WESTFORD — Players, coaches, and community leaders from Westford Academy and Acton-Boxborough Regional High School came together last week for the 33rd Thanksgiving Football Luncheon.
On Nov. 19, students, staff, and community members gathered at the Boxboro Regency for the joint tradition hosted by the Acton-Boxborough and Westford Rotary Clubs.
The luncheon is held annually and serves as a symbolic kickoff to the long-standing Thanksgiving Day rivalry game. The event honors student athletes and fosters community unity between the neighboring schools.
Invited guests included committee members from both rotary clubs, the principals, athletic directors, football coaches, cheer squad coaches, as well as the captains of both school’s football and cheer teams.
Organizers emphasized the luncheon’s purpose was to bring the two schools closer together ahead of the holiday matchup and remind students and families that the rivalry is rooted in respect, leadership, and shared community values.
“We have tremendous respect for AB, for Jim Scanlon. We are allies,” WA Athletic Director Jeff Bunyon said, “We are aligned in everything. Yes, we compete on the field, but off the field we work together and want the best for the student athletes.”
AB High School Principal Joanie Dean remarked that this year had been “defined by enthusiasm, community, togetherness,” and that it was “a real tribute to the leadership of our athletes,” and that she knew the same could be said of WA.
Similar thoughts were echoed by WA Principal Dan Twomey.
“In Westford, it’s really been a building of this football program for a long time,” Twomey said highlighting the upgrades at WA like the turf field and bleachers. “And then you add in the people. The support of community members like the rotary and the parents and the student athletes. Then you add in the athletic directors and the coaches and it really makes for a special community and Acton-Boxborough has had that for many years.”
AB football coach Billie Waters highlighted the growth of his team, attributing it to the captains’ work throughout the year.
“Our team has grown tremendously in a very short period of time,” Waters said, “What they do in the classroom, what they do in the weight room, is why there is going to be so much excitement around this game this year. Because there has already been such great tradition around this game and there’s a great coach on the other side at WA.”
As both teams prepare to take the field on Thanksgiving morning, the gathering reaffirmed the shared respect between Westford and Acton-Boxborough.
