With high school football taking center stage on Thursday, a trio of local father-son combos are soaking up their final Thanksgiving Day tussles together.
Touchdowns, turkeys and giving thanks.
It’s a tradition unlike any other across the commonwealth.
“We’ve always felt the three Fs of life are food, family and football,” said Grafton coach Chris McMahon, whose son, Brendan, is a senior captain for the Gators. “That’s what Thanksgiving football has meant to us over the years, and it’s a big part of our family identity.”
“It’s bigger than football,” said Hudson senior captain Jake Attaway, whose dad, Zac, is the Hawks’ coach.
“It’s just been a great tradition for our family,” said Oxford coach Jeff Clarkson, whose son, Kellen, is also a senior captain.
Throw everything out on Turkey Day
Last Thanksgiving, Kellen Clarkson called an audible on Oxford’s opening kickoff when he booted a squib kick off one of the opposing Bay Path players and recovered the ball himself.
A play later, Clarkson called another audible — this time resulting in a 40-yard touchdown pass to teammate Connor Fantasia.
Anything goes on Turkey Day. Especially for the Pirates.
“Thanksgiving, it’s always different than a real game,” said Kellen Clarkson, now 17. “It’s amazing. Everyone wants to win because they know it’s the seniors’ last time stepping on the field.”
“We try to make sure the kids understand the importance of the game,” said Jeff Clarkson, whose been coaching at his alma mater since 2015. “It’s your last game, so go out with a bang.”
Last November, Hudson snapped a 12-game losing streak to rival Marlborough.
Jake Attaway rushed for two touchdowns and tossed for two more to lead the host Hawks to a 41-0 win — their first Turkey Day victory over the Panthers since 2010.
“It was an emotional moment,” Jake Attaway said. “With the tradition it holds, and people thinking about getting rid of the game because of how often we weren’t winning, getting that win for the program was huge and changed the narrative.”
As Grafton gritted out a 14-0 win over Millbury last fall, Chris McMahon summed up the Turkey Day rivalry succinctly to the T&G.
“You can throw the records out, you can throw out everything on Thanksgiving Day,” the Grafton coach said. “It’s a rivalry game.”
Unfortunately, the Grafton and Millbury rivalry is no more. At least on Thanksgiving.
This Thursday, the Gators will stay idle while the Woolies face Maynard at 10 a.m.
“It’s so engrained in what you do, so this year, not having a game on Thanksgiving, it’s going to be kind of funny,” McMahon said. “But football will still be a huge part of the day.”
Family, food and football
Zac Attaway grew up playing football for his father, Jim, who was the Hudson High defensive coordinator. In 2000, Zac won his final high school football game, a 14-13 defeat of rival Marlborough on Thanksgiving.
Getting the chance to tutor his own son at Hudson for the past few years has provided the Hawks coach with a new perspective.
“It’s definitely been special for me to kind of relive that,” Zac Attaway said. “I’m just proud of what he’s accomplished. It’s been a joy to watch him grow as a player and just see him making memories with his teammates, and it’s something he’ll always have to look back on.”
With top-seeded Hudson (11-0) defeating No. 4 Norwell, 21-14, in a Division 6 state semifinal Saturday, the Hawks will have to manage how to play Marlborough on Turkey Day since they must play at Gillette Stadium six days later.
Coach Attaway will have to decide whether to sit or play his starters on Thursday.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Jake Attaway said, “because that means we’re winning.”
Following a 14-3 loss to Scituate in a Division 4 state semifinal Saturday, Grafton saw its hopes of a trip to Gillette come to an end.
And without a Thanksgiving opponent this year (Millbury opted to go elsewhere), the Gators will need to find new ways to keep busy on the holiday.
Maybe arguing over the best part of the meal will suffice?
“It’s the sides. The sides are the best part of Thanksgiving,” Grafton coach Chris McMahon said. “Mashed potatoes. Onion pie. Stuffing. That’s the key.”
“Gotta go with turkey and gravy,” said his son, Brendan. “Not big on vegetables.”
Jeff Clarkson recalls claiming Turkey Day trophies outside of the Papa Gino’s in Auburn a few times during his playing days at Oxford in the 1990s.
With a different opponent in Bay Path these days, and no pizza shop on the Charlton campus, the Oxford coach will have to make new memories with both his sons — Quinn as an assistant coach on the sideline and Kellen at quarterback/safety on the field.
It’s been a sentimental season for the Clarkson boys, who lost their mother and wife, Dawn, to cancer in May.
“(She) always wanted us to go out and get the win,” Kellen Clarkson said.
“It will be very emotional for all of us,” Jeff Clarkson said.
As the pigskin shares the spotlight with the turkey leg on Thursday, a trio of father-son combos from Central Mass. are looking forward to another holiday spent huddled around the gridiron together.
It’s a tradition unlike any other.
“Family, food and football,” Brendan McMahon said.
“It takes on a life of its own in a lot of ways,” Chris McMahon said. “Football and Thanksgiving go hand in hand.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.