Published November 14, 2018

WAKEFIELD — In today’s edition of the Thanksgiving Throwback, we hop back in the DeLorean to 1985 where Wakefield hosted Melrose on a snowy morning in the 26th annual Thanksgiving Showdown. The following is part of a game story that appeared in the Daily Item’s Friday, November 29 edition. 

CALLING signals for the final time, Kevin Lucey completed six of nine passes for 44 yards in the snow against Melrose to finish with 1,015 passing yards in the 1985 season. (Daily Item File Photo)

“The weather was more fitting for Canada’s Grey Cup football finals. But for the 2500, or so Warrior fans who braved the driving snow and sleet, their faith was rewarded in yesterday’s 26th annual Thanksgiving Day showdown at Landrigan Field. 

A pair of first half touchdowns by Warrior running back Tito Raymond were more than enough on the slippery turf as Wakefield blanked Melrose 14-0 to cap one of the finest comeback seasons seen in years.

Yesterday’s win was the first by the Warriors on Thanksgiving since ‘79 – also by a 14-0 score – and enabled them to finish with a 6-4 record overall, in a three way tie for fourth place in the league. The six victories mark the most wins by a Warrior football team win 12 years, since the ‘73 team went 8-1.

FUN IN THE SNOW – The Warriors had plenty to be happy about yesterday, despite the adverse weather. Tackle Frank Murphy (74) rushes over to congratulate Tito Raymond (34) who had just scored his second touchdown of the game to give Wakefield a 12-0 halftime lead. (Daily Item File Photo)

‘This is a great accomplishment for the program,’ said an elated and dripping wet Warrior coach Bob Connors. ‘I told the kids at halftime that in this weather, the people of Wakefield owed them that; they should have come to see these kids play. Now, I told them, it was up to them to keep their part of the deal and give the people of Wakefield a Thanksgiving Day win.’

Actually, there was never any question in Connors’ mind that the game should be played. When he, along with Melrose coach Bruce McPherson and the athletic directors from the two schools, met on the field at 7:30 a.m. there was only a light drizzle; the field was in pretty good shape and the snow had yet to fly.

‘There was no question on my part (that the game should be played). After the way we practiced the past three or four days, I would have argued till midnight to play.’

Despite the fact the snow conditions made the running tough, Raymond still managed to plow his way to a game-leading 96 yards in a 132-yard rushing effort by the Warriors. 

And the air game clicked for 44 yards as Kevin Lucey completed 6 of 9 passes, with Andy Schille hauling in 3 passes for 31 yards.