostly for our seniors who are playing in their final game,” Coach Exilhomme said. “It would be great if they can put it together and finish the season the right way, with a win.”

Malden-Medford Football Game #138

will be broadcast live on Thanksgiving Day:

10 a.m. — Go to “On the Sideline” YouTube.

Medford High’s student-run Sports Talk Show

By Steve Freker

Anyone unable to make it to the big game on Thanksgiving Day can catch it LIVE on YouTube, thanks to the Medford High School student-run Sports talk show, “On the Sideline.” For the third consecutive year, “On the Sideline” will cover the game “Live” and broadcast all the action on its YouTube channel. Just Google “On the Sideline” and Medford to get access.

This Thursday, November 27, at 10:00 a.m., Medford’s 138th Thanksgiving Day football game against Malden will be held at Hormel Stadium in Malden. The rivalry between the two teams started generations ago in 1889 and is the oldest running high school rivalry in the nation!

On the Sideline Youtube channel, starting at 10 a.m. will be streaming the game live with commentary. Tune in to all the action thanks to the Medford High School student video production class.