By Bill Sones — Sports Contributor
The Concord-Carlisle Patriots (5-5) will visit the Lexington Minutemen (2-8) at 10 a.m. Thursday, in the fourth meeting since the teams renewed their Thanksgiving rivalry in 2021, and 100 years since the first Turkey Day matchup in 1924.
This will be the 103rd meeting of the two longtime rivals, with CC holding a 52-42-7 record versus Lexington and a 28-18-4 edge in Thanksgiving matchups.
The Patriots enter the contest with a four-game winning streak against Lexington, including a 33-6 win last Thanksgiving at home. The Minutemen have had another rough season, entering the contest with a 2-8 record (0-5 in the Middlesex League) and a seven-game losing streak after dropping a 48-14 decision to Haverhill in an MIAA non-playoff matchup.
Historic matchups
2023: In last year’s contest, Lexington hung tough and trailed just 13-0 at halftime, but two third-quarter scores put the game away for the Patriots. Senior running back Ryan DeMayo led the Pats with 230 yards rushing and three touchdowns. DeMayo also led the defense with nine tackles.
1974: In an early-season game, the Minutemen notched their third straight victory in the rivalry with a 22-8 win over the Patriots.
1949: Concord High School cruised to its 39th straight win on Thanksgiving Day with a 20-0 shutout of Lexington. It was the Patriots’ fourth straight win over the Minutemen; Concord was 3-0-1 in those games — including a 0-0 tie in 1947. The game also saw brothers face each other for the first time as a Ricker lined up on either side of the ball.
1924: In the first Thanksgiving matchup between the Patriots and Minutemen, Lexington won its seventh game of the season with a 19-0 shutout before thousands of fans at Concord Center Playground, now Emerson Field. Concord lost several key players for the game as both teams agreed to no longer allow graduates to play. (Yes, graduates had been allowed to take the field.) With the loss, Concord finished the season with seven wins, two losses, and three ties.
3 Patriots earn DCL honors
Three CCHS Patriots took home Dual County League honors for their efforts on the gridiron this fall.
Junior linebacker Eric Nick, who led the Patriots with 76 tackles, was named to the DCL All-League Team. Senior quarterback Matthew Carleton (who had a team-leading eight rushing touchdowns to go along with five passing touchdowns) and junior linebacker Lewis Simon (a team-leading four interceptions and second on the team with 59 tackles) were named DCL All-Stars.
