Thanksgiving rivalry between Joseph Case and Somerset Berkley ends after nearly 100 years
SOMERSET, Mass (WJAR) — The nearly century-old rivalry between Joseph Case High School and Somerset Berkley Regional High School has officially ended.
Case announced it has found a new opponent for the long-standing Thanksgiving game against the Raiders.
The holiday tradition dates back to the 1930s.
Members of the Somerset community tell NBC 10 News they felt blindsided by the decision.
"Had we known that they were discussing and considering this, maybe we would have been able to resolve something or at least come up with a plan," said Somerset Superintendent Jeffrey Schoonover. "There are very few options available to us so, I'll keep my fingers crossed but I'm not going to hold my breath."
Schoonover said they were first notified of plans to find a new opponent the week after the 2022 Thanksgiving game. The Somerset Raiders beat the Cardinals 50-14. Somerset has been undefeated in the Thanksgiving game since 2012.
"The pain and the time to try and find another opponent, if there's even a possibility of another opponent during Thanksgiving, is very difficult," said Somerset football head coach Nick Frietas.
Frietas said the school is hoping to find a new opponent in the southeastern part of the state. He's concerned they won't be able to find a new opponent in time for the 2023 game.
"I couldn't imagine it," said Frietas, who played for the Case team back in high school. "As someone who played for the program and started teaching here, I wouldn't know what to do."
The Cardinals, which are Division VII, will now play against the Division VIII school Atlantis Charter/Connolly/Westport co-op football team instead of the Division III Raiders.
NBC 10 News reached out to the Cardinals' athletic director and Swansea Public Schools superintendent but did not hear back.