Last Thursday, November 24th  very special event will be taking place here at Holyoke High School. The 100th edition of the annual Holyoke vs. Chicopee High School Thanksgiving football game will take place right here at Holyoke High’s Robert’s Field. Some of those among the most excited for this game are the newest members of the Holyoke football team’s coaching staff Joe Dutsar and Vincent “Vinny” Guile.

“It’s a big deal,” said Guile “it’s the most storied rivalry in Western Mass and coming from the high school I came from (West Springfield) I understand the meaning of a game like this.”

Dutsar, having coached at Holyoke High in the past, has had experience in coaching the Thanksgiving game. “I think it’s very emotional for the players involved from both Chicopee and Holyoke,” he said “you throw the records out and it’s all emotion.” This game should be exactly that since neither Holyoke nor Chicopee made playoffs this year so this is the last game of the season for some, and last game of high school football forever for the seniors.

Historically, Holyoke had gotten the better of Chicopee in the Thanksgiving games as they lead with 50 wins to Chicopee’s 38 (11 ties), but Chicopee is looking to keep Holyoke from winning their fourth straight Thanksgiving title.