Bragging Rights at Stake on Turkey Day

Bragging rights will be at stake at Westborough High School this Thanksgiving.

Neither the Algonquin Regional nor the Westborough varsity football teams are vying for the post-season entering their holiday rivalry's 10:15 a.m. kickoff. The Tomahawks are 2-8, while the Rangers are 1-9.

However, "the Thanksgiving tradition between Westborough and Algonquin is strong," Westborough head coach Mark Ellis said Tuesday.

"No matter what the records are going in, it's anybody's game," said Ellis, who's in his 16th season at Westborough, the last 12 as head coach.

Pre-sale tickets are currently available for $5 at the Westborough High main office.  Tickets will be $10 at the gate.

The Westborough High School Student Council will sell Lizzi Marriott bracelets to support the Lizzi Marriott Fund.

Algonquin is led by senior quarterback Mike Halloran. Justin McKay is the head coach.

Ellis said the Rangers "match up OK" with the Tomahawks.

Westborough enters the game "pretty healthy," unlike much of this season, he said.

The Rangers were without a number of key players until their eighth game,  a 21-20 win over visiting Wachusett Regional on Oct. 26, a game which capped Westborough’s Week of Lights.

“We had most of the guys back,” Ellis said.

Tenacity has helped Westborough compete this season.

Against Wachusett, for example, Westborough trailed 14-7 at halftime.

"We don't shy away from competition. We take it to them," Ellis said.