Sabers host Tomahawks

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Staff photo by JOE MARCHILENA Souhegan coach Mike Beliveau talks to his players before practice on Friday.

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Staff photo by JOE MARCHILENA Souhegan coach Mike Beliveau talks to his players before practice on Friday.

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Plenty of memories were made when the high school football teams from Souhegan and Merrimack met on Thanksgiving Day in the Battle for the Milk Jug.

There was Souhegan’s surprising 13-8 win in 1997, the first game in the series, and the final game for Joe Raycraft, the long-time Merrimack coach, in 2000. There was Souhegan’s 51-7 win to cap its 2004 championship season and last year’s 54-15 win by Merrimack that snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Sabers.

But after this year’s game, the 15th meeting of what was once known as the Baboosic Bowl, those memories will be a thing of the past. This year’s Turkey Bowl between Souhegan and Merrimack, scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Souhegan, will be the last.

Both sides are sad to see it come to an end; one coach isn’t too happy about it.

“When I think about it, my stomach just curdles,” said Merrimack coach Joe Battista, who was an assistant at Souhegan for six years. “It’s disgusting that you can take 15 years of tradition and spit on it. It’s the longest running game in New Hampshire and I’m not real happy about it coming to an end.”

In the last couple of years, Souhegan coach Mike Beliveau felt that his players haven’t shown the same enthusiasm for the game.

And last year, the Sabers played in the Division III championship game and had to turn around to play on Thanksgiving less than a week later.

“The last number of years, it’s been difficult to get the kids motivated to play the game, especially after being in a playoff or championship game,” Beliveau said. “The crossover with the winter sports, and possible injuries that could occur, has made me nervous. It’s a little sad. It’s been a 15-year series with Merrimack, and it’s been mostly played in the right spirit. Some kids on both teams set milestones in this game.”

With Souhegan (6-4) missing out on the playoffs this season, the Sabers view this year’s game as their personal postseason.

“We’re disappointed that we didn’t get a shot in the playoffs, but that’s inspired us more,” Souhegan’s Robby McCormick said. “Merrimack is a neighbor and a bigger school and a rival. After the way they beat us (last year), we have to come out ready to go and hopefully be successful.”

Battista has presented this game to his players as their final chance to beat a team that’s had Merrimack’s number in the series. Souhegan has a 9-5 advantage and hadn’t lost to the Tomahawks (2-8) since 2002 until a season ago.

“This one is for keeping the Milk Jug at your school,” Battista said. “I’m sure they’ll be motivated for the game. We’re motivated to keep it here in Merrimack. It should be a very exciting game.”

If the Merrimack coach has his way, it won’t be the last Thanksgiving Day game that the Tomahawks play.

“I want to keep playing on Thanksgiving,” Battista said. “It’s a chance to work with the younger players. It’s kind of become, on a personal note, a part of my own family’s tradition. I’m not happy about it at all.

“I talked to some coaches, but as of right now, I haven’t found a team that’s willing to play.”

Thursday will be an emotional day for both sides, and not just because it’s the final game of the series.

“I will be very emotional Thursday because it will be my last time coaching these guys in football,” Beliveau said. “To a man, they mean the world to me, this particular group of kids.

“It wasn’t Merrimack that did it; it was Souhegan (that ended it). At this point, that’s where we are. Who knows? Things could change.”