Thanksgiving Day Classic Preview

By Steev Riccardo

The Oxford Pirates will be looking for a little magic on Thanksgiving morning when they take on the Auburn Rockets, one of the top teams in Central Mass.

The 3-7 Pirates are on a four game losing streak after starting the season 3-3 and looking like they were on their way to have a plus 500 season. Unfortunately, things have unraveled a bit, but an upset win could salvage the season.

The problem for the Pirates is that the 9-1 Rockets are a much superior team. Aside from a loss to Shepherd Hill, they have been hard to beat all year. Aside from that lost, they have dismantled all five teams that they have played with all-around solid football.

If the Pirates want to make a game of it, they will need superior performances from their leaders. Mike D’Alio has been key to the team all season on both sides of the ball. He was second on the team with 312 yards rushing and led the team with 203 yards receiving and five touchdowns.

Dylan Bracewell, who has seen his roll change a bit as the season has gone, along with the emergence of freshman quarterback Matt Faucher, leads the team with nine touchdown passes.

Tyler Barrie has been the leading receiver with four touchdown catches on 320 yards receiving. He and Bracewell showed early flashes of brilliance as a formidable tandem.

Nick Lemay leads the team in rushing with 354 yards and has also been a key on defense along with D’Alio, Barrie, and Chris Burley.

Head Coach Jeff Parcells and his Pirates will need to put it all together if they want to make a game of it tomorrow.

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