Thanksgiving: Oxford vs. Auburn

10:00 Oxford High School field, Oxford MA

The Facts: 2012 Records: Oxford 1-9, Auburn 10-0
Last year: Auburn 41-7

By Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – To say that the Oxford Pirates have their work cut out for them in their Thanksgiving morning match-up with the undefeated, #1 ranked team in Central Mass, Auburn Rockets, could be an understatement. 

At this point in time, is there a team in Central Mass that could beat the Rockets? Unbeatable all season, only one team scored more than 7 points against them, and that was St. Peter-Marian whom they beat 34-22.

Despite all the hype and the fact that the Pirates are huge underdogs, a game will be played, and first year head coach Mike Adams and the Pirates plan on playing like they have played every other game this season: “hard.”

The 1-9 Pirates have been rebuilding while playing one of the toughest schedules in Central Mass, and they see this contest as business as usual. Auburn is their next door neighbor and arch-rival, so there is a lot of tradition and pride on the line.

“The Thanksgiving game when I was younger didn't really mean much to me,” said senior co-captain Tyler Barrie, who will be playing in his last high school football game, “but now that I'm older, I understand the rivalry.”

To Barrie, the records don’t matter, and he knows his teammates have no fear about playing the Rockets. “My teammates know how good Auburn is. They're much stronger and faster than us, but Thanksgiving is a day of upsets and anything is possible. It's going to be a tough game for us, but we have to give it everything we've got”.

“Even though we're not projected to be even close to winning, people will still come out to watch the game with their families just to have a good time. The best part of thanksgiving day is the football,” said Barrie. 

“As a school, staff, and player perspective, we are really excited about this day,” said Adams. “We know we have a tough opponent on Thanksgiving and we are preparing to have an exciting game.”

“We have been working hard and preparing ourselves in order to battle Thursday. It is a big day and rivalry here, and we are looking forward to pulling together for an all out effort against Auburn. We look forward to sending off our senior class with a great game and great atmosphere.”

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