Falcons Victorious over the Warriors on Thanksgiving Day

The Dighton Rehoboth Falcons beat the Seekonk Warriors on Thanksgiving Day for the 30th time in the history of the rivalry between the two schools. It was certainly not the closest or most exciting game the two schools have played, as the Falcons ran away with a 27-0 victory.

The two teams met on a positively disgusting surface at Dighton Rehoboth. Pouring rain for roughly 24 hours leading up to game time left the grass field completely saturated. Drying agents were deployed on the very worst areas of the field, but it was completely beyond repair.

From one 40-yard line to the other, inside the numbers from side to side, the field was no better than a trench, even before the game started. When the game ended, there were ruts three inches deep with peaks three inches high beside them, truly treacherous terrain that will likely cost Dighton Rehoboth a great deal of money in sod and seed this offseason.

But a game had to be played, and so it was. The first quarter was exactly the slop fest you might expect. No points were scored, and neither team mounted any kind of offensive drive. One minute into the second period however, Dighton Rehoboth finally broke the scoreless deadlock. Nathan Kowalski threw a screen pass to Jake Salera at the Seekonk 24-yard line. Salera went untouched into the endzone and Kyle Rose knocked a PAT through the uprights to make it 7-0 Falcons.

Seekonk’s best chance came a few minutes later, when they stopped Dighton Rehoboth for a three and out. Rose stepped up to punt the ball and it took a terrible bounce, netting about 22 yards and setting up the Warriors at the 50-yard line. This field position in a one-score game seemed like Seekonk’s ticket back into the game. But the ensuing possession was as bad as Dighton Rehoboth’s (actually worse, because Seekonk lost yardage).

A few minutes afterward, Kyle Rose ran in from four yards out and then kicked another extra point. It was 14-0 Dighton Rehoboth and it looked like it would stay that way with only a minute to play.

The kickoff after the Rose touchdown was a terrible kick, met by an equally terrible “return” for Seekonk. The ball ended up on the ground and Dighton Rehoboth fell on it. This appeared to be the point where the contest would get out of hand, as it had so many times before. Dighton Rehoboth began to drive and it seemed they would have more points before the half. But Lucas Amadio picked off a Kowalski pass and Seekonk was able to avert total disaster.

It was at this point that Dighton Rehoboth’s award winning marching band took the field. They played for a large crowd, particularly considering the muddy conditions and cold weather. As usual, their performance was top drawer and proof of why they are consistently invited to high-level competitions.

When play resumed, Seekonk received the kickoff and failed to make any progress. The punt Seekonk attempted after those three plays was as bad as the one Dighton Rehoboth attempted in the previous quarter. It set the Falcons up on the Seekonk 43. The difference between the two teams was that Dighton Rehoboth cashed in. Rose ran for his second touchdown only three minutes into the second half, and the extra point made it 21-0 Dighton Rehoboth.

At this point, the levity left the Seekonk sideline. It became a waiting game, with both sides essentially killing clock. Amadio had a great second half. He added another interception, returned a pair of punts very effectively, and generally looked to be the player with the most energy on either side down the stretch. But it was not enough to make Seekonk competitive.

There were the typical last-ditch attempts. The Warriors tried to execute the hook and ladder play on at least a pair of occasions. Dighton Rehoboth scored a garbage time touchdown, making it 27-0 after Seekonk blocked the extra point. On the ensuing kickoff, the Warriors attempted a much less inspired version of “The Play,” handing the ball off and throwing it laterally across the field in the hopes of a bit of late magic. But the contest was decided.

Both teams’ seasons are ended now. Dighton Rehoboth managed a single playoff victory while Seekonk failed to qualify. The series now stands in the favor of Dighton Rehoboth (30-17-1). Only one more Thanksgiving remains before the jubilee installment of the rivalry, which will of course be played back at Dighton Rehoboth.