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On a serene and sunny afternoon, students at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, gathered on the athletic field for the annual Turkey Bowl — a football game between the upperclassmen and underclassmen, usually timed for Thanksgiving. Delayed repeatedly due to other events and inclement weather, the long-awaited game finally took place last Friday, giving the classes their shot for momentary glory and bragging rights. 

On the first drive of the game, junior Vincenzo Puccio connected with classmate John Metilly on a 20-yard strike, finding a seam on the right hash mark. Metilly caught the ball, broke through several underclassmen defenders, and scored the game’s first touchdown. 

The upperclassmen’s defense was as overwhelming as their offense, harassing sophomore quarterback John Plenter as they caused him to scramble out of the pocket on his first possession. The upperclassmen’s offense capitalized and converted as junior Casey Kirk found the endzone on a quick 2-yard pass. After completing a 2-point conversion, the upperclassmen held a 16-0 advantage heading into the intermission.

The upperclassmen held the advantage well into the end of the second half, as neither team was able to score. Finally showing signs of life, with 30 seconds left in the game, Plenter rolled out of the pocket and floated a pass to the back of the endzone, where he found freshman Tam Nguyen wide open. But by that point there was no longer enough time for the underclassmen to mount a comeback, leaving the upperclassmen victorious in the 2021-22 Turkey Bowl, with a final score of 16-8. 

“It was a blast getting to play with my entire class and also with seniors,” said Tanner Sheffield (’23). “Plus, it was a good way to put the underclassmen in their place.”