Sports

Westfield Wallops Plainfield in Annual Thanksgiving Game

Eugene Rawles scored three touchdowns as team broke the game open in the second half.

Westfield has now won two Thanksgiving Day games in a row against Plainfield after Thursday’s 34-0 win at Kehler Stadium.

By halftime, Westfield held a 7-0 lead with one touchdown by Eugene Rawles. In the third quarter, Rawles ran for a long touchdown, followed by a fumble return by Jack Simcox and a touchdown pass from Quarterback Chris Hogge to Dylan Elliot, according to NJ.com. In the fourth quarter, Rawles ran for another touchdown.

The two football teams have met on Thanksgiving Day since 1944, but the rivalry between them goes back to the 1900s, according to Bruce Johnson, a Westfield sports historian.

Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game was the 109th game between the two teams, according to Johnson.

USA Today announced a matchup between Westfield High School and Plainfield High School as a contender for their second annual title of Best High School Football Rivalry.

Each state has five high school football rivalries and only one team from each state will win and advance to one of eight regionals. So far, the rivalry has received the most votes in the state for Round 1 at more than 23,000. Voting for Round 2 will begin in four days. To vote, click here

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The winners of the eight USA Today regionals, plus two wildcards will advance to a final round of 10 teams. 

USA Today’s “Best of” series began in 2012 with a "Best Rivalry" competition between Brookfield vs. Marceline in Missouri. 

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Winners will receive $5,000 split in half by the two teams. For more information visit the contest page at USA Today.


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