By Beth David, Editor
It’s not looking like such an upset anymore, with Fairhaven High School beating Dartmouth in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game three years in a row now.
This year was a nail-biter, with Fairhaven’s Grant Darmofal kicking a 42-yard field goal on a play that started with eight seconds on the clock and ended with two seconds left to play. Yup, TWO seconds.
The Fairhaven side when nuts (see cover), with everyone jumping up and down and declaring victory.
Dartmouth, however, had two seconds and they tried to make the best of it. They took the ball and tossed it around at least twice and then ran with it. It looked like they might even make it, with Hunter Bolarinho carrying the ball halfway down the field. But Fairhaven Blue Devil Jarod Frates, the very last guy between the ball and the end zone, tackled Bolarinho, ending the game in a double drama.
Fairhaven and Dartmouth have played on Thanksgiving day since 1923 (except for 2020 due to the pandemic). Fairhaven is usually outmatched, but gives the Indians a run for their money.
In 2021, it seems the tide changed. FHS beat DHS 14–7; last year FHS beat Dartmouth, 24-7. A far cry from the 2019 game, when FHS lost 41-0.
This year, FHS went into the Thanksgiving Day game with a 10–1 record. And DHS was undefeated in the regular season, ending 9–1 after losing in the quarter finals.
The game is available on demand for free on the Dartmouth Community Media YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYm1blyLp3k
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- Fairhaven High School Blue Devil Colby Correia gets knocked out of bounds, but not before getting the first down in the 2nd quarter of the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven Blue Devil Cameron Burke is taken down, but not before he gets the first down during the third quarter of the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven Blue Devil Richie Senna carries the ball for two extra points after a touchdown in the third quarter of the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven Blue Devil Justin Marques breaks away from the last Dartmouth Indian and makes it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown that tied the game in the fourth quarter of the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven Blue Devil Justin Marques gets the touchdown that tied the game in the fourth quarter of the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven Blue Devil Grant Darmofal kicks a 42-yard field goal to break the tie with only two seconds left in the game at the end of the play in the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven High School Blue Devils react after Grant Darmofal’s 42-yard field goal attempt is successful leaving only two seconds left in the game at the end of the play in the Thanksgiving Day game against Dartmouth at Dartmouth Stadium on 11/23/23. Photo by Beth David.
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- Fairhaven High School Head Football Coach Derek Almeida goes airborne after Grant Darmofal kicked a 42-yard field goal with two seconds left in the Thanksgiving Day game breaking the tie so FHS won over Dartmouth, 24–21. Photo by Samual Simoes.
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Click here to download the 11/30/23 issue: 11-30-23 FootballGame
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