By John McGuirk (@patsfan1313)
Fitchburg, Mass. - As the brisk, chilly morning descended into its waning hours, two teams with enough history between them to fill 100 playbooks were making one final, desperate attempt to salvage lost seasons.
It is often said that whatever Leominster or Fitchburg does prior to Thanksgiving is insignificant when these two teams meet annually in late November. That theory holds true, especially in these parts, where this game has become folklore.
A victory over the other is enough to make even the worst of seasons more bearable. In the case of this year's contest, the road to the postseason for both the Blue Devils and Red Raiders ended weeks ago. The last salvageable grace remaining for both came down to Thursday's 136th meeting, between these old rivals, the 111th on Thanksgiving Day.
In one of the nation's longest and most-storied rivalries, Fitchburg grabbed a two touchdown lead in the fourth quarter and made it stand, coming away victorious, 34-21, at historic Crocker Field. It marked the first time since 2008 that the Red Raiders (6-5) have defeated their border adversary on Thanksgiving, though Fitchburg did defeat Leominster in the Central Mass playoffs in 2014.
Leominster now holds a slim 66-60-10 all-time lead in the series which began in 1894.
